The mind dreams of possibilities and potentials and is cursed by the inability to express them all. The disconnect between our dreams and reality is felt during the weeks after New Year’s, when resolutions are put to the test and people find that it is much harder to write that book or run that mile… Read more »
Monthly Archives: November 2013
Must all Debts be Repaid?
Debt is a very confusing topic, mixed up with economics, politics, morality, and religion, not to mention a wide spectrum of emotions from grief and apathy to anger. The book Debt by David Graeber delves into several of these aspects in his history, and opens for discussion a key question: What role and to what… Read more »
Devil’s Advocate
Playing “devil’s advocate” is a lazy way to seem intelligent because it has guaranteed success. If there is likely no such thing as an objective truth (link), i.e., something that is true regardless of time and place, then any statement or thought will have exceptions.
Nature vs. Nurture
In the dichotomy of nature vs. nurture, nurture wins. Most characteristics that tend to be placed in the nature column in fact belong to nurture, such as much of the supposed gender divide. The sometimes held myth that women are not as good at mathematics, for example, is more a result of imposed gender roles… Read more »
Justice and Education
When meting out justice, the courts say that ignorance is no excuse; not knowing the law and courtroom/police procedure does not protect one from the punishments resulting from breaking the law. If this is true, then justice seems to require a populace educated in law, police work and courtroom protocol. Yet, many remain uninformed and… Read more »
Understanding and Labeling
It is a shame that in many cases, the level of debate in politics (either at the dinner table or between pundits) has not developed past kindergarten. Name-calling and pigeon-holing and high emotion leading to arguments and recrimination are far from uncommon.
The Art-Entertainment Spectrum
The distinction between art and entertainment is a fuzzy one at best, but there are a few key aspects that can be considered.
Truth and Words
Objective truth is likely impossible. If one states something as an absolute truth (that will remain true into the indefinite future and was so back to the indeterminate past), doubt him. Wise words hold a truth, but it is only a relative one. It can be approached in the hard sciences and mathematics, but considering… Read more »
Sobriety and Control
In the current debate about the War on Drugs, there is an underlying current of what the acceptable amount of intoxication is in society. This really centers on control and has little to do with sobriety per se.
Supporting the Artist
In an ideal world, it would be a point of pride to support an artist. Artists are making something out of nothing, and that “something” is nothing short of magical. Art can evoke emotions, change minds, inspire, or simply provide comfort. Yet, there is a trend of thought that “art should be free,” which is… Read more »
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