"As a scientist, I really do believe the scientific method is quite powerful for explaining the world but — at least for the foreseeable future — it is not very good at discussing the human condition."
@bradleyvoytek discusses surrealism & the brain.
https://t.co/lihfQIxIyv
As a scientist, I really do believe the scientific method is quite powerful for explaining the world but — at least for the foreseeable future — it is not very good at discussing the human condition. So I think the strength of the arts and the humanities is its ways of discussing the human experience and I hoped to pick up on this in my book choices. The Master and Margaritaisn’t exactly a scientific book. When you’re looking at how people interact, the suffering, the pain, strife, love and all those crazy things, neuroscience doesn’t really have answers about that. That’s what we’re getting at in the introduction to our book.
A neuroscience of love, for example, what does that even mean? Can you really reduce something as complex as love — about which untold numbers of stories and poems and songs and music have been written — to the density of some neurotransmitter in a brain region? Personal experience tells me, no. And from a scientific perspective it also doesn’t really make sense, because we don’t really have a good definition of what love is. And so, if you can’t operationalise things in a scientific way, if you can’t come up with a solid strong definition for the thing you’re studying, then you’re not really studying a thing.
Our interpretation of that story is heavily filtered by the culture in which we’re raised. You take someone who isn’t raised in the Judeo-Christian culture and have them read that book and they’re going to have a totally different perspective on it. A lot of the allusions and allegories in it won’t even make sense. That’s something that fascinates me — how the culture in which we’re raised affects our brain development and our perceptions and interpretations.
“Our experiences of the world are not necessarily a true reflection of the world.”
‘Reality’ is exactly part of the problem that science fiction investigates. SF, along with fantasy more broadly, sets out to extrapolate imaginatively from the world."
@arrroberts discusses the best science fiction classics.
https://t.co/bqafpQ61Ts
"We’re situated in the world but we’re alienated from it, we don’t feel that we quite belong, that we quite fit. That feeling is what drives existentialists."
@Sarah_Bakewell discusses the best books on #existentialism.
https://t.co/BRVwWxaGvH
Popularity is often assumed as an index of utility and value but Ramdev's Swadeshi campaign and Ekta Kapoor's TV serials - to take two examples - can't be rated as particularly salutary. Modernity arrived after one lakh years of human society and nurturing it is the duty of all.
https://twitter.com/SavitriEraParty/status/1052236462614347777?s=19
“So, for Hegel, who I am is partly constituted by what others take me to be. I may not like this, but that’s tough, because it is made necessary by what it is to be ‘something’ at all. ”
Stephen Houlgate gives an in-depth look at #Hegel.
https://t.co/jAv31iI4Dh
"Life is too short to work on ideas that might not work": writing advice and book recommendations from Daisy Johnson (@djdaisyjohnson) https://t.co/6Pky4mAxrG https://t.co/zCKOi9Y0BI
"Never occurs to me I’m writing for anyone. It’s not something that is structured into my psyche." Rachel Kushner, author of the @ManBookerPrize shortlisted THE MARS ROOM https://t.co/pnz7IdPDib
"I think it is all too easy, especially given our current age, to deny the humanity of those who are unlike us, to wilfully see the stranger in others." Esi Edugyan, author of @ManBookerPrize shortlisted WASHINGTON BLACK https://t.co/RLMSsGAjTp
"That’s what writing is: a struggle with oneself." Robin Robertson, author of @ManBookerPrize shortlisted THE LONG TAKE https://t.co/ZM2wwtOz0w
"Being scared is in my blood, and Stephen King is the first person I ever read who really, really frightened me." Daisy Johnson, author of @ManBookerPrize shortlisted EVERYTHING UNDER https://t.co/6Pky4miW36
Excited for the announcement of the @ManBookerPrize winner at 21:30 BST? Read our interviews with this year's shortlisted authors: Rachel Kushner, Esi Edugyan, Robin Robertson, and Daisy Johnson, and tell us who you think will win in the replies below. https://t.co/UPJHEA6gnZ
Wow! #pioppidiet 2 places above @nytimes best seller 'Trump Revealed' in India before media launch #obesity #NHS https://t.co/AkNyBOLD9S
Love to jump off an airplane to free fall for sport? The ordinary travel policies won't cover you. But there are a few that may, of course, at a much higher premium.
@DishaRSanghvi writes in @livemint https://t.co/It6Tk8l24a
The idea was mooted in early 1930s by Francis Townsend I think. Apropos Merton I was only pointing out that he seems to be back in circulation
https://twitter.com/surajundp/status/1052466585305112576?s=19
Era of quantum politics | #AnitaPratap : In physics, as in politics, linear, reductionist thinking is outdated. We now live in an era of uncertainty, unpredictability, accelerating change, complexity and interconnectedness https://t.co/RJ9MvijJ4v
The Many Mysteries Of The Konark Sun Temple.
