Epiphenomenalism[I] is a brand of dualism in which mind and matter are two different manifestations of existence, but holding mind to be ontologically inferior to matter, and there is some form of logical flow – not necessarily causality per se – from matter to mind. The term as used in the late 19th century provides another analogy through its definition: a secondary symptom of a...
Editorial notes: Early in August 2013, Shai joins a site called “750 Words” which encourages members to submit a daily post consisting of roughly 750 words, approximately three pages. The site explains its purpose as: “The idea is that if you can get in the habit of writing three pages a day, that it will help clear your mind and get the ideas flowing for the rest of the day.” If you are in a...
Editorial notes: Although Shai refers to Kant in earlier essays, this is the first where he is analysing Kant’s writing and philosophical approach by analysing his “Prolegomena to Any Future Metaphysics That Will Be Able to Present Itself as a Science” (definitely a mouthful, thus often referred to as Kant’s Prolegomena). Altogether, 23 essays are related to Kant. I severely want to re-read this...
There are quite a few things I’d like to write about now if I could. It’s only a question of importance or priority. (I imagine a god creating a world with that attitude: In the beginning, God said, “Lemme start with…” – surely a better attitude than having a fill of an omnipotent omniscient appetite after a mere 6 days). Anyway, lemme start with… Near...
Editorial notes: Shai documents his interpretation of Locke’s Theory of Knowledge[I] which, he explains, “is famous for being based on the principle that the mind is a blank slate” and that the mind is “gaining everything it knows by experience”. The need to acquire experience in order to gain knowledge is a principle by which Shai chose to live his life. Knowing now that this was his guiding...
A Spotlight article[I] that considers the concept of the brain’s chronoarchitecture; the timeline of happenings across the brain as seen from the neurons’ perspective. Different neuronal components (neurons, areas, etc) hear about (get information from) different components at a different (external) time, resulting in different temporal hierarchies. [I] The full title of the 2013...
A summary of intent of practicality in Bk.I[I]: (This approach is justified by the book’s opening passages; written to his son to guide him on his education, which is an achievement of life, and not merely its underlying theory). Duty, which defines what we must do with our lives, can be reduced into its essential elements: profit and honesty, and their interaction. Everything that we do...
Some essential part of stories lies in their telling. Here is a story: Kant has the idea of the sublime, whereby the aesthetic is significantly determined by its ability to transcend (and hence terrify) our senses. For instance the magnitude of a mountain or a storm – both threaten our sense of self and perception by impressing upon us fact that there is always more, forcing us to teeter...
Editorial notes: In February 2013, Shai adds Evernote to his suite of repositories. This is an application designed specifically for note-taking, organising, task lists and archiving. This proves to be the ideal tool for him to better control his ever-growing research notes, stored primarily up to this point, in handwritten notebooks and documents stored in his Google drive. Between February 2013...
I’m on a plane with cocaine, And yes I’m all lit up again[I]. The mystery of cocaine. When not applying his exacting mind to the mysteries of tenuous circumstances, the fine detective of Baker Street would dispel the tedium that surrounded him with cocaine injections. Solving crimes and cruising coke channels describe an enviable lifestyle! Both activities would be expected to have...
