What are the risks of a failed imagination? And what does it mean for the imagination to fail? What conditions foster imagination, and in what environment does imagination wither? Philosophers have engaged with the question of imagination for thousands of years, often placing it as a structure somewhere between bodily sensations and intellectual thought. If … Continue reading Imagination Matters
Role of Imagination: Middle Ages and Enlightenment
What is the role of imagination in our lives? How does it influence our experiences? These are some of the questions that many philosophers have asked throughout the ages. And the discussions are still ongoing. One thing we can say with some degree of certainty is that our ideas about imagination have changed with time … Continue reading Role of Imagination: Middle Ages and Enlightenment
Friedrich Schleiermacher and the Art of Understanding
Friedrich Daniel Ernst Schleiermacher (1768–1834) was a German philosopher and theologian who is considered to be the founder of modern Protestant theology and modern hermeneutics as a philosophy rather than a specialised subject-matter method (such as used in theology or law). Schleiermacher was interested in developing a systematic and comprehensive theory that deals with our … Continue reading Friedrich Schleiermacher and the Art of Understanding
What Does Empathy Mean
Many people across the world are celebrating the beginning of a new year today, and some are thinking about New Year's resolutions - how to improve ourselves, be better persons, take on new projects, hobbies, or change some habits. Maybe you would like to be more compassionate and understanding with other people. This worthy goal … Continue reading What Does Empathy Mean
Spreading the Word: What Is Continental Philosophy?
During the 20th century, many things happened. It was a busy century. Among all that busyness, disenchantment with long-lasting traditions, and rapid technological advancement, one divide emerged that still holds strong today - the divide between analytic and continental philosophy. Why did it happen, and what does it mean? Today I share a video by … Continue reading Spreading the Word: What Is Continental Philosophy?
Spreading the Word: Forgotten Existentialist
Sartre and Kierkegaard are among the well-known names of existentialist thinkers. There is one name that does not come to mind too often when thinking about existentialism - Karl Jaspers. Read more about this 20th century philosopher whose influence is sometimes neglected: "Forgotten Existentialist". Enjoy! "After all, his work initiated one particular strain of French … Continue reading Spreading the Word: Forgotten Existentialist
Greek Philosophers In The British Museum
In the collection of the British Museum, there is on display a row of four philosophers from Ancient Greece. All four busts are Roman copies of lost Greek originals, and all four are more than 2000 years old. I had the chance to visit the museum and took this picture. Meet the philosophical version of … Continue reading Greek Philosophers In The British Museum
Spreading the Word: Multicultural Medieval Philosophy
Does the thought of a multicultural medieval philosophy surprise you? Do you believe those "dark ages" were mostly focused on religion and predominantly concerned with Christian theological discussions? If yes, it may well be that your views were shaped by historical narratives that are still, unfortunately, not that uncommon. It was after taking courses in … Continue reading Spreading the Word: Multicultural Medieval Philosophy
Spreading the Word: 10 Soviet Philosophers
"Discover the USSR's forgotten thinkers". Have you ever read any of the Soviet philosophers? Have you heard about them? Did you know they even existed? It is really rather surprising, with all the diversity and inclusion trends and all, how seldom one comes across non-Western philosophers' names in an English-speaking philosophical space. You are sure … Continue reading Spreading the Word: 10 Soviet Philosophers
Spreading the Word: What is Deconstruction?
What do philosophers mean when they talk about deconstruction? This concept is rather simpler than it might sound. It is associated with the 20th-century philosopher Jacques Derrida who introduced it as a notion describing a way of thinking. What sort of thinking? Have a listen to this interesting short video and find out about some … Continue reading Spreading the Word: What is Deconstruction?
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