Introductory Post: How Philosophy and Fermentation is Linked for a Baker by fermentedphil

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philosophy · @fermentedphil · Nov 10 '17

$12.01

Introductory Post: How Philosophy and Fermentation is Linked for a Baker

I have been waiting a couple of weeks for this day, the day I write my first post to be released on Steemit. It has finally arrived. I am listening to Metallica's Black album, trying to choose the words for this post to fit just right. It feels refreshing to write something after a drought in my writing. But first, who am I? I am currently busy with my philosophy degree. The plan is that I do my PhD in the next three to five years. I grew up in South Africa, and I am still here, trying to figure out the meaning of life.

Fermentation and philosophy? I can see a couple of people who will ask what the two widely different stuff have to do with each other. I started brewing beer in 2013 and started baking sourdough bread in 2016. The process of fermentation for me is that you take some starting ingredients, those ingredients undergo a change (i.e. fermentation due to yeast and bacteria), and the finishing product will be vastly different from the starting ingredients. One thus transforms the ingredients in such a way that the starting product does not resemble the finishing product.

![insta1.JPG](https://steemitimages.com/DQmZ2xkKfDsA73sa9huum49srXKxPEn8G9RaATt3cQhscVS/insta1.JPG)

Philosophy is in a way the same. After you read for example Albert Camus's "The Stranger" you are not the same person anymore. You change the way you look at life, you start to see things in such a way that it cannot be the same as before you read the book or philosophy. As Camus said in "The Myth of Sisyphus": "One must imagine Sisyphus happy" when he rolls the boulder up the mountain, one cannot unsee the smile on his face. One is condemned to see Sisyphus happy.

I hope the similarities between philosophy and the process of fermentation is clear. The starting position is not the same as the finishing position. What you have at the start is not the same as at the end, due to some external influence (i.e. yeast or philosophy) a change will occur.

![1000_1000_logo.jpg](https://steemitimages.com/DQmWM2vy8bc9YD8kbSWiG9ArSBguyy4JTMPZ3gX3BxnqqQn/1000_1000_logo.jpg)

And that is basically me. Philosophy and fermentation saved my life from the "conformation" to normality. So what will this blog be about? Why should you care to stay and read my following posts? I will try and do some things with this blog, especially the following: firstly, I will try and write philosophical articles, tackling problems we do in university, and thus to clarify some topics that no everyone would understand in the jargon that philosophers sometimes use; secondly, I will try and write about problems and topics that arise in a (Southern) African perspective, and thus give a first hand account of this place I call home; thirdly, I will just write and share my experiences will you the reader, in other words, I will give you my thoughts as a baker, beer brewer and (to be) philosopher. I hope that this will "wet your appetite", and that you will stay with me and read some of my whacky (philosophical) ideas and thoughts. Thank you if you read this, thank you if you are willing to read my future posts, and thank you to everyone who makes this platform possible for people like use to share our ideas. Untill next time!

👍 acidyo, pharesim, ocd, roelandp, mk40, m31, jeanpi1908, gniksivart, guyfawkes4-20, cub1, choogirl, ma1neevent, cmp2020, dimitrij, laniakea1, public-eye, mikeyue, kvt, fermentedphil, inkedandsexy, yulem, anomaly, steemitboard, wiplala87, dmiton, amal123

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@dimitrij · Nov 12 '17

Nice post dude! I was also featured on OCD DAILY - Issue #118, so I went to read other posts (like browsing a magazine) and really liked you related the two completely different things (I guess that's a quality of a good philosopher :D). 
My take on philosophy (just for the record, I'm not a reader, or a scholar, not that disciplined or smart) is that it gives a frame for future understanding, but I'm often afraid that it can have a deep influence on your perspective and condemn yourself on explaining things that are better off left in the relm of perceiving.. hmm, i don't know if this makes sense.. but i'm an artist, and after learning a lot of the "rules" of the from (how does one form affect other) I've started to "obey" those rules in my works. Even tho' they helped me a lot I noticed that at one point I felt I have to change my perspective and try to work just trough the perspective of an art enjoyer, and not art maker.. So I guess that what I'm trying to say is that philosophy should be used as a tool, not as a mindset, right? Otherwise it can be used to justify some things that shouldn't be justified. (e.g. I always wondered how can someone like Heidegger be so eager to join the Nazi's during WW2).
I think that what Camus said, when you're condemned to see Sysyphus happy, is a thing that i'm afraid of.. 

anyways, I'll follow you and hopefully start to learn some more on philosophy :)

congrats on your feature, and steem on ;)

D.

