Clemens Lode's Blog, page 5

Ontology

 

“I am, therefore I’ll think.”   —Ayn Rand, Atlas Shrugged

In the natural sciences, things and events of every kind are dissected into their parts and then separately surveyed and categorized. This categorization occurs irrespective of the individual observer. The scientist attempts to view the world from the z. In doing so, he strives to eliminate o...

Illusions, deceptions, mirages

“Illusions, deceptions, mirages, your Mommy Fortuna cannot truly change things.” “That’s true, she can only disguise, and only for those who eager to believe whatever comes easiest.” — Peter S. Beagle, The Last Unicorn

What is a leader

“If your actions inspire others to dream more, learn more, do more and become more, you are a leader.” — John Quincy Adams

You are what you have it in yourself to be

“You are not what you were born, but what you have it in yourself to be.” — Kingdom of Heaven

Why You Need Philosophy

 

In a few years, I must finish a certain work. I need not hurry myself; there is no good in that—but I must work on in full calmness and serenity, as regularly and concentratedly as possible, as briefly and concisely as possible.

—Van Gogh

How is wishing to be in the spotlight on television similar to a Cargo cultA cargo cult refers to the behavior where someone tries to imitate certain aspects of another (successful) person, expecting the same success. For example, celebrities are often o...

Honesty

“Honesty is the recognition of the fact that the unreal is unreal and can have no value, that neither love nor fame nor cash is a value if obtained by fraud.” — Ayn Rand

Properties of Language

From the book series Philosophy for Heroes

Our perception of the world began with the perception of entities and the ConsciousnessWith our consciousness, we can become conscious about something, therefore, it is the process that emerges from the faculty...

Epistemology

This is an excerpt from Philosophy for Heroes: Knowledge

Epistemology

[Ontology] and epistemology are simultaneous—what exists and how we know it are the foundation that starts together. And that’s why the very first axiom is “Existence exists, and the act of grasping this implies there is something, and we have the faculty for being aware of it.” And thereafter we shift back and forth, “We ha...

Selfish Genes

“We, alone on Earth, have evolved to the extraordinary point where we can understand the selfish genes that shaped us. Because we are conscious of these forces we can work towards taming them. We can overthrow the tyranny of natural selection. Our evolved brains empower us to rebel against our selfish genes.” — Richard Dawkins

Whatever can die is beautiful

“Whatever can die is beautiful—more beautiful than a unicorn, who lives forever, and who is the most beautiful creature in the world. Do you understand me?” — Peter S. Beagle, The Last Unicorn