Man’s structure seemed indeed to destine him for a more humble existence. His instinctive resistance to innovations is a proof. The inertia of humanity has never yielded, save under the impulsion of genius. In a word, science demands a twofold effort, that of a few men to find some new thing and that of…
….. but once you come to the intelligence, Farewell nature! Farewell life! Intelligence is assumed to be what it is “for no particular reason, for the fun of the thing.” As if it did not also correspond to vital needs! Its original business is to resolve problems similar to those resolved by…
Christians as well as Buddhists can practice Zen just as big fish and small fish are both contentedly living in the same ocean. Zen is the ocean, Zen is the air, Zen is the mountain, Zen is thunder and lightning, the spring flower, summer heat, and winter snow; nay more than that, Zen is…
When I heard this tune by The Call, both of you came to mind. I offer these lyrics and this tune in tribute to you both. As friends, you are on opposite ends of the spectrum of sensibility concerning the existence of God, but I think that you are moving in the same direction. …
I do not read classical Greek. I studied enough koine Greek or common Greek to be able to pronounce these words. Whenever I read them, unaccountsbly I feel close to Heraclitus of Ephesus, the Pre-Socratic philosopher. Heraclitus was a contrarian. While it is natural to look for permanence, to seek permanence in the systems…
It is criticism that demands an effort. The assertion stopped me cold while reading the chapter entitled Static Religion in Henri Bergson’s book, Two Sources of Morality and Religion. Is it not painfully clear than things are badly off kilter in our world? Never before have we had the capability of news awareness 24×7,…
A measured discussion between a half dozen friends was conducted via email. We exchanged ideas pondering the causes which make the conservative minded and the liberal minded so different. The difference in attitude, in perception is not minor. There is a preference for a strong man father-figure, even for an abusive tyrant as long…
Percival, the wild rabbet living in our backyard was sighted again yesterday. I suspect that he/she is finding shelter under our deck. Does the young animal “know” there are fewer predators in our yard than just 50 yards away in Almond Marsh? Maybe. Was reminded of a line from Bergson in yesterday’s post that…
Life is a certain effort to obtain certain things from raw matter, and that instinct and intelligence, taken in their finished state, are two distinct means of utilizing a tool for this object; in the first case, the tool is a part of the living creature; in the other, it is an inorganic instrument…
LIFEis a co-ordinationof disciplined elementsamong whichthe work is divided.therefore, the socialunderlies the vital. This is so in those societies where the individualmust be ready to sacrifice itselffor the whole:the hive and the anthill.This result is obtained by instinctwhich is an extensionof nature’s work of organization.This means that natureis more concerned with societythan with the…
