Sourav: Blog

Is it any wonder a theistic apologist's twin intellectual pillars are wishful thinking and a poor understanding of natural law?

The article reports that Zacharias converted to Christianity after a suicide attempt at age 17. I wonder if there is a psychoneurological make-up (for example) that demands a Great Cosmic Silverback to make everything alright, and whether he was born with it.

Zen offers no comfort -- simply what is.

But what else is there?

A follow-up to my previous embedding on cognitive bias:

An interesting (problematic?) look at whether Aristotelian teleology is compatible with Buddhist ethics,

Buddhist Virtue Ethics and the Oneness of Practice and Attainment by KnutJohan Øen

( My own thoughts on the essay ... )

I vaguely recall that there is some Japanese word for the unity between sportbike and rider. What is it? My Googling has been fruitless.

Thanks!

Published in New York Times' Play magazine (free for a few more days; may require NYT reg):

What Keeps Bill Parcells Awake at Night

A close study in the spartan existence of an older man who says he isn't happy, whose wife finally divorced him after 40 years, but needs to feed the addiction of performing under pressure.

"What I want for Christmas is...an anti-religion rant":

A BOOK that rejects religion and argues for the non- existence of God is heading to be the No 1 bestseller for Christmas.

Richard Dawkins’s The God Delusion is at the top of the bestseller chart of the online bookseller Amazon, and is climbing up The Times bestseller chart.

I would add one element to his theory of virtues: a creative passion. The motive force that pulls you toward the future, and focuses your virtue in the present.

Eudaimonia not simply as the integrated total of virtuous discipline during one's life, but the epic goal that animates and inspires ingenuity, insight and intensity.

EDIT: The Nietzschean artistic drive, one might say.

Next time someone tries to sell me on philosophical skepticism I'm going to punch him in the face and pretend it didn't happen.

(relevant link)