- Principles of Human Knowledge and Three Dialogues
Can be read as an introduction to idealism, which, alongside empiricism and rationalism, was one of the major philosophical debates from the 17th to the 19th century. - Ljot Swanhild: the process of disconnecting
My dream existence would be a stone, outside of the realm of time, and just sitting there, and be nothing.
- Ensel und Kretel
I liked it even more than his previous work, but this book is probably not for everyone, particularly because of the author’s frequent interjections, where he tends to rant about various topics. I absolutely love those rants, they feel like love letters to creativity, completely unbound by the story or any particular goal. Instead, they wander through all kinds of subjects. I love them, but be warned: this book is much less story-focused. - Philosophical Ramblings #17: The Wings of Rebellion
A constant rebellion is necessary, because as soon as revolutionary elements come to power, corruption begins to set in. The desire to surrender to the most basic impulses is always present. Therefore, a process of continuous self-overcoming must govern every moment: every decision, every action, every breath.
Yet mere self-overcoming is not enough. It is not simply a matter of discipline or restraint, but of a transcendent conquest of oneself and one’s world: a revaluation of morality, societal conventions, and inherited beliefs. Most importantly, it is the mastery of one’s own mind, one’s desires, fears, and aversions, until they become fully subject to conscious will. But not the final conquest of the self, but the refusal to ever stop transforming and changing.
- Endure
Very good book. I really liked how it interweaves various stories about endurance while maintaining the overarching question of how it might be possible to run a sub-two-hour marathon. The author’s own story and the motivation that led him to write this book are also fascinating.
The book is packed with really interesting science, presenting many different theories that all attempt to explain what endurance actually is. It examines the concept from a wide variety of perspectives, ranging from physiology to psychology.
Personally, I found the model of perceived effort the most convincing. It captures both the physical and the mental aspects of endurance. Your physical training certainly influences perceived effort, but so do psychological and situational factors such as how well you slept, your stress levels, your motivation, and many other variables. It provides a more holistic framework for understanding endurance than purely physiological models.
I2P