It was the world's tallest building of its time. The murti floated by the arrangement of a massive top magnet, bottom magnet and reinforced magnets around the temple walls.
https://t.co/EE0qih3Gso via @swarajyamag
At #Sabarimala, Ayyappa, born from the union of Shiva & Vishnu as Mohini, takes the form of Naishtika Brahmachari (perennial celibate) & performs eternal tapas (meditation); hence women devotees of reproductive age (10 to 50 yrs) desist from disturbing him : @VijayVaani
#_Sabarimala_ verdict : an act of social engineering | According to @Swapan55, the courts applied the principle of "Constitutional morality". It overlooked what Ayyappa devotees believe is an "essential religious practice" | #_S_D_G_ https://t.co/BEZndxsByw via @TOIOpinion
In Sabarimala a test of values and nerves: Jiby J Kattakayam After days of peaceful protests over the Supreme Court judgment allowing women of all ages entry into Sabarimala comes the violence at Nilakkal, a key halting point on the pilgrimage. A number… https://t.co/qt0hX6ewWS https://t.co/Ou6CO90taY
Keeping Alive The Spirit Of Durga Puja
One must be cautious that in the commercialisation of the festival, we don’t end up losing its original simplicity, sanctity, and a sense of community participation.
https://t.co/nBcf1KBiK8 via @swarajyamag
Low statistical literacy among physicians is a growing public health concern. Wegwarth & Gigerenzer illustrate how & why most physicians (and their patients) do not understand the available medical evidence. Solutions offered. https://t.co/6SmDZDm0Qr @DrAseemMalhotra https://t.co/bcM4h9Tvye
"If you break your leg, you are not going to suddenly be seen as less successful than you were before you had broken your leg. So why do we have this stigma around mental health?"
@ProfTanya discusses child psychology and mental health
https://t.co/W7i1iMXxpT
"For me, 'The Denial of Death' is one of the most profound and provocative books of the 20th century. Everyone these days knows Freud, but a lot people haven’t even heard of Becker."
Read Ernest Becker's Pulitzer Prize winning work 'The Denial of Death'.
https://t.co/jaAhiuozR7 https://t.co/1X77KUS3l9
Philosophers Name the Best Philosophy Books: From Stoicism and Existentialism, to Metaphysics & Ethics for Artificial Intelligence https://t.co/XIIzFDKXGq https://t.co/SNvmSktugN
Zero Marx: How The Left Has Divorced Itself From Its Core Hindu Vote Base. The Left is an anachronism and misfit in India largely because it chose to force-fit Indian realities in a hackneyed Marxist framework https://t.co/HVkacB7R90 via @swarajyamag
Indian Educational Institutions Are ‘Confucioused’, Warns IB; Says China Penetrating Domain To Create Mayhem https://t.co/bL6AnQNuqr via @swarajyamag
“One of the things that’s intriguing about Chinese philosophy is the focus on the mundane ways we live our everyday lives and how that can have huge effects over time.”
Michael Puett recommends the best works of Chinese Philosophy.
https://t.co/KYrURQwA46
“Men and women make history but not in circumstances of their own choosing”
The best books on Modern German History, a #readinglist by @ClareCollege modern European historian @HesterVaizey https://t.co/SEWBIMsCa7
"I think we often look at Ancient Egypt through rose-tinted spectacles: we are wowed by the pyramids and the temples, and we don’t often stop to think about the human misery that accompanied these great civilisations."
Toby Wilkinson on Ancient Egypt
https://t.co/zEeubiDpgF
“Julius Caesar is seen by many people as a very attractive figure—my own feeling is that he is actually much darker, verging on psychopathic.” Tom Holland (@holland_tom) recommends the best books on Ancient Rome
https://t.co/6tT0WRdxuw
When someone refers to America or China, it's invariably their Govt. There is a paucity of conversations about their people, general life, and matters of human interest. Even a powerful visual medium like TV has failed to do justice with spreading awareness about far off nations.
https://twitter.com/SavitriEraParty/status/1052439977995440129?s=19
A #new #book #review in the #journal #Political #Theory
on #Sustainability #politics #Greece #India #Democracy
A Defense of Rule: Origins of Political Thought in Greece and India by Stuart Gray - Aakash Singh Rathore @OUPPhilosophy @OUPAcademic
https://t.co/qDKYRqPtCQ
The five best works of political philosophy, a #readinglist by acclaimed philosopher @BlavatnikSchool Jonathan Wolff https://t.co/6HeAURBoGq
"If you believe, as Hitchens and Dawkins and I believe, that religion was invented by people, then to hate religion is to hate people."
