Category Archives: Philosophy

The Vast Unseen and the Vast Unseeable: Reconciling Belief and Nonbelief

Posted on March 27, 2014 by

Those who are not philosophically inclined can be divided, roughly, into two groups: There are the Naïve Realists who think that what is available to the senses or potentially available to the senses is all that there is. And then … Continue reading →

Posted in Epistemology, Metaphysics, Philosophy, Philosophy of Mind, Religion, Uncategorized | Leave a comment

A Cup of Tea

Posted on February 28, 2014 by

Many years ago, a professor from one of the western world’s great universities went to visit the Japanese master Nan-in to learn about Zen. Nan-in invited the professor to sit and offered him tea. As Nan-in prepared the tea, the … Continue reading →

Posted in Epistemology, Philosophy, Teaching Literature and Writing | 6 Comments

The Limits of Learning

Posted on February 28, 2014 by

OK, I admit it. I haven’t read The Vicar of Wakefield. I’m always suspicious of people who have that air about them of having read everything.  I’m onto them. Here’s why: Years ago, when I was an undergraduate at Indiana, … Continue reading →

Posted in Epistemology, Teaching Literature and Writing | 4 Comments

Aiden Reading on the Way to Preschool

Posted on February 23, 2014 by

So, Aiden was asking whether the being of self-consciousness is such that in its being its being is in question, and I said, “Come on, Aiden, you’re old enough to look that up yourself,” which he did, but not before … Continue reading →

Image | Posted on February 23, 2014 by | 2 Comments

The Tractatus Comico-Philosophicus: Martin Heidegger

Posted on February 22, 2014 by

Martin Heidegger Cares (Except When He Doesn’t) We didn’t ask for this crap. We fell into it, like some amnesiac thrown onto a stage, without a script, in the middle of a play already underway. (So, your first reaction is, … Continue reading →

Posted in Existentialism, Philosophy | Leave a comment

The Tractatus Comico-Philosophicus: Rene Descartes

Posted on February 22, 2014 by

Rene Descartes Explains It All to You Here’s my method: I start by trying to doubt everything. I realize, however, that I cannot doubt that I am doubting, that I am thinking. Therefore, I exist. (I think, therefore, I am.) … Continue reading →

Posted in Philosophy, Philosophy of Mind | Leave a comment

The Tractatus Comico-Philosophicus: Søren Aabye Kierkegaard

Posted on February 22, 2014 by

Søren Kierkegaard Takes a Leap of Faith Being a human being is weird. We’re not predetermined. Because we are free, nothing is required of us. All that we have, then, are our absurd commitments. Real commitment is shown when we … Continue reading →

Posted in Existentialism, Philosophy | Leave a comment