The World's Best Book Summaries
What are the three marks of existence in Buddhism? How do you Buddhists see the world? Buddhists believe that there are three fundamental features that characterize worldly existence. Collectively, they are referred to as the “three marks of existence” or “three universal truths.” They are anicca (impermanence), dukkha (unsatisfactoriness), and anatta (selflessness). Keep reading to learn about the three marks of existence.
What is the central tenet of the humanism philosophy? How did the shift from theism to humanism change human societies? Humanism is a philosophy premised on the belief that humanity has the authority to create meaning within the universe. The societal impact of humanism is most seen clearly in the following areas: ethics, politics, aesthetics, economics, and education. Keep reading to learn about the philosophy of humanism and how it has changed human societies.
What is techno-religion? How did the rise of techno-religion threaten to knock down the very ideals that gave birth to the phenomenon? Techno-religion is a humanist ideology in which technology—not God or other theistic concepts—is used as a means for satisfying the human quest for meaning and spiritual salvation. Techno-religions can be divided into two categories: transhumanism and dataism. Interestingly, both threaten to knock down the very ideological bedrock on which they stand. Keep reading to learn about the two types of techno-religion: transhumanism and dataism.
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.