👍 fermentedphil

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@fermentedphil · Nov 13 '17

Hello there friend! Thanks for the visit and comment on my piece! I appreciate it. 

I think your statement ("condemn yourself on explaining things that are better off left in the realm of perceiving") is such a good observation. That is the big problem with philosophy, also that you get answers to questions you don't want to get. 

The art part is also so true! I am also an artist, will post some of my drawings soon! And what you said makes so much sense. If you are so stuck in the "normal, law-abiding" way of drawing you get stuck. I always try and break free from the rules. (That is why I also drink a glass of whisky to get rid of the fear of freedom!) 

Great to hear from you. Hope to see you again!

👍 dimitrij, fermentedphil

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@mk40 · Nov 10 '17

Welcome to Steemit! Glad to have come across your first post. I'm excited to see what other posts you will be putting up, hopefully some brewing posts maybe?! 

BTW, I am a curator with the @ocd project and would love to nominate your post for our daily compilation post. You can learn more about our project by checking out the links below. 

----------

This gem of a post was discovered by the OCD Team!

**Reply to this comment** if you accept, and are willing to let us share your gem of a post! By accepting this, you have a chance to receive extra rewards and one of your photos in this article may be used in our compilation post! 

You can follow @ocd – learn more about the project and see other _Gems_! We strive for transparency.

Let me know if you have any questions regarding the project or nomination. Hope to hear from you soon!

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*If you would like your posts to be resteemed by @ocd to reach a bigger audience, use the tag #ocd-resteem. You can read about it [here](https://steemit.com/ocd-resteem/@ocd/ocd-introducing-ocd-resteem-get-resteemd-by-ocd).*

👍 fermentedphil

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@fermentedphil · Nov 10 '17

Hello! Thank you so much for the comment on my first blog post! Greetings from South Africa! 

I will definetly put something up about brewing, the process and the philosophy behind the whole process!

It would be an honour! Thank you very much. I will check out the links you provided. Much appreciated. Hope to hear from you again!

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@public-eye · Nov 11 '17

thanks @ocd for spotting this post as well!

Hello fermenting friend!  I am half way there with you!  Not only does fermentation change the product, in most cases, it IMPROVES the product.  Some think most modern food allergies are because we no longer eat Fermented Food!  so you are on the right track!

As for philosophy.... I am mixed in feelings.  I have had friends that studied to be philosophers, and could philologize for hours about the most pointless stuff.  And so far, they have done nothing of value in their life. One is almost 40 and still lives with his mom.

But I will try and take a look at your blog from time to time, I hope your experience in philosophy is more productive and perhaps I can learn a thing or two.

So... I am a volunteer Cleaner/Detective/watcher here on steemit to keep the platform healthy and strong.  If you ever come across spam or scamming or other trouble, let me know!   I will try and clean it up!

Best of luck to you!   Have fun!
thx

👍 fermentedphil

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@fermentedphil · Nov 11 '17

Thank you for the comment! It is really a good point you said there: fermentation improves the product! Cannot believe I forgot to say that. 

As for the philosophy part, what you said is so true. I am 24 and I still live with my parents because I am still studying. I need to make a choice between studying further next year (doing my masters) or going out in the world and trying to make a change. At this moment I am thinking of opening a small bakery for sourdough bread. So I see your point! I don't want to be 40 and still be living with my mother!

I will do my best to keep an eye on that! 

From South Africa cheers!

👍 public-eye

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@public-eye · Nov 11 '17

$0.47

Very cool to hear!  Hopefully Steemit can be a small, but key part of a long and successful life!  Mmmmm...I love a good warm sourdough!    and you have billtong there too, right!?  I had it a few times before when I had a South African coworker!  Mmmmm better than jerky!

👍 thing-2, fermentedphil

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2 replies

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