Ibn Sina, or Avicenna as he is known by the Latinized version of his name, was an Islamic polymath and peripatetic philosopher (influenced by Aristotelian philosophy) widely recognized as one of the leading thinkers in the medieval period. His influence spread both in the Islamic world and in the Latin West. Here is a very … Continue reading Spreading the Word: History of Medieval Philosophy – Talk on Avicenna
The Act of Change
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Spreading the Word: A Buddhist And A Neuroscientist In Dialogue
What would a conversation between a Buddhist monk and a neuroscientist look like? And what would they agree and disagree on? In the following conversation, Matthieu Ricard, a Buddhist monk trained as a molecular biologist, and Wolf Singer, a distinguished neuroscientist, offer their perspectives on the unconscious and the role of meditation in resolving conflicts … Continue reading Spreading the Word: A Buddhist And A Neuroscientist In Dialogue
Book Review: P. Adamson “Al-Kindi”
A review of philosophy professor Peter Adamson's 2007 book on al-Kindi, the 9th-century Arabic polymath and philosopher.
Spreading the Word: Our Access To Reality
One of the oldest debates in the history of human quest for knowledge is whether we can access the objective reality at all. Some think there is no objective reality at all and that "it's all in our minds", others think there is nothing else besides it and that our knowledge directly represents that reality. … Continue reading Spreading the Word: Our Access To Reality
Rationality As The Effortful Way To Knowledge
Although we intuitively understand the meaning of such terms as 'reason' and 'rationality', these concepts are not unequivocal (e.g. this SEP article on bounded rationality lists at least 7 accounts of rationality and says that the list is not exhaustive). Moreover, these concepts often have a normative connotation where being rational and reasonable is considered good, valuable, … Continue reading Rationality As The Effortful Way To Knowledge
Spreading the Word: Comedy For Weekend
It is short and simple today: a stand-up comedy video to add some laughter to our weekend 🙂 Enjoy! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nAULsoAQn2g Keeping up the "Spreading the Word" tradition, every weekend, I hope to share with you an article I've read or a video I've seen and considered to be inspiring and insightful. I feel it is … Continue reading Spreading the Word: Comedy For Weekend
“All Are Ennobled by Truth” Quote by al-Kindi
The first Arabic philosopher, 9th century thinker al-Kindī, said that truth and wisdom are valuable regardless of where they come from. What did he mean?
Spreading the Word: “Philosopher of the Arabs”
Considered the first philosopher in the Islamic tradition and the first to write philosophy in Arabic, 9th-century thinker al-Kindī held that philosophy can help solve Islamic theological dilemmas. Philosophy professor and a life-long researcher of al-Kindī's works, Peter Adamson has written a book on this pioneering Islamic thinker (my review of it is coming soon) … Continue reading Spreading the Word: “Philosopher of the Arabs”
Creation Tale or thoughts after reading The Silmarillion by J.R.R. Tolkien
Beginnings are a good time to remember how it all started, how you came to where you are now. Here, I revisit one of my first articles posted on humanfactor.blog back in August 2019.
humanfactor 