Heraclitus, a pre-Socratic philosopher, once coined the idea that war is the father of all things. With the numerous armed conflicts raging around the world and causing untold suffering, this statement sounds provocative or at least incomprehensible. This statement, which is often quoted and discussed, offers a deep insight into the dynamic nature of existence. But in order to...
I would venture the following assertion: even great philosophers can be stupid. No, even more: they are stupid. Stupid and intelligent at the same time. Just as each of us is stupid and intelligent at the same time. Note: I do not want to use the word "stupid" here in an offensive or strong sense. I am merely using it in this context to emphasize the...
The mind is equally a tool that gives us the opportunity to understand that the bad things that happen to us are just part of it and will not last, as well as one that keeps us from forgetting that, even when things are going well, we can get a damper at any time. Unexpected twists and turns, in unwanted directions, in all their...
Let's take a look at Descartes' probably best-known concept, which still resonates today and is often regarded as the essential basis of epistemology: "COGITO ERGO SUM." "I think, therefore I am." René Descartes He established this insight as the first foundation of his philosophy, because at its core, "Cogito, ergo sum" serves as the fundamental truth in Descartes'...
The terms "a priori" and "axiom" are both important in philosophy and logic, but they stand for different concepts: A Priori The term "a priori" refers to knowledge or justifications that are independent of experience. "A priori" knowledge is based on logical conclusions and not on empirical evidence. In contrast, the "a...
Alfred Lansing's book Endurance Shackleton's Incredible Voyage [635 Days in the Ice: Shackleton's Expedition] is by far one of the best books I have read in recent years. Not only the subject matter but also the way it is written is incredibly authentic. In order to roughly summarize the story but not to anticipate too much, I will not go into details....
Alan Watts is known for his interpretation and integration of Eastern philosophies into Western thought. A good example of this is the following view, which is strongly influenced by Eastern thought, particularly Buddhism, and, interestingly, has certain similarities with Schopenhauer's philosophy despite the different contexts and conclusions. "Through our eyes, the universe is perceiving itself. Through...
Philosophical discourse on the nature of reality, consciousness and being has long been a complex and nuanced field. Two prominent figures in this field, Arthur Schopenhauer and Immanuel Kant, offer profound insights that are both in agreement, or at least convergent, and different in interesting ways. At the center of their philosophies is the...
Precisely because Hegel is known for his moving world view, it is not exactly surprising that he also thought about eternity. In common parlance, eternity is an ultimate state. The eternal progression of time and the resulting never-ending, eternally continuing existence. But it is even less surprising that...
By redefining thinking about the nature of the universe, Descartes revolutionized not only the world of philosophy, but the entire world. Previously, Aristotelian physics had been the dominant worldview of the Western world, which, simply summarized, presupposed a universe full of purposes and inherent qualities. Everything had a fixed purpose that it followed or goals after...
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