Showing posts with label philosophy. Show all posts
Showing posts with label philosophy. Show all posts
March 19, 2010
February 23, 2010
What is green?
I'm having a philosphy-phase at the moment I think, well and truely inspired by de Botton and too much time with my own thoughts. It's nice to feel in touch with my angst-ridden teenage years. I don't think I quite ever grew out of them.
I think the first time I got into philosophy and in fact at the same time into science, was when reading Sophie's World by Jostein Gaarder. All I'll say is if you haven't read it, read it.
One of the things I remember about that book was in considering what it 'green'. What do you mean when you say something is green? This leads on, in the book, to considering 'what is a horse?' In the sense of how do we recognise things. What factors make us decide something is a horse.
Going back to being green....a tree is green. But is the green I see the same as the green you see? Or is it all just relative?
I got back to thinking about this whilst watching the chef Raymond Blanc on the TV last night. His description of the food he was cooking was so vivid and passionate, I wondered 'what exactly is he tasting?' I couldnt imagine having so much excitement about the food as he has, despite the fact that I love love love food. Is it experience, can it be taught? For me, I think that is what makes someone gifted. This ability to, for example, taste food with so much depth means Raymond Blanc can create exceptional food.
Maybe this also makes 'genius'- added dimensions of perception. A real basal understanding of the topic at hand. It could be how deeply and vividly you see your 'green'.
I think the first time I got into philosophy and in fact at the same time into science, was when reading Sophie's World by Jostein Gaarder. All I'll say is if you haven't read it, read it.
One of the things I remember about that book was in considering what it 'green'. What do you mean when you say something is green? This leads on, in the book, to considering 'what is a horse?' In the sense of how do we recognise things. What factors make us decide something is a horse.
Going back to being green....a tree is green. But is the green I see the same as the green you see? Or is it all just relative?
I got back to thinking about this whilst watching the chef Raymond Blanc on the TV last night. His description of the food he was cooking was so vivid and passionate, I wondered 'what exactly is he tasting?' I couldnt imagine having so much excitement about the food as he has, despite the fact that I love love love food. Is it experience, can it be taught? For me, I think that is what makes someone gifted. This ability to, for example, taste food with so much depth means Raymond Blanc can create exceptional food.
Maybe this also makes 'genius'- added dimensions of perception. A real basal understanding of the topic at hand. It could be how deeply and vividly you see your 'green'.
February 19, 2010
Essays in Love
Currently I'm reading 'Essays in Love' by popular philosopher Alain de Botton. Some how, it just sits well in my life at the moment. It follows the rise and fall of a relationship.
It could really be any relationship, it's ordinary and mundane. But de Botton captures the essence of that feeling of unique individuality to every relationship and its all consuming nature. He charts its evolution sharply and manages to describe the details that often feel small and insignificant to perfection and make you feel that he has a window into your life and mind. Or maybe that is just me. Either way, I love that engagement one can occasionally feel with a writer. That funny feeling that someone you've never met understands you completely. In those small inane details you can't express. It reminds me of The Unbearable Lightness of Being, Milan Kundera. It has a good ability to touch you, on a subject you thought no one else knew, or could express.
'What is an experience? Something that breaks a polite routine and for a brief period allows us to witness things with the heightened sensitivity afforded to us by novelty, danger, or beauty - and it's on this basis of shared experiences that intimacy is given an oppotunity to grow. Friendships nourished solely by occasional dinners will never have the depth of those forged on a trek or at a univiersity. ' ~ Alain de Botton, Essays in Love.
It could really be any relationship, it's ordinary and mundane. But de Botton captures the essence of that feeling of unique individuality to every relationship and its all consuming nature. He charts its evolution sharply and manages to describe the details that often feel small and insignificant to perfection and make you feel that he has a window into your life and mind. Or maybe that is just me. Either way, I love that engagement one can occasionally feel with a writer. That funny feeling that someone you've never met understands you completely. In those small inane details you can't express. It reminds me of The Unbearable Lightness of Being, Milan Kundera. It has a good ability to touch you, on a subject you thought no one else knew, or could express.
'What is an experience? Something that breaks a polite routine and for a brief period allows us to witness things with the heightened sensitivity afforded to us by novelty, danger, or beauty - and it's on this basis of shared experiences that intimacy is given an oppotunity to grow. Friendships nourished solely by occasional dinners will never have the depth of those forged on a trek or at a univiersity. ' ~ Alain de Botton, Essays in Love.
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