Philosophy — Blogs, Pictures, and more on WordPress

Blogs about: Philosophy

In an attempt to explain philosophy to kids, one of the first examples we often give them is: If a tree falls in the forest but no one is around to hear it, does it make a sound? As with many philosophical quandaries, it depends on who you ask. Philosophy is tricky like that. As we get older, we may start to ask ourselves equally challenging (but perhaps more relevant) questions, like: Does god exist? Or is he/she all in my head? Why be good? What is the meaning of life? What is luck? Do doggies have souls?

Featured Posts

Is Mind a Fluke of Nature?

Prometheus Unbound

According to atheist and University of Chicago biologist Jerry Coyne, probably: As for mind being nothing but a fluke of nature, well, that’s probably true, at least the human mind, since I don’t see our evolution as inevitable (it may have depended on mutations that are based on quantum effects). Coyne doesn’t elaborate on what he means by the relation of the human mind’s evolution to “quantum effects,” but bringing quantum physics into the issue of the mind’s relation to matter, my question then becomes the following: Why start with the axiomatic assumption that matter is prior to mind and must be responsible for accidentally causing human consciousness? Doesn’t quantum physics (via Schrödinger’s famous kitty), imply that matter requires mind (an observer) for a particle to move from a possible state to an actual state–that matter is in some manner inextricably bound up with the mind? For example, physicists Bruce Rosenblum and Fred Kut

To carry or not to carry?

Ming Thein | Photographer

Advance warning: I’m going to butcher Hamlet here, or as close as I can to it. Modern English isn’t really suited to the meter, nor is technical photographic jargon. I’ve done my best. MT: To carry, or not to carry – that is the question: Whether ’tis more sensible to pack your camera At only when the time and mood suits Or to always be loaded for bear And in preparation, bag the shot. To hear the shutter The flow of pixels, the fizzing chemistry of halide Whatever your medium. Tis a satisfaction Confirmed by the rush of hits. To travel unburdened With no magic box: ay, light of shoulder you be, For who knows what frames yet unseen may lie ahead The imagined torture of being able to see but Unable to capture gives the photographer pause. There’s the problem with going without. For who would bear the unfortunate light, The tripods and accessories, the TSA-man’s probe The aching shoulders, the impatient spouse, The ‘NO FOTO!’ shouted,

The Latest Posts in Philosophy

Recently posted on WordPress.com Subscribe

One Day At a Time…

All men are not created equal...are they?

This is my first time blogging. Everyone I experience life with says…you need to write a book. Write a book? Yes, about what you’ve experience after you lost Thomas. There’s been so many stories which I could write about…sad ones, hysterical ones, just learning to live life is the best one. I thought about it many times…journaled daily and then Monica, a recent widower who I met at an event, said…”you should blog!” So hear I am. I’ve never done this before and not even certain if I’m doing it right but it’s now a new experience which I will add to my life little lessons. I’ve chosen this photo for my blogging because I like the hallway which leads to no-where. The hallway is so beautifully appointed and can lead you down so many paths. Paths we want to take and paths not worth taking but all a learning experience. But why must we learn lessons? The bigger question. Yes…one day at a time for the last 9 years.

The Joy of St. Augustine

the fickle farce

A little over a year ago, I was shown a sermon given by John Piper on the life of St. Augustine. Piper discussed the great man’s life by preaching on his popular Confessions. The monumental work is essentially over 300 pages of a prayer written by the saint to his God. I have here included the sermon of Piper’s for your own enlightenment. Near the end of the sermon, he asks his listeners to commit to read the Confessions in the next year. I undertook the challenge only to finish roughly 17 months later. This work was at one time one of the most influential pieces of literature for the Christian and thinking world. In these pages, Augustine delivers his life’s confession starting from his birth and leading up to his conversion. The first eight books deal with his inward struggle to find true joy, complete and unsullied, only to find that joy in Christ. Everything else was unsatisfying in comparison to this prize. Augustine describes this moment of his conversion as cho

OSHO

whitecrow12013's Blog

The purpose of life is to be fully alive in this present life. Not walking as if we are already dead. To fully realize how beautiful all life is. Life is sacred, a gift. You need to live life to the fullest all the time. Death is guranteed, Life is not.-WHITECROW

Rock Carvings

breathofgreenair

The Transhumanist Logic of Technological Innovation

The Frailest Thing

Art Journal Entry for Today:

elephant4tress creations | katie ryan

Today is the Day

JhashFitness

When Jesus Was a Kid

sfnowak

Sudarshanam- Tantra of Creating Divine Vision

Renjiveda's Ocean of Love

This Is The Day

Jonathan Hilton

Seize Your Day (via www.jonathanhilton.com) At what time in your recent past have you felt most passionate and alive? By Jonathan Hilton Day 49 I have felt most passionate and alive right now, there is nothing that could top this moment in time until tomorrow! There are many people who will look far into the distant past for this answer or maybe…

Is Liberal Arts Education Worth It?

