Philosophy Wire: Trees. Dead. Alive. Who cares…

A tree. Mysterious. Scientists believed it was the lone relic of an old forest in an ancient city. Now they know it was just an old dead tree transported from afar. [1] But why was it transported? Why was it alive in the first place? Why do we care? Stare at the simple questions. They alone provide all the complex answers you need…

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Philosophy Wire: Unreliable.

According to a new study, students struggle to critically assess information from the Internet and are often influenced by unreliable sources. [1] Oh, child. How can you question anything? Unless you question everything?

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Philosophy Wire: Answers.

Origins of Earth's magnetic field remain a mystery. [1] Does it matter how it came to be? The thing is that it is there. Questions are not important. What is important is that answers have already been given.

(c) Philosophy WIRES - Commenting world news from philosophy's perspective…

Philosophy Wire: Unreal reality…

Philosophy Wire by Spiros Kakos [2023-02-20]: We humans have a bit of a problem with reality. We experience it all the time, but struggle to define it, let alone understand it. It seems so solid and yet, when we examine it closely, it melts away like a mirage. We don’t know when it began, how big it is, where it came from and where it is going, and we certainly have no clue why it exists. Since ancient Greece, we have come a long way. What was once explained in terms of divine creation is now in the explained – or so we think – via science. Over the past 200 years or so, we have peeled back the layers of reality, even if we are still not entirely sure what we have revealed. But if anything, the mystery has only deepened. We are now at a point where it is equally credible to claim that reality is entirely dependent on subjective experience, or entirely independent of it. Reality has never felt so unreal. [1]

Silly questions.

What is real?
What is real but the perception of real?
How can anything be perceived as real without being such?
Can anything but a tautology exist?

Are we bound on our own definitions while chasing our tail?
With the proper definitions, anything can be real.
Without any definitions, we can still perceive reality.

Look at that table.
It is there.
Because you see it.

But it disappears the moment you don’t.
You can touch it.
Until the moment you cannot.
Question your questions.

Are you here?

(Can the table touch you?)

(c) Philosophy WIRES - Commenting world news from philosophy's perspective…

Philosophy Wire: It is in the genes… But what is it?

Photo by Spiros Kakos @ Pexels

Intensive DNA search results in the conclusion that 10 genes are related to schizophrenia. [1] Interesting. That means that these 10 genes are also linked to the lack of schizophrenia. So what remains to be seen is whether… schizophrenia is a good thing or not! And that is the value of true science. To generate questions that philosophy needs to answer… Because science is still immature. But like any child, it can truly pose interesting questions to its parents for them to ponder upon… Yes science needs philosophy, but also philosophy needs science! As any parent needs their children, even before they are born.

Look! A butterfly!
Why do butterflies fly father?
Sit down my son…

(c) Philosophy WIRES - Commenting world news from philosophy's perspective…

Philosophy Wire: Why do you like coffee? No, this is not the question…

Why do you swig bitter, dark roast coffee while your coworker guzzles sweet cola? Scientists searched for variations in our taste genes that could explain our beverage preferences, because understanding those preferences could indicate ways to intervene in people's diets. But to scientists' surprise, the study showed taste preferences for bitter or sweet beverages aren't based on variations in our taste genes, but rather genes related to the psychoactive properties of these beverages. [1] I like this. I like that. A cosmos dictated by preferences. A universe rotating around our will. We try to decompose that will, to understand it. Why we like something, why we hate something else. Why do you like life you little man? Why are you afraid of death? Stop! Stop being afraid. Stop hiding behind your little finger. Be brave enough to acknowledge what you cannot know! No, you do not want to find out why you like coffee. You are just too afraid to what I might ask you while we drink that coffee…

(c) Philosophy WIRES - Commenting world news from philosophy's perspective…

Why?

A question that hides all the answers.

Why does the world exist? We wander…

Without understanding just how what we ask also answers our question. How would we look for whys in a world without cause?

How?

A question that in itself explains why we should not even ask her...

Everything can be done in many ways. And any question with many answers tells us that it is not even worth answering it...

Where?

A question that hides in a common view its insignificance... A question with so many possible equally valid answers that cries out how unnecessary is to try to find out which one is the correct one.

Where did this happen? you ask.

And at the same time you ask you feel that what matters is what happened and not where it did happen.

Who?

A question you consider crucial only if the "he" or "me" makes sense. Yet you and anyone else exist only out of time and space, on a level that the "self" remains unchanged, and therefore makes any other question useless. In such a world it makes no sense to ask who did anything. In such a world only one "I" exists and contains everyone.

Look around you and listen to the silence of the night.
She asks the most important questions.
Under the moon, the Why does not make sense.
In a dark world, only light can exist.
And it is in no mood to ask why.
The darkness can only give birth to light.
And this can only evolve to darkness.

One can only give birth to the many.
And the many only point towards One.
There is no Why with no Answer.
And yet every answer hides a question.

Why do you ask why there is something?
Do you not see that you are born of nothing?
Why do you answer how your life makes sense?
Do you not see that if this is the case then you wouldn't even ask this question?

Everything was once part of One. And then you decided to break the mirror. Everything was once You. And then you decided to start seeing others. Nothing ever happened. And then you decided to start looking for what and how. Once upon a time you did not wonder why. You were the answer to everything.

Once upon a time you never asked any questions.
Because you had all the answers...
Now you ask everything.
And you do not know anything.

Look at the answer.
It hides a basic question within it.

Why do you ask?
Do not you want to learn?

Spyridon Kakos

Kythira,

2018-08-06, 11: 55pm