Stephen Greenblatt leads us through the 4th-century theologian’s life and writings to explain how he invented the doctrine of original sin and associated it with sex and conception – and how, to justify that doctrine, he constructed an elaborate argument to take literally a biblical story that thinkers had treated as an allegory.
Category: ideas
Wow: Facebook Used AI To Program Its Chat Bots. Within No Time They’d Invented Their Own New Non-Human Language
“The model that allowed two bots to have a conversation—and use machine learning to constantly iterate strategies for that conversation along the way—led to those bots communicating in their own non-human language. If this doesn’t fill you with a sense of wonder and awe about the future of machines and humanity then, I don’t know, go watch Blade Runner or something.”
Revenge, Punishment, Justice, And Empathy: Wallace Shawn On How A Person Should Be
“Revenge and punishment both imply, ‘Even if I’d been you, and I’d had your life, I would never have done what you did.’ And that in turn implies, ‘I wouldn’t have done it, because I’m better than you.’ But the person who says, ‘I’m better than you’ is taking a serious step in a very dangerous direction. And the person who says, ‘Even if I’d had your life, I would never have done what you did’ is very probably wrong.”
Study: Doodling Unlocks Creativity
“A research team led by Girija Kaimal of Drexel University found just a few minutes of doodling or freestyle drawing activates the brain’s reward system, leaving people feeling more creative and confident in their problem-solving abilities.”
Scientists Use Mathematics To Discover Multi-Dimensional Structures In The Brain
“It is as if the brain reacts to a stimulus by building then razing a tower of multi-dimensional blocks, starting with rods (1D), then planks (2D), then cubes (3D), and then more complex geometries with 4D, 5D, etc. The progression of activity through the brain resembles a multi-dimensional sandcastle that materializes out of the sand and then disintegrates,”
Lawsuits Against God (A Brief History)
Oh yes, they do happen – as recently as last year in India, and in 2007 in the U.S. (in Omaha). One major problem, though, is serving the defendant with papers. Seriously.
Why Have We Become So Fascinated With Boredom?
“Let it be said that studying boredom will not solve our problems with respect to desire and its tangles; nothing but death can do that! But Heidegger was right that the correct attitude to boredom is one of rigorous fascination.
Is Science Really Just An Extension Of Philosophy?
According to the “spin-off” theory of philosophical progress, all new sciences start as branches of philosophy, and only become established as separate disciplines once philosophy has bequeathed them the intellectual wherewithal to survive on their own.
How Hacking Culture Has Spawned A Cult Of BS
“In the field of self-improvement, there have always been snake oil salesman ready to promote gimmicks disguised as legitimate answers. But the internet age has ushered in a whole new era: The maddening proliferation of hope — clouded in broscience. The 7 ways to transform your sex life. Use polyphasic sleep to hack your energy levels. Dump a stick of butter in your coffee to energize your breakfast and keep you feeling full all day (no shit — you just dumped a stick of butter in your coffee). All of these hacks carry a similar message: If only we did XYZ, then our bodies, minds, and entire lives will transform for the better.”
How Did This Character From An Australian Horror Film Become A Pride Month Icon?
A half-ironic Tumblr post from October has changed The Babadook forever: “In recent weeks, the Babadook-as-queer-icon has gone from a internet in-joke to a Pride Month figurehead, with remixed representations of the monster he appears in a storybook in the film featuring in celebrations online and off.”