Anthony Gottlieb @N10Egottlieb on books about God https://t.co/ia0Hs5XfFi
Unbound author @michellejchan picks @five_books on displacement, a theme at the heart of her novel Song.
https://t.co/JCRuoIJtUv https://t.co/uTVTeSuO7i
I'll be moderating a round-table @CIIS_SF next month called "Defining and Achieving Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in Troubled Times"
It is sure to be an interesting conversation. Do share your thoughts for what you'd like us to address. https://t.co/Eh04mP8kb1
Back to teach at Schumacher College in April 2019: “The Evolution of Consciousness and the Cosmological Imagination” https://t.co/DnG2yOFdUO https://t.co/7Ao925PEIK
While rationale for individual fulfilment is presented elegantly, it's pertinent to consider and contextualise what Sri Aurobindo calls Collective Yoga that is no less relevant since "No man is an island entire of itself; every man is a piece of the continent, a part of the main" https://t.co/5aaDJUguXz
https://twitter.com/SavitriEraParty/status/1051715582062718977?s=19
Men and women are different in a hundred ways and recognising this reality by rejecting the hypocrisy of equality is the remedy. Reconstituting systems and situations by catering to psychological necessities should be the priority than facetious portrayals in fictions and movies.
https://twitter.com/SavitriEraParty/status/1051685556890025985?s=19
'Let us get it straight. Neoliberalism has ripped you off and robbed you blind. The evidence of that is mounting up – in your bills, in your services and in the finances of your country.'
https://t.co/IU2BBLJD9c
Distinguishing the True Role of the Vital Activity of Human Society from Vital Barbarism https://t.co/yD5xXyvw3V
The Vital Barbarism of an Age of Industry and Commerce https://t.co/01rzH4Zea1
RT | @ANI : Bishop Franco Mulakkal who was released from Kerala's Kottayam jail yesterday after being granted unconditional bail by Kerala High Court, was welcomed in Jalandhar today. He is accused of raping a nun from Kerala | #_N_E_W_S_
#MJAkbar resigns from his post of Minister of State External Affairs MEA. https://t.co/FcNLh4cVDv
Reputation of being sexual predators well precedes Tejpal, Akbar, Dua, Bhatia, Jatin Das.
Friends & even family are in the know - but it seems to be a parallel universe syndrome where you complain about the violent dog next door ignoring the monster at home.
#MeToo
https://twitter.com/_NAN_DINI/status/1052570005605371904?s=19
In TT case it is well known that a close woman associate of his was merrily doing the ‘facilitation’ service. Possibly every mediaworthy knew of his ‘conquests’ and many proud of it. Absolute bunch of scums
https://twitter.com/prasannavishy/status/1052601727990554629?s=19
"The human suffering isn’t captured in the word ‘epidemic.’ I think, from a historical point of view, ‘plague’ better describes the broad impact of Aids."
Dr. Arthur J Ammann recommends the best books on the HIV/Aids crisis.
https://t.co/6NTwQRD0dZ
Using #economics and #tech to ‘out’ #MeToo #predators: BusinessLine Wait, what? Outlandish though it may sound, there are economic models and technological applications that can help expose serial sexual #predators and establish a cast-iron legal case… https://t.co/U67jfIqlee https://t.co/lUoltJAkvC
“Popular culture is a dominant force in people’s lives and can’t simply be dismissed as trivial or mere entertainment. Popular culture shapes our fantasies, our expectations, our beliefs about what is real.” @SusanBordo examines popular culture
https://t.co/I2PN8xbcEt
"Technology is making data easy to generate, but at the same time, there aren’t a lot of people who can look at this data, and have the skills or know the tools to make sense of it." @rdpeng on Data Science: https://t.co/NtxHnYts3c
“Data science is a pretty big tent. It encompasses a lot of people, and that’s kind of the point.”
@rdpeng, Professor of Biostatistics at @JohnsHopkinsSPH, picks the best books for understanding Data Science https://t.co/NtxHnYts3c
Antitrust enforcement: Emergence of artificial intelligence poses new challenges for courts: FE Bureau AI and the future of antitrust enforcement The evolution of self-learning algorithms and sophisticated computers has posed new challenges to the… https://t.co/bmtKyOGR3b https://t.co/QddBmrxyRb
Love in time of #AI | @utkarsh_amitabh : Not far back, Elon Musk launched Neuralink with the goal of connecting brains with computers. We find ourselves in a world where science, science fiction and magic are fusing into a cultural chimaera | #_A_I_ https://t.co/zhST8NPENP https://t.co/ndouyYRqV3
The Rabbit & The Squirrel by Siddharth Dhanvant Shanghvi | #_books_ | @UtterFlea : From The Wind in the Willows to Animal Farm, authors have used anthropomorphism to explore serious themes and a range of issues that have preoccupied humans https://t.co/C26vtobU7R https://t.co/E7Mqhespuu
#MSGolwalkar : Indianisation does not mean tht one should b asked 2 quit his religious system. We neither said this, nor r we going to say so. Rather we believe that a single religious system for th entire human society is not suitable | #_M_V_ #_RSS_ https://t.co/5OaesIZDtz
#_AnnaPurnaDevi_ | @gopalears : Annapoorna Devi's life, as it endures in people’s mindscapes, is layered with ambiguities and meanings, reminding one of the famous Pablo Picasso saying, “everything you can imagine is real” | #_Music_ https://t.co/G83ARZ8YEu
Queen Victoria was anything but Victorian and Lord Byron was more vulnerable than we think, says writer Jonathan Keates. The best collections of great letter-writers: https://t.co/JbEFs3Mioa
Unfortunately many either keep it so high that they exclude themselves voluntarily, as a venture too difficult. Many who come to it, come to profane..so She holds her secret to paraphrase Sri Aurobindo.
