- A Beginners Guide to Aquinas
Well-written introduction to Aquinas. I liked the recurring comparisons to contemporary Western philosophers, they really helped put his ideas into context and highlight the different assumptions each philosopher makes.
Although I don’t agree with his metaphysics (eww, essentialism), it’s a very elegant system. Basically, everything follows coherently from his metaphysical framework.
Also, I finally read something about the four causes.
- Man in the Well
Thus I have heard. Once upon a time Buddha was residing in the garden of Anathapindada at Jetavana in Sravasti, with a great number of bhikshus. Among them there was the great Emperor Shoko, and Buddha addressed him:
“There is a parable which I will tell you, and you bethink deeply its meaning.
“In olden times a man was travelling through a wild prairie-land where he met a ferocious elephant. In his fear he ran away, but the elephant pursued him hotly. On the way there was a deep well at the root of a tree, on which he climbed down to escape the danger; but, O horror! he saw two rats, one white, the other black, gnawing at the root alternately; and snakes on the four sides of the well threatened to bite the poor man with their poisonous fangs, while at the bottom of the well a large dragon was waiting to kill the suspended man with his sharp claws. And there was a hive in the root of the tree from which he sucked five drops of honey, and then the bees stung him. After this, the tree was burned by a fire which came from the prairie.”
When the Emperor heard this dreadful story, he asked the Buddha:
“Why did that man undergo so much suffering, and how could he suck honey notwithstanding the evil consequences?”
Then the Buddha replied:
“Great Emperor, this parable illustrates the fate of man. The wild prairie is our ignorance; the man represents the condition of all living beings; the elephant is the transiency of the world; the well is the birth and death of man; the tree root is life; the white and the black rats are day and night; their gnawing is the slow lapse of time; the snakes on the four sides are the four elements, namely earth, water, fire, and air; the honey-drops are the five sensual desires, arising from visible form, sound, smell, taste, and touch; the bee is sin; the fire is disease and old age; and the dragon is death.
~ The Man in the Well
Meaning
Human beings are surrounded by impermanence, aging, illness, and death, yet instead of recognizing the situation and seeking liberation, they become captivated by transient pleasures. - The Perfect Run
This is web novel slop, but it has a pretty unique setting, a time loop, and I’d say it’s executed well. It also doesn’t overstay its welcome. Would recommend. - Dreams (2025)
Dogshit-ass movie, do not recommend.
It’s such a slog to get through. There are scene after scene where nothing happens, we just watch the characters do stuff, and I’m constantly wondering: what is the hook of this movie? When is anything going to happen? What is the purpose of this scene? What is the director trying to showcase here? How does any of this move the story forward?
Throughout most of the movie, these questions remain unanswered.
After reaching the ending, I came to the conclusion that maybe the director was trying to explore themes of control and how the attempt to control everything ultimately leads to failure. But if that’s the case, I think he failed to properly develop that theme. It wasn’t visible enough throughout the film, and the movie never gave me enough to engage with that interpretation while watching.
To end on a positive note, the setting was interesting and the sex scenes were good.
4/10
- Kant vs Hegel
I2P