Tag Archives: Philosophy

The Subtle Power of the Dao: Source of All and Harmonizer of Extremes

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。 “The Dao is like an empty vessel;Though used, it is never filled.Profound, it seems to be the source of all things. It blunts sharpness,Unties knots,Softens its brightness,And mingles with the dust. Deep and clear, it seems to exist eternally.I do not know whose child it is,It appears to precedeContinueContinue reading “The Subtle Power of the Dao: Source of All and Harmonizer of Extremes”

Book Club: A Remarkably Unexpected Read

I started and finished reading An Absolutely Remarkable Thing by Hank Green over the past couple of days. Honestly, if ChatGPT hadn’t recommended it as similar to Upgrade by Blake Crouch, I probably wouldn’t have picked it up—let alone finished it. The main protagonist is a 23-year-old idealist who might have resonated with my 15-year-oldContinueContinue reading “Book Club: A Remarkably Unexpected Read”

Harmony or Control? Examining the Authoritarian Implications of the Third Verse of the Dao De Jing

Verse 3 by Lao Zi: 不尚贤，使民不争；不贵难得之货，使民不为盗；不见可欲，使心不乱。是以圣人之治，虚其心，实其腹，弱其志，强其骨。常使民无知无欲。使夫知者不敢为也。为无为，则无不治。 “Do not exalt the worthy, so that the people will not compete.Do not value rare treasures, so that the people will not steal.Do not display what is desirable, so that the hearts of the people will not be disturbed. Therefore, in the governance of the sage:He empties their minds andContinueContinue reading “Harmony or Control? Examining the Authoritarian Implications of the Third Verse of the Dao De Jing”

The Harmony of Opposites: The Way of Balance

Verse 2 by Lao Zi: 天下皆知美之为美，斯恶已。皆知善之为善，斯不善已。故有无相生，难易相成，长短相较，高下相倾，音声相和，前后相随。是以圣人处无为之事，行不言之教；万物作焉而不辞，生而不有。为而不恃，功成而弗居。夫唯弗居，是以不去。 “When the world recognizes beauty as beauty, ugliness arises.When the world recognizes good as good, evil arises. Thus, being and non-being produce each other;Difficult and easy complete each other;Long and short contrast with each other;High and low lean on each other;Sound and silence harmonize with each other;Front and back followContinueContinue reading “The Harmony of Opposites: The Way of Balance”

Book Club: To Be a Machine: Adventures Among Cyborgs, Utopians, Hackers, and the Futurists Solving the Modest Problem of Death

For years, I thought I was the lone weirdo harboring the dream of living forever—healthy, of course. Imagine my surprise when I discovered an entire community of people who not only share that dream but are actively working to make it a reality, transcending humanity itself. Enter the transhumanists, the fascinating subject of To BeContinueContinue reading “Book Club: To Be a Machine: Adventures Among Cyborgs, Utopians, Hackers, and the Futurists Solving the Modest Problem of Death”

The Ineffable Way: Essence and Manifestation

Related Post: Finding Order in the Timeless Flow of the Dao 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。 “The Dao that can be spoken of is not the eternal Dao;The name that can be named is not the eternal name. The nameless is the origin of Heaven and Earth;The named is the mother of all things. Therefore,ContinueContinue reading “The Ineffable Way: Essence and Manifestation”

Exploring Taoism

Years ago, I was gifted a truly stunning book—this translation of the Daodejing. It’s not just a translation; it’s an experience. The pages are filled with beautiful Chinese calligraphy, breathtaking photographs, and thoughtful English translations with commentary. Ever since, I’ve been itching to dive deep into the text and, if possible, try my hand atContinueContinue reading “Exploring Taoism”

What is Homophily?

ChatGPT introduced the word “homophily” to me yesterday, and I learned that its antonym is “heterophily.” I had never encountered either term before. Apparently, homophily is the tendency for people to associate with others who are similar to themselves. Doesn’t this remind you of some common expressions? “Birds of a feather flock together,” “great mindsContinueContinue reading “What is Homophily?”

Book Review and Reflection: The Lessons of History by Will and Ariel Durant

[Written by ChatGPT] When I picked up The Lessons of History by Will and Ariel Durant, I wasn’t quite prepared for how much this slim volume would pack into its 100 pages. This is no mere summary of their monumental The Story of Civilization—it’s a masterpiece of wit, humility, and deep reflection. The prose sparklesContinueContinue reading “Book Review and Reflection: The Lessons of History by Will and Ariel Durant”