I read this again. The idea of philotics is truly intriguing, but even if you aren’t into imaginary theoretical physics, this book is amazing. In the heart of this story are the characters, who tend to be brilliant, wounded and incredibly real. The survival of 3, possibly 4, intelligent sentient species hang in the balance of human corruption, tragedy, cleverness and compassion. However, before you dig your teeth in to this gem of a book, please become properly informed of the back story by reading Ender’s Game and Speaker for the Dead. Two more incredible tales about humanity.
Tag Archives: philosophy
What do dolphins drink?….BLOOD!!!
Philosophy has really been shaking my world view. Theories about invisible hands, the myth of the cave, the world of being vs. the world of becoming, who should rule, social contracts, subjective reality, monads, and the matrix, just for starting in reality and justice. I feel like the world is all cluttered with good intentions and bad intentions, but the outcomes are not always what you would expect. These words, like justice and dignity, that hold such powerful ideas keep cropping. I almost feel like I’m being brought from one reality, into a higher one, as in the myth of the cave. From the world of accepting, to the world of questioning, but it isn’t easy, I’m losing my footing and security along the way, the naive idea that everything must be right with the world. I’m not talking about conspiracies here, looming danger, but more about the injustices that go ignored, ideas formed by uninformed minds, and the human tendency to push things under the carpet – out of sight, out of mind. In a way I feel like I’m losing faith in the world, in humanity, but at the same time, I’m gaining it because of all these great thinkers, all the strong, empowered individuals I see asking questions, learning, creating. A short while ago I read the intro to The Reason For God online (I’m reading The God Delusion and want to be fair about seeing both sides). I remember scoffing at how the author, Timothy Keller, insisted that faith was growing and scepticism was growing at the same time, but now I think it might be a type of paradox. Maybe that’s only because I feel similar about my level of faith in humanity, it’s higher and lower than ever, because I am learning more of the horrible things humans have, and continue to do, and I’m discovering more and more people who are creative, wise, musical, kind and intelligent. I guess, I’m not quite sure what to think, but I feel optimistic, and a bit empowered, because at least I’m thinking about it, thinking about the world and what I believe in.
The Tinkerbell effect
The Tinkerbell effect describes those things that exist only because people believe in them. The effect is named for Tinker Bell, the fairy in the play Peter Pan who is revived from near death by the belief of the audience.
Claimed cases include:
- monetary system
- civil society
- the “rule of law”
- deities
- authority
40 Belief-Shaking Remarks From a Ruthless Nonconformist
3. The surest way to corrupt a youth is to instruct him to hold in higher esteem those who think alike than those who think differently.
4. There are no facts, only interpretations.
5. Morality is but the herd-instinct in the individual.
This is a fun logic game we tried out in philosophy today. Don’t try and pick the ‘right’ answer, because there isn’t one. Just make sure you don’t contradict yourself 🙂
