The World's Best Book Summaries
Why is there no such thing as “good” and “evil” in Taoism? How can one achieve balance through objectivity? The Taoist belief is that one must live a balanced life and can achieve this by living objectively. This means that a Taoist master must embrace all people without labeling or defining them. Continue on to learn more about objectivity and balance in Taoism.
Are we witnessing the death of liberalism? Why is liberalism becoming irrelevant as technology advances? According to Yuval Noah Harari, an Israeli intellectual and the author of Homo Deus, advances in technology might make liberalism a thing of the past. He predicts the death of liberalism to be the result of three potential developments: 1) the loss of military and economic usefulness, 2) the rise of decision-making algorithms, and 3) the creation of the “superhuman.” Read about the projected death of liberalism.
What is the Tao? Why does it go against Taoism to try to understand it? How can you engage with the Tao? In the hierarchy, the Tao falls above all else, even the Universe. It is the supreme entity and the source of all life. Although you shouldn’t try to understand how the Tao works, it is possible to engage with it and become enlightened. Keep reading to learn more about the nature of the Tao.
Does the soul exist? What is the current scientific stance on the existence of the human soul? Is there any evidence that points to the soul aspect of the human being? Many people believe they have a soul—some sort of non-material and immortal essence of who they are at their core. But does the soul actually exist? As far as science goes, there is currently no evidence of the existence of the soul. Keep reading for the answer to the question: does the soul exist?
Do we have free will? Do you think our choices come from the place of volition or could they be predetermined by fate? In the realm of individual subjectivity, we intuitively feel that our choices and decisions are the product of free will. But are they really? There is actually no consensus as to whether we really do have free will. In fact, the evidence points to the contrary. Keep reading for the answer to the question: do we have free will?
What is dataism? What are the implications of an ideology based on the assumption that everything can be converted into data? The term dataism was first used by David Brooks to refer to the philosophical perspective that the universe consists of data streams and that everything—from music to human emotion—can be quantified. More recently, Yuval Noah Harari expanded the term to describe an ideology in which the value of everything is based on its data-processing capabilities. Keep reading to learn about dataism.
What is meant by inner energy? Where does it reside and how can you access it? When spiritual traditions talk about inner energy, they may call it by different names (e.g. Chi in Chinese medicine, Shakti in yoga, Spirit in the West), but they are referring to the same thing: the subtle energy that’s drawn from the inside of your being. Inner energy is always available to you if you don’t block it. Keep reading to learn about the source of inner energy, what happens when it gets blocked, and what you can do to unblock it.
What do psychologists mean when they talk about the consciousness continuum? How many states of consciousness can a being experience? Do you think non-organic material can possess consciousness? The continuum of consciousness refers to the spectrum of mental, emotional, and perceptive states a being can experience. Although we have studied a variety of human and animal states of consciousness, we will likely never know all possible states since consciousness likely extends well beyond the experiences of organic beings. Keep reading to learn about the consciousness continuum.
What are the two schools of thought in western culture? How should we decide what is moral and what is morally acceptable? Is there such thing as universal morality? As western civilization developed, questions around morality emerged. Two schools of thought became the most prominent: deontology (Kantian ethics) and utilitarianism. Both, however, are at odds with how human psychology works. Keep reading to learn more about the two schools of thought.
What is transhumanism? How will transhumanism impact the future of mankind? Transhumanist ideas abound in sci-fi literature and cinematography. But what is transhumanism exactly? Transhumanism is a philosophical movement, the proponents of which advocate the upgrading of the human mental and physical form with the use of technology. Keep reading for the answer to the question: what is transhumanism?