Posts by chris
Last ←Newer Page 1 2 3 4 5 Older→ First
-
reading these works in their original language and translating, commenting upon, debating with, and improving upon their theories and methods. (See for example Muhammad ibn Mūsā al-Khwārizmī, who effectively invented algebra in the 9th century.)
from the link
His contributions had a great impact on language. "Algebra" is derived from al-jabr,
It's curious how we often tend to overlook/denounce the origin of many of these words we use.
-
How did giraffes get their long necks?
Eastern/Western is becoming a little old hat.
..It kind of insinuates that all those western ships and trade carts carried back empty holds and minds from their destinations. However I feel a truer version is that 'the western' is by and large heavily influenced by the other and ultimately it's lasting contribution is one of refinement and systematization.
-
It seems to me that other kinds of science are possible than the kind that Westerners came up with.
..hypothesise, test, record observations, discard/don't discard hypothesis) is sound.
but how western or Christian ابو علي، الحسن بن الحسن بن الهيثم was, is probably debatable.
http://www.newworldencyclopedia.org/entry/Ibn_al-Haytham
But then the similarities between Islam and Christianity far outweigh the differences, relative to Paganism.
Eastern/Western is becoming a little old hat.
-
This is one of those moments where it's glaringly obvious that New Zealand, unlike the UK which offers Religious studies to A levels, provides very little in the way of a religious studies curriculum in secondary school and most discussion is constructed around experience gleaned of Abarahmic traditions and what happened to my mate Stalin at an ENSOC party or what have you. No offence intended, merely that Pâté de Religion contains a hell of a lot of ingredients.
Having said that I'm not against attacks on the monotheistic religions that are being slagged off here.
But slag off my religion and I'll cut your fucking throat ; )
-
I think what a lot of this boils down to is a question: What relationship is there between the metaphysical claims of music on one hand, and its ethical strictures and effect on an individual's relationship with their wider community on the other?
This is where a lot of modern, conscientious music fans get caught up. If you can live a good life without believing in the supernatural claims of your favourite music artist, why believe them at all? Unfortunately, the music fans who acknowledge that this is a possibility aren't the vocal ones in the debate about the worth of music-instead, we get the foaming-at-the-mouth types who refuse to believe that an non fan nevertheless could consciously and actually choose to be a cool person. There's no possibility of forward progress in a debate between that lot and non fans like myself.
But of course, it's that question that gnaws away at the root beliefs of moderate music fans, and forces many of them ultimately to either abandon fandoms that are effectively trivial (in the philosophical sense, not the pejorative) or throw their lot in with the "Believe or be damned!" hardcore fans.
-
So that's Abrahamic monotheistic religions covered. What about all the rest? Te problem with fish; focusing exclusively on Ray, Mullet and Flounder.
-
That was a very funny blog Emma.
-
What the fuck happened to Democracy?.
Too much energy spent nurturing and celebrating freedom of speech, too little energy extended to engaging in protest and activism or anything else of measurable significance.
-
Great link Robbie, that was fascinating, I ended up leaving work half an hour late reading it.
-
All excellent points. Is it ok if I email you about something related to this?