CURRENT MISSION

Living and working in Armenia

ABOUT ME

My name is Simon. I was born is Sheffield, England, but for around the past three years I have been living and working in Armenia for a humanitarian organisation, before that I was a student in London, and spent a year in Russia.

I am a student of philosophy, and I am just beginning my doctorate in ethical and religious philosophy.

I am a drummer and I have played in many hardcore punk bands, touring around the UK, Europe and America.

I am a vegetarian.

PHILOSOPHY

I don't think, at the moment, I really have a personal philosophy. However, I do think that philosophy plays an important role in a persons life.

In particular, I think philosophy can help you to reflect on, and view the world in different 'un-natural' ways. And this seems to be crucial in living in a harmonious and virtuous way.

Yet, I would add, that another important thing philosophy can teach us is the tentativeness of all of our convictions. So, I think philosophical humility is also very important; all I know is that I know nothing, after all.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

HOW I PARTICIPATE IN COUCHSURFING

Any way I can!

COUCHSURFING EXPERIENCE

I have lived with people who have hosted couchsurfers, have heard about couchsurfer events, but basucally I am pretty much new to it.

Interests

Trekking and hiking
Nature
Former Soviet Countries
Playing and watching music
Philosophy and History
Alternative ways of living
Strange, surreal things

• vegetarian
• music
• hiking
• history

Music, Movies, and Books

Top 5's:

Movies:
5. Ashik Kerib - Sergei Paradjanov
4. Crumb - Terry Zwigoff
3. Stalker - Anderi Tarkovsky
2. Blade Runner - Ridley Scott
1. Blue Velvet - David Lynch

Music:
5. Brian Eno - Music For Airports
4. Hassan I Sabbah - S/T
3. INFEST - Slave
2. fIREHOSE - Ragin' Full On
1. Steve Reich - Music for 18 Musicians

Books:
5. Nietzsche - Genealogy of Morals
4. Dostoyevsky - Notes from the Underground
3. Kierkegaard - Fear and Trembling
2. E.L. Doctrow - Ragtime
1. David Foster Wallace - Pale King

Teach, Learn, Share

I have a good knowledge of the history of Western Philosophy, and I love talking about philosophical problems.

I have a good knowledge of the Soviet and post Soviet world countries (especially Russia, Armenia and Georgia)

Countries I’ve Visited

Albania, Austria, Azerbaijan, Belgium, Bolivia, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, India, Ireland, Italy, Macedonia, Morocco, Nepal, Netherlands, Peru, Poland, Spain, Turkey, Ukraine, United Kingdom, United States

Countries I’ve Lived In

Armenia, Russian Federation, United Kingdom

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