Plato on Intelligent Design: Truth, Beauty, and the Good by W. T. S. Thackara
Plato on Intelligent Design: Truth, Beauty, and the Good By W. T. Perusing an internet forum on intelligent design some months ago brought me to an unusual post by David Alexander entitled "Is beauty just Darwin's bad dream?" Often it is argued . . . that Darwin's theory should be left to the biologists to be examined, that it is purely a matter of empirical, secondary knowledge that should be left to the experts. Alexander raises an important question: does Darwin's theory reveal a fundamental conflict between the good and beautiful against the true? against the utilitarian doctrine that every detail of structure has been produced for the good of its possessor. In other words, Darwin's theory excludes doctrines which assert that much of nature's beauty reflects metaphysical or divine intent. . . . Alexander contrasts this and similar stories with others which suggest that a numinous quality of beauty inheres throughout nature which can open a pathway to a clearer perception of truth.
logic and perception - topical index -The Skeptics Dictionary - Skepdic.com - StumbleUpon
Last updated 20-Nov-2015 Recommended Reading Critical Thinking Mini-Lessons Adams, James L. Conceptual Blockbusting: A Guide to Better Ideas 3rd ed. Ariely, Dan. (2008). Dawes, Robyn M. Gardner, Martin. Gardner, Martin. Gilovich, Thomas. Groopman, Jerome. Kahneman, Daniel. Kida, Thomas. 2006. Kourany, Janet A. Levine, Robert. 2003. Sagan, Carl. Seckel, Al. (2006). Sternberg, Robert J. ed. Sutherland, Stuart. (2007).
No, they¿re not photographs: Astonishing acrylic paintings which are so detailed they look like they were taken on a camera
By Damien Gayle Published: 11:28 GMT, 9 June 2012 | Updated: 14:56 GMT, 9 June 2012 With their spectacular use of focus and reflected light, these incredible artworks look like carefully composed still-life photographs. But in fact they are all painstakingly rendered on canvas with acrylic paints by Canadian artist Jason de Graaf. The hyperrealistic paintings, which almost appear as if they are computer generated, are like freeze frames of a world more magical than our own - inspiring the term Magic Realism as a description. The X-Statix: Acrylic on canvas 30in x 24in Untitled (Self-portrait): Acrylic on canvas 30in x 30in Bedlam: Acrylic on canvas 24in x 30in Dalliance: Acrylic on canvas 24in x 36in Fluid mechanics: Acrylic on panel 22in x 42in That Morning: Acrylic on wood 24in x 18in A Wave Of Refreshment: Acrylic on canvas 30in x 24in Kiwi Splash: Acrylic on canvas 30in x 40in Suspension Of Disbelief: Acrylic on canvas 24in x 36in Apple Blossoms: Acrylic on canvas 24in x 18in
The Evangelical Movement: Part II
This is a guest post by Kristen J. Kristen J. is a frequent commentor at Feministe and a former member of several Evangelical churches located throughout the U.S. The Evangelical Christian Movement is a broad social and political group dedicated to reproducing a set of values that are antithetical to the very concept of social justice and equality. Huh? Bebbington’s definition is helpful, but I would note that, within the U.S. at least, “Evangelical” has expanded in recent years. In my view it is the biblicism and activism that form the core of the Evangelical Movement. Biblicism Biblicism is a funky kind of belief that reminds me of “strict constructionism” and the U.S. Despite their interpretative differences, there are a few generally accepted beliefs that are relevant to our purpose.* First, God gave humankind dominion over all the Earth (Christian Century). [Pastor Billy Graham from a sermon entitled "Will the World Survive?" Activism Hell is a real place. Disturbing isn’t it.
TOC Arts
Impression 3D pour faire des instruments de musique L’impression 3D qui permet de fabriquer des objets simplement soi même commence tout juste à se démocratiser, mais on voit déjà des pionniers innover en fabriquant des instruments de musique complexes. En voici quelques exemples en vidéo. Lire la suite… Comment monétiser ses vidéos sur YouTube? Quelles audience faut il atteindre pour monétiser ses vidéos ? Instrument DIY: comment fabriquer une carrotte-clarinette Dans cette vidéo TEDx, Linsey Pollak transforme une carotte en clarinette en moins de 5 minutes utilisant simplement une perceuse et un embout de saxophone. Lire la suite… Street Pianos et réflexions sur les usages collectifs de la culture Il pointe l’ironie qui fait que ces pianos mis à disposition dans l’espace public ne permettent théorie de ne jouer légalement que des morceaux du domaine public, tout autre morceau encore protégé par un droit d’auteur nécessitant théoriquement à l’autorisation préalable des titulaires de droits.
L'OrienTao
Art and the Internet of Things
Wireless is increasingly pulling in all kinds of applications, platforms, services and things (rfid) into networks. Many people communicate through mobiles, blackberries, digital organizers, palmtops. Cars become information spaces with navigational systems and consoles like Nintendo DS have wireless capacities and get linux kernels installed.We are witnessing a move towards pervasive computing and disappearing technologies in intelligent clothing (wearables), smart environments (knowing where and who we are), pervasive games, and we will see doors opening for some and closing to others. Ipods and Iphones will show colors and produce sounds corresponding with your surroundings. The move from the Internet to The Internet of Things is official now,with the ITU claiming that “it seems that we are standing on the brink of a new computing and communication era, one that will radically transform our corporate, community, and personal spheres.”
Top 10 Ancient Religious Sites
Religion Whether you are religious or not, it must be accepted that religion has been with us for a very long time. Some of the most monumental structures ever made have had religious functions. Today it is still possible to be moved by the ruins of these sites, even though the people who made them, and sometimes the gods they were raised to, have disappeared. The Karnak Temple Complex Egypt Begun in the 14th century BC, by the pharaoh Ramses II, the temples of Karnak are some of the most famous in the world. The Callanish stones on the Isle of Lewis date from roughly 2900-2600BC, around the same time stones were being brought to Stonehenge. Editors Note: As a child in the seventies in England, Stonehenge was a fascinating place. The Ziggurat of Ur Iraq The epic of Gilgamesh is the oldest written story we possess. Pyramids of Teotihuacan Mexico Once one of the great cities of the world, Teotihuacan’s origins remain hotly debated. The Hypogeum is truly ancient as construction began ~3500BC.