https://twitter.com/kalisbrood/status/1052530189278867457?s=19
grateful to Maria wirth for her beautiful unparelleled analysis of what ails the papal regime.she has also introduced Hindu religion in proper perspective to make westerners aware of a better alternate available.i place her in the high pedestal along with aurobindo Ma/nivedita. https://t.co/PPJK9QP3Sm
https://twitter.com/IyerRamachand/status/1052487968605130752?s=19
Sauti Sol blends warm resonant pop with traditional Kenyan influences. Their melange of energetic rhythms has promot https://t.co/MN3rrSUb4O
Antithesis of Yoga is a non-fiction novel about Auroville’s first 25 years. http://t.co/AMfMhUbYK5
Jean-Noël Orengo's next novel will grow its roots in the history of #Auroville; stories of the men and women who... https://t.co/ItqlWXIXrB
Islam is hated so promptly in India today but its role in the history of philosophy and evolution of Modernity is an interesting story. https://t.co/Bice52cnzo
https://twitter.com/NathTusar/status/1051444828272295936?s=19
Most are aware of Vidura but same can't be said about Vidula. Sri Aurobindo attempts [a free poetic paraphrase...translates freely in parts, in others makes some departures or adds, develops and amplifies to bring out fully the underlying spirit and idea.] https://t.co/Hc63QBSx3w
https://twitter.com/NathTusar/status/1051377187327070208?s=19
The Life Divine by Sri Aurobindo is a modern day wonder which is unlikely to be surpassed in any foreseeable future. Both physics and biology are trying to come to terms with the prophecies made in it. But South Indians are forever fascinated by forts and temple architecture alas
https://twitter.com/SavitriEraParty/status/1052148384507813888?s=19
It may be true that as social animals everyone is in need of others' appreciation or a sense validation but practice of yoga trains to be udasina, i.e., indifference and detachment. Besides, a significant variation in seeking appreciation between men and women can't be ruled out.
https://twitter.com/NathTusar/status/1052448458811035650?s=19
Expect a new version of Amar Akbar Anthony in a month or two showcasing #MeToo. Bollywood is always prompt in cashing in on such hot topics. However, no one should be held guilty before the courts say it in a majority verdict.
https://twitter.com/NathTusar/status/1051470019127726080?s=19
Old Bollywood numbers are an indispensable part of Puja celebrations. Jumma chumma de de is being sung in our Colony now followed by Laila o laila.
https://twitter.com/NathTusar/status/1052635362839867392?s=19
The denial of girls’ bodies & the lack of training in healthy sexuality leave girls and women exposed to #sexualviolations within homes, in public spaces, and in offices.
Have you ever come across this situation?
Read This👉 https://t.co/NxtsDSYfkq
#ChupTheBook #TuesdayThoughts https://t.co/20enY5yshz
#MeToo is about a cultural shift in which enough women are finally breaking rules of how a good woman should behave.
https://t.co/sAIbOqTNcC via @shethepeopletv
https://twitter.com/ChupTheBook/status/1052467733923647488?s=19
When a girl’s life goal is to serve others, it helps not to have a strong, differentiated self, not to have well-defined preferences & strong likes and dislikes. Have you ever buried your likes and dislikes for the benefit of others? Let's talk.
#ChupTheBook #ThursdayThoughts https://t.co/nDv9C34RKH
The denial of girls’ and women’s bodies is still so respectable in our culture and runs so deep, that it is difficult to dismantle. It is this denial that makes it so problematic to have a woman’s body.
#Chup #ChupTheBook #SundayMotivation https://t.co/l5C5x9pvCf
[The Sri Aurobindo Ashram Trust has received many requests to set up a facility to receive donations online. Those wishing to make a donation to the Ashram may do so by visiting https://t.co/IHdxW6j0D8. The site and payment gateway are secure, and data privacy is respected.]
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