Jonathan's blog

I’m going to apologize in advance for the tone of this blog. Let me just give you some background information. I am a senior in college studying liberal arts with a major in Christianity and a minor in Biblical languages. If you are keeping score with the latest posts on top careers to go in, I am at the very bottom and am highly likely to be unemployed after college according to recent studies. Two recent articles were posted by Yahoo on how to make your college studies “worth it,” in their minds. Lets just take these at a glance and then discuss what it means about how most Americans view the role of college: 1. http://finance.yahoo.com/blogs/daily-ticker/only-150-3500-u-colleges-worth-investment-former-132020890.html. This is an article posted concerning the new book by former Secretary of Education, William Bennett, which seeks to analyze the returns on investment, ROI, of the over 3500 colleges in the U.S. Bennett’s analysis is purely based amount of averag

Your Daily Quote

Left and Center

“No one expects you to take a vow of poverty. But I will say it betrays a poverty of ambition if all you think about is what goods you can buy instead of what good you can do.” – Barack Obama, during his commencement address to the 2013 graduating class at Morehouse College.

A Face

onlythepoet

How can The invisible Touch stir The sensations Of a Hand, of A face Aglow in Empowered recognition, Of a Love nearly Buried by Tedious wordplay? The unseen, Affectionate graze Of vaporous Memories are Worth more To the Untrained poet Than the Forthright face Of untamed beauty.

Happiness…

nourishment3

Today is a holiday here in Canada and I spent the morning out walking the Seawall with a friend. It’s a beautiful sunny day and being near the water always brings me peace and that deep connection with nature. Being healthy is not only about food. That’s why I called my business/practice Nourishment3, because it’s about the mind, body AND spirit when it comes to overall health and well-being. And they are all connected. The condition or state of mind, effects the body and spirit. The condition of the physical body effects the mind and spirit, and the state of the spirit effects the mind and body!! So for you to think about, consider and maybe even be moved to give up, include or change in your life I leave you with this today:

Who is Rumi?

The Responsive Universe

“What you seek is seeking you.” ― Rumi Known as Jalāl ad-Dīn Muhammad Rūmi… One would think the wisdom and poetry of Rumi was more contemporary, yet he walked this earth over 800 years ago. He is known as an evolutionary thinker in a time and place when dogmatic and close minded despotic thinking was main-stream. Yeah, not much as changed in 800 years…. Why was Rumi special? Rumi was awakened… Rumi spoke of the divine ego and that all matter in the universe obeys the law(s) of love. His energy and wisdom seems more relevant as history continues to age; yet his teachings seem to grow with history; never to age. “Embrace the light and let it guide you beyond the winds of desire”… - Rumi Rumi was a famous 13th-century Persian poet, jurist, theologian, and mystic. Born September 30th, 1207 he lived a full life, dying on December 17th, 1273. According to Cambridge Professor and expert Edward Granville Browne, Rumi was a Sunni Muslim. However, despite the religious a

I’m honored to share with you, an exclusive interview with BenSalus

Chicago Art Life Media

Bensalus Art, a very talented individual who would like to share his story with others. He has accomplished a lot, is fighting for much more and plans on accomplishing much more, so be inspired by him and get to know Ben Salus Ben: What I love about being an artist is freedom and challenge. I feel blessed to have the opportunity to paint and draw and I try to treat that with the respect it deserves through my work ethic. I fear being lazy or using poor time management. No one threatens to fire you in this business and if you don’t police yourself you may screw up. I also fear new success. My first time painting live, winning a competition or teaching is a success yet offers new territory and responsibilities. Failure is a disappointment but take care not to sabotage your work to avoid challenges. I am always fighting but not for one thing. My son has autism, I have visited Israel during war and there are other struggles that I do not care to share. they always show up in my work

Odqrlh4p

odqrlh4p

Know Thy Character

A Journey in Pragmatics

“We are on an adventure?” said the captain. “What sort of adventure is that?” asked his lieutenant. “A grand one! On the scheme of things, that is.” “What sort of things are we talking about?” “The sort you can go on adventures with,” said the captain as he unraveled a map and laid it across the table. *** Dialogue can be a bit tricky. It can make or break your work. It is a question of character. Who are your characters? How do they interact? Why are they always getting themselves into trouble? Do they step off the page or do they sort of sit there sneering back at you despite your feeble attempts at persuasion? First, try and understand your characters. Get to know them. Perhaps invite them out to lunch. Ask them a few questions. Do they like milk? Are they fans of Tuesday afternoons? Why do they always end each sentence with an exclamation point?! Try and get eye to eye with them before you caste them in their role. Consider them actors in your story and make sure you keep them h

Page 2 →

WordPress.com