Tag: Philosophy
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Yes or No: Is There an External World?
As the title suggests, as of recent, I was pressured into giving a categorical answer to what I deem to be a false dichotomy, for reasons that I shall elaborate later. The question was raised by an acquaintance who grew frustrated with my responses when there was an exchange of metaphysical views between us, which…
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Breath by Breath
Being in the world, this world, is an undeniable reality for each and every one of us. For without it, I wouldn’t be writing; nor you, reading; or anybody else who potentially comes across this essay (no matter how remotely). Each of us living, having lived; breathing, having breathed. Thinking and tinkering about the days…
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Philosophical Traditions of the East
Truth be told, I had planned to write about the major differences between Eastern and Western philosophy until I realised from my own reading of Indian philosophy and existentialism that there are no unifying essences in either case (Eastern or Western). Of course, there have always been major differences in characteristics between Eastern and Western…
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Is Science Really the Successful Sibling of Philosophy?
“Stop this nonsense, let’s talk science.” “Philosophy? I read science.” Such were the words of a senior colleague of mine in response to me answering his question: “what do you read?”. To be very fair, I am quite a tight-lipped person myself, especially at the workplace, and I knew that I’d given him a cold…
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Why You Can’t Live Without Philosophy Even If You Don’t Care About It.
In today’s blog post, I will talk about my unqualified opinion on what philosophy is and attempt to describe the influences that it has on our lives. What is Philosophy? The word ‘philosophy’ originates from the Greek word φιλοσοφία (filosofia), which combines the word ‘philo’ meaning ‘to love’ and ‘sophia’ meaning ‘wisdom’, thus meaning ‘love…
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Rewriting the Significance of Your Being
1. The Problem of Anxiety Red pill, blue pill? Such were the options that Neo received from Morpheus in the hugely acclaimed film The Matrix, as Neo grew bothered with the irregularities that he recently noticed in his life. Taking the blue pill is promised to instantly relieve him of all anxieties, after which he…
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Reflection on MN 9: Sammādiṭṭhisutta translated by Bhikkhu Bodhi (with Excerpts)
Last updated 18 August 2022: On the section of the four nutriments as #3 is actually manosañcetanā instead of sankhāra. Link to Sutta: Majjhima Nikāya 9 translated by Bhikkhu Bodhi *Bolds, italics and square brackets in excerpts are my own “‘One of right view, one of right view,’ is said, friends. In what way is…
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Phenomenological Reflection – On Life
Before I start sharing on my reflection, I’d like to warn you as a reader that this essay is first and foremost written for myself, as something sort of a journal. (P.S. I have done some restructuring and inserted a few paragraphs on the existentialist perspective as a bridge for this post to be less…
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A Buddhist Answers: Why Is There Anything At All?
Answering the biggest question of all. The Big Question The question “why is there anything at all?” or originally framed as “why is there something rather than nothing?” by the 17th century rationalist Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz has remained ‘unsolvable’ to most modern man. Some philosophers have argued against the validity of the question whilst others…