[Written by Grok. Image credit] The concept of “unthinkable thoughts” delves into the boundaries of human cognition, exploring ideas or concepts that seem to lie beyond our mental grasp. Philosophers, mathematicians, scientists, and cognitive psychologists have long pondered these limits, with figures like Kurt Gödel in mathematics showing through his incompleteness theorems that there areContinueContinue reading “Unthinkable Thoughts?”
Tag Archives: Philosophy
Book Club: The Meaning of Life (What Life Should Mean to You by Alfred Adler)
I’ve always wondered why we seek meaning in life—why we look for purpose beyond survival and material comfort. Are we the only species that contemplates meaning – is this search uniquely human? And if life itself appears inherently meaningless, why is the pursuit of meaning so universal? Simply living and surviving is, in itself, anContinueContinue reading “Book Club: The Meaning of Life (What Life Should Mean to You by Alfred Adler)”
Understanding Karl Popper: Piecing Together the Historical Backdrop
[1920s Street View in Vienna, Austria. Image credit] I started reading Karl Popper’s Unended Quest, but quickly hit a roadblock—I realized I don’t know enough history to fully appreciate the context of his world and ideas. From the world wars to the philosophical and scientific developments of his time, I feel woefully ignorant. So, thisContinueContinue reading “Understanding Karl Popper: Piecing Together the Historical Backdrop”
The Enduring Flow of the Dao: Wisdom from the Seventh Verse of the Daodejing
Verse 7 by Lao Zi: 天长地久。天地所以能长且久者，以其不自生，故能长生。是以圣人后其身而身先；外其身而身存。非以其无私耶？故能成其私。 “Heaven and Earth endure.The reason Heaven and Earth can endureIs because they do not live for themselves;Thus, they can live forever. Therefore, the sage places themselves last,And yet they come first;They put themselves outside,And yet they are preserved. Is it not because they are selflessThat they can achieve theirContinueContinue reading “The Enduring Flow of the Dao: Wisdom from the Seventh Verse of the Daodejing”
Book Club: Unended Quest by Karl Popper [Reading Plan]
I’ve recently discovered Karl Popper and his philosophy of critical rationalism. I started reading his autobiography and found it incredibly engaging. It’s not a book you can rush through. Following Grok’s advice, I plan to break it down into five sections and share my thoughts and reviews gradually. Related posts: Popper to Deutsch to parenting,ContinueContinue reading “Book Club: Unended Quest by Karl Popper [Reading Plan]”
Lost Memories: The Impact of Dementia on Identity and the Hope for Neuronal Repair
I’ve been thinking a lot about memory lately. Sadly, my grandmother, who is over 90, no longer recognizes me. Just last year, she could recall a few stories from my childhood and share them with affection every time we spoke on the phone. Now, those memories have vanished, and to her, I’m just another stranger.ContinueContinue reading “Lost Memories: The Impact of Dementia on Identity and the Hope for Neuronal Repair”
The Eternal Flow of the Dao
Verse 6 by Lao Zi: 谷神不死，是谓玄牝。玄牝之门，是谓天地根。绵绵若存，用之不勤。 “The valley spirit never dies—It is called the Mysterious Female.The gateway of the Mysterious Female—It is called the root of Heaven and Earth.Softly, continuously, it seems to remain—Yet its use is never exhausted.” Related verses: Verse 4 by Lao Zi: 道冲而用之或不盈。渊兮似万物之宗。挫其锐，解其纷，和其光，同其尘。湛兮似或存。吾不知谁之子，象帝之先。 Verse 1 by Lao Zi: 道可道，非常道。名可名，非常名。无名天地之始；有名万物之母。故常无欲，以观其妙；常有欲，以观其徼。此两者，同出而异名，同谓之玄。玄之又玄，衆妙之门。 [Written byContinueContinue reading “The Eternal Flow of the Dao”
Impartiality, Balance, and Simplicity
Verse 5 by Lao Zi: 天地不仁，以万物为刍狗；圣人不仁，以百姓为刍狗。天地之间，其犹橐龠乎？虚而不屈，动而愈出。多言数穷，不如守中。 “Heaven and Earth are not benevolent;They treat all things as straw dogs.The sage is not benevolent;He treats the people as straw dogs. The space between Heaven and Earth,Is it not like a bellows?Empty, yet it does not collapse,Moving, it produces more. Too many words lead to exhaustion;Better to holdContinueContinue reading “Impartiality, Balance, and Simplicity”
It’s All Connected
[Image] I recently finished binge-watching “The Manifest”. There’s a line from the series that has etched itself into my brain: “It’s all connected.” A bit spooky if you dwell on it, and yet, it perfectly describes where I’ve landed with my recent reads and discoveries. A couple of days ago, I stumbled upon the bookContinueContinue reading “It’s All Connected”
Paths Taken and Untaken: Living Fully in the Life We Choose
“What might have been and what has beenPoint to one end, which is always present.Footfalls echo in the memoryDown the passage which we did not takeTowards the door we never opened” – Burnt Norton [Written by ChatGPT] Life is a series of choices, each one shaping the path we walk and the person we become.ContinueContinue reading “Paths Taken and Untaken: Living Fully in the Life We Choose”
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