My laptop has been upgraded to 8GB RAM, and now I can write and read from a couch.
Finally, I purchased some books ranging from philosophy to AI. I have been glancing over Hindu philosophy for quite some time but have given up on trying to learn Sanskrit. It demands time that I cannot afford at the moment. Most of the texts are translated from Sanskrit to German and then to English, which makes the reading experience painful. So, I looked for certain commentaries, and Sri Aurobindo’s work resonates with me. His style resembles that of colonial Oxford, with “thou” and “thee,” but I appreciate his interpretation in terms of superman, supermind, and supermental in his integral yoga. He has a strong command of the English language and can explain tricky concepts from ancient texts with ease. However, understanding these words still requires effort.
I feel like the period between 1900 and World War II was a great time for literature. Sri Aurobindo is one such author who took mystic knowledge and presented it to the modern human. Sometimes I fear that I might condition my brain in a certain way that could disconnect me from the world. This fear is good, so I have researched other philosophers, mostly Western, to understand what people have thought about old questions such as the meaning of life, purpose in life, why the world exists, and why evil thrives.
I have always avoided the answers given in religious texts because religion serves a different purpose. People have abused religion for personal benefits, but in general, religion has helped humans live life and fight or protect themselves from pandemics and plagues. The fear of God, for many centuries, helped keep people modest and honest. As a non-practicing Hindu, I can appreciate what all religions have offered with a central theme of reciprocity: “Do to others how you would like to be treated.” Altruism is also a nice concept, and religions have provided festivals and rituals to keep communities connected.
Looking at the current world scenario, I believe that if people simply followed the religion they were born into, the world would be a better place. The pathetic condition of the USA is due to its distancing from religion, specifically Christianity. A prosperous population is engaging in weird behavior. They are waiting to fail hard and rebuild, as they did in World War II.
I have researched and bought two philosophy books, “Sophie’s World” and “The Fountainhead.” I wish I had read them before. “Sophie’s World” is a story of a 14-year-old girl who learns about various philosophies around the world through a pen friend. The storyline is not the central focus of the book, but it provides a great starting point for a general overview.
Ayn Rand’s “The Fountainhead” is the second book among the top philosophy books, with the first being “Das Capital” by Karl Marx. I skimmed through Marx’s book six years ago and found his views interesting. Anyone would appreciate his ideas unless they belong to the rich 1%. It is said that Karl’s ideas are great but have not been implemented properly yet. Under the banner of communism, hundreds of thousands of people have died of hunger or have been killed. Vietnam and modern China are interesting exceptions. Despite being communist nations, they have integrated their economies with capitalist ones and are enjoying the benefits as well as the disadvantages. Sometimes I thank God for giving me life in India. If I had been born slightly differently, life would have been hell. Every nation around India is suffering with no sign of improvement.
Ayn Rand introduces her philosophy of Objectivism in her novel. She was born in the Soviet Union and migrated to the USA during the collapse of the USSR. She wrote stories in Hollywood and even acted in “The King of Kings” (1927). I find her philosophy interesting. She states that altruism is not practical. Her rational thinking leads to the concept of individualism, where you do what is best for you. Making others happy should not be the goal of your precious life. Altruism has generally been abused, and very few people do honest work for others, with their overall value being far less.
Some examples I have observed are Mahatma Gandhi and Mother Teresa. Gandhi is often regarded as a person who lived an ultra-simple life dedicated to others. On the contrary, Sarojini Naidu, the then Congress president, once told the press that keeping him alive and functional is an expensive task, as he always required to be pampered.
Mother Teresa did help thousands of poor people who didn’t have something to eat or were so ill that the community left them to die. Through her ways of altruism, she managed to keep many poor people alive but never gave them a good quality of life.
A capitalist like Bill Gates, on the other hand, has helped millions improve their lives through the technology and industry he created. It’s an interesting way of thinking. I haven’t read the novel yet, but I will do that. Another book of interest is “Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind” by Yuval Noah Harari. It provides an overview of human life on Earth, so I will skim through it.
I also bought two books on AI, “Superintelligence” by Nick Bostrom and “The Book of Why” by Judea Pearl. I have no idea what is in them, but I will read them as soon as possible. The general idea is to gain an understanding of human universals, consciousness, and AI. We are entering an era that has been the dream of several philosophers and writers, an epoch that will be documented and remembered for the longest time. There will be an abrupt change in lifestyle and means of livelihood. I’m trying to find answers to these questions through these books.
I think we can predict a few critical things that will arise. Human health will deteriorate. With more gadgets offering immersive experiences to the human mind, both mental and physical problems will occur, and people will become addicted to such a lifestyle to the extent that they will not try to fix it. A person who grows and cooks their own food will have a better life. People will passively live their lives while their senses are constantly stimulated. To live a free life, more mental energy will be required.
I have resumed morning walks, as certain exercises help with Plantar Fasciitis. Mornings are tough, but after 15 minutes, everything becomes normal. I guess living through the pain is the answer.
I can read about 50 pages in 3 hours, but I wonder if I can increase it a bit. If I had a tablet, I would use a bionic reader for speed reading. The electricity is still unreliable, and I have an exam coming up. I’ll decide what to do this week.
Did some digital cleaning last week. Removed, stored ideas and bookmarks.
Photo of St. Anthony by Liz Pullan Pattathy on Unsplash