NC Spreading the Word

Spreading the Word: Cozy Christmas Music

Happy, warm, safe, festive and joyous holiday season to all! Nothing creates a perfect ambience like music. I love this video and would like to share it with you: Cozy Christmas Coffee Shop Ambience video with Jazz and crackling fire sounds. Enjoy! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=edUTvaRWHf8 Keeping up the "Spreading the Word" tradition, I hope to share an … Continue reading Spreading the Word: Cozy Christmas Music

NC On Philosophy

Why We Need Contrarians

While the year is slowly approaching its end, and we live through another turn of the annual cycle, it is worth taking some time to reflect. Why do we do what we do? What motivates us to have the dreams that we have? Can we imagine, perhaps even allow ourselves to imagine, a different way? … Continue reading Why We Need Contrarians

NC Spreading the Word

Spreading the Word: History of the Largest Republic in Europe

It existed for some 400 years, was the biggest republic in Europe, and whose political ideas, some historians believe, might have influenced Shakespeare's Hamlet. Listen to the fascinating history of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth in this dedicated BBC In Our Time history podcast episode: The Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth. Enjoy! "...the republic that emerged from the union of … Continue reading Spreading the Word: History of the Largest Republic in Europe

NC On Philosophy, Thoughts on life

Why Is The Lightness Of Being Unbearable?

If you have read Milan Kundera's novel "The Unbearable Lightness of Being", published in 1984, you might have asked yourself this question. Why is the being light, and why is lightness unbearable? Here are my very brief reflections. Don't worry if you have not read the book, there are no spoilers in this post. Just … Continue reading Why Is The Lightness Of Being Unbearable?

NC Spreading the Word

Spreading the Word: Korean Philosophy

"Through propounding a gradual process of self-cultivation, Korean philosophy guides our own self-actualisation through our dutiful engagement with others in society, which ultimately affects our minds because the outside world shapes our interior one – and vice versa. As social beings, we penetrate the consciousness of others, and so humans are linked externally through conduct … Continue reading Spreading the Word: Korean Philosophy

NC On Philosophy

Can We Understand Meaning Without Language?

Is language fundamental to our understanding and interpretation of experiences? Can something be experienced as meaningful without our participation in a language-world and its structures of meaning? Would we even consider something an experience if we couldn't make sense (i.e., create a meaningful unity relying on meaning structures we inhabit) of that "something" we encountered? … Continue reading Can We Understand Meaning Without Language?

NC Spreading the Word

Spreading the Word: Research on Storytelling

In today's post, I share a podcast episode featuring one of the researchers engaged in a recent project investigating how the art of storytelling can help shift narratives in local communities to encourage more sustainable lifestyles. You can read their report and findings here. Enjoy! Keeping up the "Spreading the Word" tradition, I hope to … Continue reading Spreading the Word: Research on Storytelling