The end of materialism by Charles Tart
It's a must read for a lot of people, really. But i guess i hoped for 1) more on the proof side or 2) more on the philosophically complicated side or 3) more sociological obervations on science. Nevertheless, it is a good introduction for the science of spirituality and the spirituality of science. :)
Psychology of science by A H Maslow
Frighteningly good psychoanalyses of the scientific program. I used to be quite negative about psychoanalysis, simply because of the popperian argument of ''it is not falsifiable'', but i now see it is actually quite strong (of course, i'm not without influences in my thinking :P - those who know, know). It should be (but is not) compulsory reading for anyone in science or academia.
Saturday, January 2, 2010
Friday, October 2, 2009
records of the life of the Venerable Master Hsuan Hua vol. 1
Full of inspiration and great stories (''wild stories'' in the words of Kurt) - this book shows how great the Master was. This book i will carry with me throughout my life and remembering it, i have full faith, surely brings protection. (Wow, i sound religious... i am)
read it.
read it.
The conscious universe - by Dean Radin
Good book
(though it does reflect Radin's frustration and wish to be acknowledged; which i can, for a large part, completely understand).
Radin has spent a large part of his career studying things that ''we'' usually think are impossible, psi-phenomena, and concludes they are clearly possible - even though we have no idea how.
Personally i think the evidence is more convincing than the counterarguments. (currently, among other things of course, my reading delves further into the ''evidence'' question (a complex one!) and the implications for philosophy and religion - i'm afraid it had strong implications for how religion should be studied; and am afraid that the field of religious studies will be too slow in absorbing the information and implications).
related sites:
http://www.deanradin.com/book.html
http://www.deanradin.com/NewWeb/deanradin.html
Dean Radin's blog: http://deanradin.blogspot.com/
(though it does reflect Radin's frustration and wish to be acknowledged; which i can, for a large part, completely understand).
Radin has spent a large part of his career studying things that ''we'' usually think are impossible, psi-phenomena, and concludes they are clearly possible - even though we have no idea how.
Personally i think the evidence is more convincing than the counterarguments. (currently, among other things of course, my reading delves further into the ''evidence'' question (a complex one!) and the implications for philosophy and religion - i'm afraid it had strong implications for how religion should be studied; and am afraid that the field of religious studies will be too slow in absorbing the information and implications).
related sites:
http://www.deanradin.com/book.html
http://www.deanradin.com/NewWeb/deanradin.html
Dean Radin's blog: http://deanradin.blogspot.com/
Saturday, July 18, 2009
An introduction to Confucianism - Xinzhong Yao
actually a dry book that could have been more lively if it would have had more stories and examples.
Yet it explains the confucian tradition from different angles and contains lots of information.
good for anyone interested in Chinese culture. Both as an introduction and - i think - and as a tool.
peace,
fedde
Yet it explains the confucian tradition from different angles and contains lots of information.
good for anyone interested in Chinese culture. Both as an introduction and - i think - and as a tool.
peace,
fedde
the conscious mind: in search of a fundamental theory - David Chalmers
i didn't finish the book yet, but i had to stop reading it for a while (it sometimes got me the feeling i used to have when doing math). An interesting book from a philosopher (with a background in math and artificial intelligence) on mind. He is intelligent and erudite, but i can't agree with everything.
Though i do like his attacks (i don't agree with all of them, i don't believe in zombies) on materialism and the fact he tries propose a scientifically acceptable theory of mind (the fact he tries is what i like, not the actual outcome for as far as i understand it now).
this book learned me:
-materialism is not what present data makes us believe at all;
-materialism is doubted by a significant number of modern scientists and philosophers
peace,
fedde
Though i do like his attacks (i don't agree with all of them, i don't believe in zombies) on materialism and the fact he tries propose a scientifically acceptable theory of mind (the fact he tries is what i like, not the actual outcome for as far as i understand it now).
this book learned me:
-materialism is not what present data makes us believe at all;
-materialism is doubted by a significant number of modern scientists and philosophers
peace,
fedde
Hidden dimensions: the unification of physics and consciousness - Alan Wallace
info: http://www.alanwallace.org/writings.htm
great book, great discussions of physics, consciousness, quantum physics and some relations to Buddhism.
Wallace is one of my heroes in a sense: great personality + very erudite.
i should get back to the book, cause i think i learned new things, new notions to handle the book better. will be fun and i will enjoy to re-read chapters.
He showed some things:
-how science is extremely biased - it really is - when approaching the mind.
-that materialism is not as widely accepted as we (i mean non professionals) get it from education (at least: how i got it) and media
-i know nothing about quantum physics :P
peace,
fedde
great book, great discussions of physics, consciousness, quantum physics and some relations to Buddhism.
Wallace is one of my heroes in a sense: great personality + very erudite.
i should get back to the book, cause i think i learned new things, new notions to handle the book better. will be fun and i will enjoy to re-read chapters.
He showed some things:
-how science is extremely biased - it really is - when approaching the mind.
-that materialism is not as widely accepted as we (i mean non professionals) get it from education (at least: how i got it) and media
-i know nothing about quantum physics :P
peace,
fedde
Elementaire argumentatieleer - Arne Naess
a great book on applied (yes it is possible) logics. It deals with how to make definitions, how to ''precise'', how to interpret and how to argue. Interesting for people using language and people who want to learn about logic starting not too mathematical.
it sharpened my thinking :)
btw i couldn't find the english title - if there even is a translation - and even couldn't find the Norwegian title :(
peace,
it sharpened my thinking :)
btw i couldn't find the english title - if there even is a translation - and even couldn't find the Norwegian title :(
peace,
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
