Last week, I shared with you a video lecture by Dr Michael Sugrue on Hans-Georg Gadamer, an influential 20th-century German philosopher who developed philosophical hermeneutics. This branch of philosophy focuses on human understanding, interpretation, and meaning creation. Today, I share another take on Gadamer's philosophy - Understanding and Dialogue: What I Have Learned from H. … Continue reading Spreading the Word: Lecture on Gadamer and Hermeneutics II
Spreading the Word: Lecture on Gadamer and Hermeneutics
In today's post, I would like to share with you another fascinating lecture by Dr. Michael Sugrue - Gadamer: Hermeneutics and the Human Sciences. Philosophical hermeneutics is a branch of philosophy interested in human understanding, interpretation, and meaning creation. Hans-Georg Gadamer was a 20th-century German philosopher, a leading thinker whose major work "Truth and Method" (1960) … Continue reading Spreading the Word: Lecture on Gadamer and Hermeneutics
Spreading the Word: 5 Misunderstood Philosophy Quotes
Who doesn't like those small, catchy nuggets of wisdom captured in quotes from different thinkers of human history? Admittedly, they are not quite as popular as cat videos, but they are a worthy equivalent in the world of wisdom literature. For example, I am sure many have heard Nietzsche's bold statement, "God is dead". But … Continue reading Spreading the Word: 5 Misunderstood Philosophy Quotes
Spreading the Word: Phenomenology of Edmund Husserl
The 20th-century German mathematician-turned-philosopher Edmund Husserl was the principal founder of the philosophical school and method of Phenomenology. His works are still actively studied today and he is considered one of the most influential philosophers of the 20th century. One way of approaching the vast phenomenon that is phenomenology (pun intended), is to explore the … Continue reading Spreading the Word: Phenomenology of Edmund Husserl
Spreading the Word: Philosophers on Authenticity
Continuing the theme of the last weeks, today I share a BBC podcast episode on authenticity. What does it mean to be oneself, is there a fixed self at all, and why should it matter whether we are authentic or not? Philosophers engage in discussing these and other questions, addressing some of the perennial themes … Continue reading Spreading the Word: Philosophers on Authenticity
Spreading the Word: Fable of the Bees
How can a poem influence economy and what do bees have to do with it? The 18th-century Anglo-Dutch philosopher, physician and satirist Bernard Mandeville has an answer. Fable of the Bees is his book that contains the satiric poem "The Grumbling Hive; or, Knaves Turn'd Honest" (1705) in which Mandeville uses an allegory to show … Continue reading Spreading the Word: Fable of the Bees
Spreading the Word: What is Phenomenology?
Phenomenology represents a crucial turn in the Western philosophical thinking. Tracing its roots to the 18th-century Enlightenment thinker Immanuel Kant, phenomenology takes human experience of phenomena as its central object and method of study. Although a large and complex topic, I found the following short video to offer an informative introduction and overview of what … Continue reading Spreading the Word: What is Phenomenology?
Why Interpretation Matters?
As storytelling creatures, we humans interpret words, texts, conversations, and the world all the time. We make sense by interpreting. We learn this early in life and get so good at it that soon enough we stop noticing that we are interpreting, not to mention what results from our meaning-making activity and why we have … Continue reading Why Interpretation Matters?
Spreading the Word: Scientific Revolution
This week I am finishing up the topic of the history of the Scientific Revolution. After having offered my philosophical take on it in the last two articles, I share with you this fun short video from the same YouTube channel that brought you last week's Plato and Aristotle - the CrashCourse. I especially appreciate … Continue reading Spreading the Word: Scientific Revolution
Philosophical History of Scientific Revolution – Part 2 of 2
This is the second part of the 2-part article where I explore the history of the Scientific Revolution from a philosophical perspective. That is to say - what sort of intellectual currents characterise and shape the shift in the way people viewed and studied nature. You can read the first part of the story in … Continue reading Philosophical History of Scientific Revolution – Part 2 of 2
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