In this week’s spotlight, I want to discuss intelligence. What exactly do we mean by intelligence? Do you have to be human to be intelligent? If animals possess intelligence, do plants? Do we think that feeling is part of intelligence? Awareness—is that a measure of intelligence? Is the universe itself, as many philosophers and mathematicians believe, intelligent? Intelligent? Webster defines intelligence this way, “The ability to acquire and apply knowledge and skills. The act of understanding—comprehension.” Now think about that while I turn to some controversial research regarding plant intelligence. ... Read More
In this week’s spotlight I wish to discuss the chasm between our sciences and ethical concerns as they guide our public policies. We have discussed on this show the lack of ethical guidelines for matters such as genetic engineering, artificial intelligence, the use of machine learning for manipulation purposes, and so forth; but there are many other areas where science has reached a capability that the world is not prepared to deal with, and/or is ignorant of the possible ramifications given the deployment of some of these technologies. Given that ... Read More
In this week’s spotlight I want to discuss the idea of right action. For the Buddha, right action was a series of restrain injunctions, from Moses we have ten prohibition commandments, from the Sikhs we are admonished against five evils, and so it goes from all religions. Right action defined as negative admonishments. Happiness or Ethics Now there are political theories regarding right action that instruct us that: “According to the theory of right action, the happiness or pleasure of a greatest number of people in the society is considered ... Read More
In this week’s spotlight I want to discuss the notion of success. What exactly is success to you? Webster defines success this way, “The accomplishment of an aim or purpose.” Well then, according to Webster success is no more nor no less than what an individual decides when they set a goal and achieve it. Financial Gain Many people today generally think of success in terms of financial rewards. Oh, we all recognize the success of a young athlete who wins a ball game, or a child who overcomes their ... Read More
In this week’s spotlight I’d like to discuss circularity through something known as hermeneutics, or the branch of knowledge that deals with interpretation. Recently I had the opportunity to discuss with a friend our recent show with Professor Patrick Grim. At one point in our conversation, Grim suggested that he was becoming more and more inclined towards perspectivism, the idea that perception, experience, and reason change according to the viewer’s relative perspective and interpretation. Perspective I referred to the work of Nietzsche, in particularly his “Will to Power” essay and ... Read More
