Category: Wisdom

In an age where science has unraveled the mysteries of the cosmos, offering us unparalleled knowledge about the physical world, we find ourselves grappling with a profound question: how do we use this knowledge wisely? The distinction between knowledge and wisdom has never been more crucial. While science provides us with facts and understanding, wisdom guides us in applying this knowledge ethically and meaningfully.

The Origins of Philosophy: A Dual Quest for Understanding and Ethical Living

To explore the roots of wisdom, we turn to the origins of philosophy, particularly the pre-Socratic thinkers — Greek philosophers who preceded Socrates (c.470 – 399 BCE). These early philosophers were not only pioneers of rational inquiry but also ardent seekers of ethical living. For them, understanding the cosmos was intrinsically linked with living a virtuous life. Figures like Pythagoras and Heraclitus delved into the nature of reality and human existence, proposing that true wisdom involved a harmonious balance between knowledge and ethical action. (more…)

“We have art so that we shall not die of reality.”  —  Friedrich Nietzsche

The book of Genesis in the Bible famously says that God created humanity “in our own image.” We’ve returned the favor – creating Gods in OUR own image. That is, human-like, only really really big. For example, the God of the Bible may not have a physical body, but certainly behaves in all too human ways: He loves and hates: “Jacob I have loved, but Esau I have hated.” (Mal. 1:2-3). He exacts revenge: “Vengeance is mine, says the Lord, I will repay.” (Deut. 32:35). He regrets: “The Lord regretted that he had made human beings on the earth.” (Gen. 6:6). He is jealous: “Do not worship any other god, for the Lord, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God.” (Ex. 34:14). Examples abound.

It’s called “anthropomorphism” – “anthropos” = human beings and ‘morphos’ = the form of something. So anthropomorphism is projecting human traits and actions onto things and situations that aren’t human, such as pets, or “an angry storm,” or “my phone died.” (more…)