Philosophy Wire: Human brain. Multiple dimensions. Earth and stars.

Using algebraic topology in a way that it has never been used before in neuroscience, a team from the Blue Brain Project has uncovered a universe of multi-dimensional geometrical structures and spaces within the networks of the brain.

The research, published in Frontiers in Computational Neuroscience, shows that these structures arise when a group of neurons forms a clique: cliques of progressively higher dimensions assembled momentarily to enclose high-dimensional holes, that the researchers refer to as cavities. "It is as if the brain reacts to a stimulus by building then razing a tower of multi-dimensional blocks, starting with rods (1D), then planks (2D), then cubes (3D), and then more complex geometries with 4D, 5D, etc. The progression of activity through the brain resembles a multi-dimensional sandcastle that materializes out of the sand and then disintegrates", [after our thought is completed] [1]

Thinking in multiple dimensions.
In ways invisible in the naked eye.
There is magic in the world.
Look at the beach.
A kid is building castles on the sand…

As soon as it is finished, the castle will disappear.

And yet, this is what will give meaning to his life...

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Philosophy Wire: Whiskey. Infrared radiation. Alchemy. Magic.

Philosophy Wire by Spiros Kakos [2016-10-13]: Infrared radiation can fine-tune the taste of whiskey. [1] In the old days an alchemist would use moon light. Now instead of that we use polarized light. The magic is the same. The name is different…

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Philosophy Wire: Alchemy - A knowledge vault.

Philosophy Wire by Spiros Kakos [2015-12-19]: Alchemy was a practice which served as a vault of wisdom throughout the centuries. Its practitioners were not lunatics as some movies want to portray them, but wise people who knew too much for their time and wished to transmit their knowledge to the initiated. Back then there was respect for knowledge and you had to be worthy to have it. Not like todays “all is free and effortless” days…

This is why they wrote whatever they wrote in code by using obscure language and symbols. The purpose of the philosopher’s stone was not to create gold because they were greedy, but it served as a symbol of the transformation of man into God.

Today however, despite the great knowledge we have accumulated, it seems we have forgotten what we once upon a time knew.

Wise men.
Full of melancholia.

Melancholy Ι of Albrecht Dürer.

Men who despite their intelligence cannot reach the so much wished apotheosis. Because intelligence on its own does not guarantee the understanding of the mysteries of the universe…

It needs a little bit of sun,
Rays from the mysterious moon,
A dose of morning mist…
And an eagle’s feather…

Magic.

This is what we miss. Because “That which is below is like that which is above” [1, 2]…

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Philosophy Wire: Definitions, spirit, magic...

Philosophy Wire by Spiros Kakos [2014-03-13]:

The world of spirit is something "magical".
The world of spirit is something "material".
The world of spirit is something "immaterial".

We disagree about the name of the same thing. We accept its properties, but we are deeply disturbed if someone names it in a different way than what we want. But does it even matter how we are going to name it?

Spirit, matter, God, One, Nothing...

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Philosophy Wire: Heat weapon, USA Army, magic

Philosophy Wire by Spiros Kakos [2012-03-13]: The US Army has developed a weapon that will make enemies feel extremely heated from distance [source: web news]. Magic are reality are difficult to distinguish sometimes. Or could it be that there is no such distinction?

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Philosophy Wire: Money, Magic and the subjective definition of "normal"

Philosophy Wire by Spiros Kakos [2011-03-18]: A man from Africa was arrested in Madrid, Spain because he was trying to sell a magic potion that would - according to him - double the money of whoever tried it. Why could that be a crime? [source: CNN Edition article] Is it because the potion does not work? Even a potion that leaves everything to randomness, would have a percentage of success. But what level of success do we consider "normal" so as not to condemn someone for fraud? If no method can reach 100% rate of success, who decides the limit of "low" and "high"?

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