Review: 'Does Santa Exist?' author Eric Kaplan: review by RNF3rd
Does Santa Exist?: A Philosophical Investigation
This is a review by Robert N. Franz.
Kaplan's "Does Santa Exist?" shows logic as making the decision between 'A' and 'not A'. In this case it means 'Santa' and 'not Santa'. One makes this decision and acts accordingly. For children there are 'pulls' one way or another. For adults one either becomes a 'liar' or a 'crazy'. To the author the logic seems another type of struggle between Aristotle and Plato once again.
I was disappointed that in this text Kaplan did not mention the reality of Saint Nicholas -- patron saint of children -- who at one time was a human in Europe giving gifts to children in late December's cold. Perhaps Kaplan does not include this memory as real. Perhaps he is ashamed of our now 21st century material view of the legacy. At any rate all the stories involved perceive the North Pole venture as 'flying high'. This book showed distinct areas of philosophy clearly stated. One can learn from the read.
Kaplan does make clear a distinct difference between the dichotomy of logic and the "two faces" of dualism in mysticism. The paradox of what is happening overhead is caused by something that makes us free. We can look to left-brain and right-brain differences and see both biology and physics involved. There is finding love as we also find a coherent theory of the universe. I enjoy hippies and old German nudists too.
I am glad that the Buddha answered "What" not in a question form. It was shown in this book that the 'Infinite Being' was just that -- infinite. Both the lab rats and wild rats die no questions asked.(PETA was never called) But don't we all pass on. It is in this spirit that we learn how to grow in a dignified manner -- whether or not (or even how) the story of Santa carries on to the next generation.
It was refreshing to see the author write about more than dichotomies, dualism and two faces. Time, processes and stages became important. The analogy of a tree was quite appropriate. His comedy is both calming and essential. How many years (both before and after my faith in the subject) did I wait at the top of the stairs in my P.J.'s with my heart in my throat? Could that be the same feeling in the bookstore when I paced around the book shelves after first spying the title of this book on the cover?
I felt that I learned something about myself while reading about Santa -- but Eric Kaplan's abundant knowledge made me feel that I had missed something. This was not his fault because as I read, it became apparent that our lives were very different. In my life I was able to be young and naive much longer than Mr. Kaplan. Family thought I believed much longer -- and therefore I was able to keep up the image. Who was 'crazy' or a 'liar' then? For these reasons I give "Does Santa Exist? -- a philosophical investigation 4.17 stars. Thank you for offering the work. It was enjoyable and great to read and now you know more about my Santa too.
This is a review by Robert N. Franz.
Kaplan's "Does Santa Exist?" shows logic as making the decision between 'A' and 'not A'. In this case it means 'Santa' and 'not Santa'. One makes this decision and acts accordingly. For children there are 'pulls' one way or another. For adults one either becomes a 'liar' or a 'crazy'. To the author the logic seems another type of struggle between Aristotle and Plato once again.
I was disappointed that in this text Kaplan did not mention the reality of Saint Nicholas -- patron saint of children -- who at one time was a human in Europe giving gifts to children in late December's cold. Perhaps Kaplan does not include this memory as real. Perhaps he is ashamed of our now 21st century material view of the legacy. At any rate all the stories involved perceive the North Pole venture as 'flying high'. This book showed distinct areas of philosophy clearly stated. One can learn from the read.
Kaplan does make clear a distinct difference between the dichotomy of logic and the "two faces" of dualism in mysticism. The paradox of what is happening overhead is caused by something that makes us free. We can look to left-brain and right-brain differences and see both biology and physics involved. There is finding love as we also find a coherent theory of the universe. I enjoy hippies and old German nudists too.
I am glad that the Buddha answered "What" not in a question form. It was shown in this book that the 'Infinite Being' was just that -- infinite. Both the lab rats and wild rats die no questions asked.(PETA was never called) But don't we all pass on. It is in this spirit that we learn how to grow in a dignified manner -- whether or not (or even how) the story of Santa carries on to the next generation.
It was refreshing to see the author write about more than dichotomies, dualism and two faces. Time, processes and stages became important. The analogy of a tree was quite appropriate. His comedy is both calming and essential. How many years (both before and after my faith in the subject) did I wait at the top of the stairs in my P.J.'s with my heart in my throat? Could that be the same feeling in the bookstore when I paced around the book shelves after first spying the title of this book on the cover?
I felt that I learned something about myself while reading about Santa -- but Eric Kaplan's abundant knowledge made me feel that I had missed something. This was not his fault because as I read, it became apparent that our lives were very different. In my life I was able to be young and naive much longer than Mr. Kaplan. Family thought I believed much longer -- and therefore I was able to keep up the image. Who was 'crazy' or a 'liar' then? For these reasons I give "Does Santa Exist? -- a philosophical investigation 4.17 stars. Thank you for offering the work. It was enjoyable and great to read and now you know more about my Santa too.
No comments have been added yet.
