Nominate books to be a philosophy book of the month
- PhilosophyGeek
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Re: Nominate books to be a philosophy book of the month
Not only is it hilarious, but a completely new way of introducing key topics, which is likely to engage readers from a much more diverse pool than usual.
I therefore believe it is a prime candidate for discussion.
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Re: Nominate books to be a philosophy book of the month
The fine-structure-constant is also inextricably linked to the halcyon days of quantum mechanics. At the time, it was tacitly assumed that "quantum reality" is a homeomorphism of our "Newtonian world", an assumption which Pauli eventually helped to repudiate. The question which made the fine-structure-constant pertinent was how many coordinates are needed to uniquely locate an electron, in it's atomic orbit. The obvious answer was "3": three Cartesian coordinates should've sufficed, just as they do when specifying the locations of macroscopic objects. And, although a fourth coordinate did keep impinging on the debate, the impossibility of visualizing what that meant precluded it's easy acceptance.
Among other anecdotes, Miller refers back to a running feud between Johannes Kepler, and one Robert Mudd. The question, at that time was basically which numbers should bear the "divine imprimatur". Even at the dawn of the Enlightenment, certain "numbers" still retained a kind of Pythagorion panache: was the number "3" the archetype of God's aesthetics; or, was it "4"? Pauli studied the relevant correspondence between the two men, trying to glean some insights into his own numerical debacle. Although Initially, Pauli sided with Kepler, he nevertheless found himself beguiled by the arguments of the less scientifically-inclined Fludd. As he felt his own sanity slipping away, in despair, Pauli sought out Carl Jung as his therapist. Pauli was simply going mad, trying to understand why quantum space was so bizarre.
A good deal of the book is devoted to the various machinations, which a heretofore, dogmatic empiricist resorted to, in order to make his intuitive leap explaining just how weird quantum reality actually is. I see the book, Deciphering the Cosmic Code as an empiricist manual which nevertheless acknowledges the inexplicable roots of the presumably explicable. Although the "intuitive leaps" which scientists make cannot be reduced to an algorithm, they do draw on a rich history of esoteric literature, and art. Jung opened Pauli's eyes to that "history", thereby enriching a new field of scientific study. For anyone who scoffs at opening the door, of science to such spookery, the book'll no doubt seem provocative. On the other hand, it's not a license to raid the i-ching for inspiration, either. A balanced, and thoughtful reading of Miller's book should afford a newfound appreciation for the role which "gifted hunches" play in making scientific advances possible. That's why I'm recommending it.
- Thought_2000
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Re: Nominate books to be a philosophy book of the month
If all that post on this board had no more questions but only answers, would this board have any purpose?
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Re: Nominate books to be a philosophy book of the month
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- Atreyu
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Re: Nominate books to be a philosophy book of the month
I'm convinced this is one of the best and most underrated books on philosophy in the 20th century.
Prove me wrong...
- Quotidian
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Re: Nominate books to be a philosophy book of the month
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Re: Nominate books to be a philosophy book of the month
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Re: Nominate books to be a philosophy book of the month
- Baumgartenman
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Re: Nominate books to be a philosophy book of the month
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Re: Nominate books to be a philosophy book of the month
- Misty
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Re: Nominate books to be a philosophy book of the month
Can be viewed on amazon, also reviews to read.
The eyes can only see what the mind has, is, or will be prepared to comprehend.
I am Lion, hear me ROAR! Meow.
- Manu
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Re: Nominate books to be a philosophy book of the month
'A Journey into the Microcosmos'
'Evolution at its best'
By T.Adi.Ray
It is beyond anything we have ever known.
A philosophy that will change the world.
A must must read for every human interested in philosophy and truth.
It says - 'The Creation awaits each to take this Journey in time,
Your Time is NOW'.
I believe the same after I read it.
The script has multi levels and each read is giving me new knowledge and new experiences.
I want all to experience what I experience today.
'Phenomenal'
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Re: Nominate books to be a philosophy book of the month
Foreword by Dr.Ghayasuddin Siddiqui, Director, The Muslim Institute, London.
with glossary,
Timeline,
bibliography,
list of addresses and emails contacts,
index.
The last two chapters are especially promising: "Contemporary Issues" and "Beyond the Impasse".
New Internationalist Publications Ltd. Authors' Copyright 2004.
- Erasmus Folly
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Re: Nominate books to be a philosophy book of the month
So You Think You're Human? A Brief History of Humankind by Felipe Fernandez-Armesto.
Synopsis:
You think you're human. But what does that mean? How can humanity be defined? Felipe Fernandez-Armesto takes us on an enlightening journey through the history of humankind to reveal the challenges to our most fundamental belief - that we are, and have always been, human. Chimps and humans are objectively so alike that an anthropologist from Mars might classify them together; advances in artificial intelligence mean that humans no longer have exclusive access to reason, consciousness and imagination; developments in genetics threaten humanity with an uncertain future. The harder we cling to the concept of humanity, the more slippery it becomes. But if it breaks down altogether, what will this mean for human values, human rights, and the defense of human dignity? So You Think You're Human? confronts these problems from a historical perspective, showing how our current understanding of what it means to be human has been shaken by new challenges from science and philosophy. Fernandez-Armesto shows how our concept of humankind has changed over time, tracing its faltering expansion to its present limits and arguing that these limits are neither fixed nor scientifically verifiable. Controversially, he proposes that we have further to go in developing our concept of humankind and that we need to rethink it as a matter of urgency.
2023/2024 Philosophy Books of the Month
Mark Victor Hansen, Relentless: Wisdom Behind the Incomparable Chicken Soup for the Soul
by Mitzi Perdue
February 2023
Rediscovering the Wisdom of Human Nature: How Civilization Destroys Happiness
by Chet Shupe
March 2023