Clearing the Ground

"Do you think that basic physiological demands - organic functions, as you call them - are external to social life, to culture, to civilization, and are thus unchangeable, or relatively so?  Such a postulate would be highly debatable and highly dangerous."

• Basic physiological demands are separate from those things, only in the thought that they are necessary functions in order to survive.  But they are also fully engrained into social life, culture etc.  I don't think they can ever be completely taken out of those social aspects.  For example, what we eat is part of culture.  Why is it dangerous though?

"Everyday life is an aspect of history, an interesting one, maybe, but minor.  To study it in itself and for itself entails certain dangers."

• Why does he like that world, danger, so much?  Why is that dangerous.  "Everyday" life is part of culture and life.  It can't be taken out of that.  It may not be newsworthy, but it is part of us.  It is there, so why not study it?  I find little quirks that people have to be extremely interesting.

Praxis = practice, accepted practice or custom.

"Critique of unfulfilment and alienation should not be reduced to a bleak picture of pain and despair.  It implies an endless appeal to what is possible in order to judge the present and what has been accomplished."

• I really like this explanation.  I have often worried about what I haven't done with my life so far, I guess it just shows that I am willing to change my situation.