Bertrand Russell was one of the most influential intellectuals of the 20th century, not only in philosophy, math, and logic, but also in pacifism and social reform. Bertrand Russell is one of the greatest intellectuals of the 20th century, widely recognized worldwide. Over the course of his life, which spanned three generations, he wrote more than 40 books and countless articles and essays...
Book Review – How does Alaa Al Aswany portray the reality of Egypt in Chicago?
Alaa Al Aswany’s Chicago sheds light on the lives of Egyptian intellectuals amidst dictatorship and corruption. Set in Chicago, the novel delves into the conflicts and realities of Egyptians who have fled their country, exploring the complexities of political repression and the human condition. About Alaa Al Aswany Egyptian novelist and dentist Alaa Al Aswany (b. 1957) was born into...
Book Review – Conjectures and Refutations (Karl Popper’s Theory Formation and the Role of Conjecture)
This article discusses Karl Popper’s emphasis on the importance of conjecture in theory formation and how his definition of observation influenced his arguments. It analyzes Popper’s distinction between observational inference and direct observation, and examines the implications of theory development through the interplay between the role of observation and conjecture. ...
The Structure of Scientific Revolutions, Can Science Progress Without a Paradigm Shift?
Thomas Kuhn argued that science advances through paradigm shifts. But can science progress without paradigm shifts? This article explores the relationship between normal science and scientific revolutions. Before Thomas Kuhn, people thought that science progressed by accumulating knowledge by building on past research in small increments, as exemplified by Isaac Newton’s famous quote...
Yuval Noah Harari’s prediction: Will superhumans become a reality?
Yuval Noah Harari predicted the rise of superhumans in Homo deus. But will it ever become a reality? Critically analyze his claims. Yuval Noah Harari predicts superhumans Yuval Noah Harari is a historian with his own distinctive set of values, and he works across disciplines to explain humanity. His classic books, Sapiens: From Ape to Cyborg and Homo Deus: A History of the Future, showcase...
Book Review – Entropy : A New World View, Can We Defy the Laws of Disorder?
Entropy: A New World View is a book that explores the sustainability of modern civilization based on the second law of thermodynamics. Can we really defy the law of disorder? Rifkin’s insights help us ponder the energy crisis and the future of civilization. A few weeks ago, I was waiting in line at the bus stop to catch the school shuttle. In the distance, a blue bus I had never seen...
Reading Log – How to Live on 24 Hours a Day? Learn from “How to Live on 24 Hours a Day”
How should we use the 24 hours in a day given to busy modern people? Arnold Bennett’s “How to Live on 24 Hours a Day” presents ways to effectively manage time and maximize self-development. This blog post is about How to Live on 24 Hours a Day by Arnold Bennett, who is considered to be the best novelist of the 20th century in the United Kingdom and played an important...
Book Review – What Is the Meaning of Life and Death as Learned from The Death of Ivan Ilyich?
The Death of Ivan Ilyich is a story that reminds us of the true meaning of life, love, and gratitude in the face of death. I once wondered what I would do if I died tomorrow. I was worried about my parents. I would need to send them a message of love and gratitude. The rest of my family and friends would also be sad. But the saddest person would be me. I thought that I would feel sorry for...
Book Review – Le Petit Chose (How Did Daniel Eyssette Overcome His Fate?)
Alphonse Daudet’s autobiographical novel, Le Petit Chose, is the story of the growth of Daniel Eyssette, who never loses hope despite his unfortunate circumstances. What does his journey to preserve his innocence despite poverty and hardship mean to us today? Who is the main character Daniel Eyssette in Alphonse Daudet’s (1840-1897) first novel, Le Petit Chose? He is a typical...
Book Summary – How was Hemingway’s masterpiece “The Old Man and the Sea” created?
Hemingway’s “The Old Man and the Sea” was created after 15 years of conception and writing. We will look at how this masterpiece came to be through the background of its creation and literary evaluation. Ernest Hemingway began writing The Old Man and the Sea in early 1951 while living near Havana, the capital of Cuba. He completed the first draft in late April of that...