19 APR 2013 by ideonexus
Post-Modernism in Ancient Thought
In the midst of the decline of Greece, Athens, which, in the days of its power, had honoured philosophy and letters, owed to them, in its turn, the preserving for a longer period some remains of its ancient splendour. In its tribune, indeed, the destinies of Greece and Asia were no longer decided; it was, however, in the schools of Athens that the Romans acquired the secrets of eloquence; and it was at the feet of Demosthenes’ lamp that the first of their orators was formed.
The academy, t... 1 
notes
notesWith the idea that nothing is knowable, philosophy fell into a rut. Aristotle came along with the brilliant idea that everything we know comes through our senses, but failed to take that idea anywhere useful.
28 MAR 2012 by ideonexus
The Wonder of Curing Polio
The most compelling cases of preferring fact to fiction are the most practical. All the prayer, animal sacrifice, and chanting in the world couldn’t cure polio—the Salk vaccine did. And how did we find it? Through rigorous, skeptical, critical thinking and testing and doubting of every proposed solution to the problem of polio until only one solution was left standing. Let others find uncritical acceptance of pretty notions a wonderful thing. I’m more awestruck by the idea of ending pol...
1 It was someone who immersed themself in testable reality that cured polio, no amount of prayer or chanting achieved this.
05 JAN 2012 by ideonexus
Skepticism Means Wrestling with Issues Without Knowing if...
I use the word skeptical in an etymological or philosophical sense, because to be
skeptical does not mean that one doubts, but that one investigates or searches without the
need to find definite conclusion or affirmation. There are those who examine a problem
and feel they must find an explanation or a solution, whether it is accurate or not.
[...]
So then, they will say to me: “What is your religion?” And I will respond: my
religion is to look for truth in life and life in truth,...Folksonomies: skepticism spirituality
Folksonomies: skepticism spirituality
1 notes
notesMiguel de Unamuno rallies against what he calls the "spiritual laziness" of dogmatists and describes his quest for spiritual meaning.
18 MAY 2011 by ideonexus
Skepticism is Not Enough
As I've tried to stress, at the heart of science is an essential
balance between two seemingly contradictory attitudes - an
openness to new ideas, no matter how bizarre or counterintuitive,
and the most ruthlessly sceptical scrutiny of all ideas, old and new.
This is how deep truths are winnowed from deep nonsense. The
collective enterprise of creative thinking and sceptical thinking,
working together, keeps the field on track. Those two seemingly
contradictory attitudes are, though, in some ...We must also be open to new and challenging ideas.
