Date: ca. 1857 George Eastman House Collection Perhaps more than any other American writer of his day, Emerson embodied not only the intrepid American spirit, but also the extraordinary individual spirit at the very core of each of us. His many invaluable contributions to American literature, while clearly the product of a very different time … Continue reading Ralph Waldo Emerson and Transcendence
Now that the traditional celebration of Father's Day has passed, it feels appropriate to reflect a bit on the thoughts inspired by the events of the past few days, which, for me, relate directly to the nature of parenting generally, and to being a father in particular. Both mothers and fathers have vitally important contributions … Continue reading Reflecting on Fatherhood
A news report today about the status of Representative Gabrielle Giffords, and her progress in recovering from the injury she sustained five months ago, and another regarding the status of her attacker, Jared Loughner, both speak to the essential roles of the brain, the mind, and the spirit, in the challenge to understand the nature … Continue reading The Brain, The Mind, and The Spirit
One of the most compelling forces behind much of my writing also happens to be one of the most important reasons why we should question the current wisdom of the modern study of human consciousness. Aside from acknowledging the central role that consciousness plays in our existence and the nearly complete lack of comprehension of … Continue reading Conscious Machines?
Ever since the hominid brain evolved sufficiently to provide modern humans with a degree of cognitive talent that still surpasses any other known species, the blossoming of conscious awareness slowly provided Homo sapiens with the ability to not only be aware that they exist, but to utilize this new ability deliberately and with purpose. It … Continue reading The Voice of Thought
The apprehension of knowledge and the accumulation of experience, when it is applied to some fruitful goal can be a labor of love which produces beneficial results and extraordinary achievements. New experience is an essential component of progress and in spite of being potentially fraught with unanticipated consequences and unforeseen dangers may uncover key elements … Continue reading Shared Experience
My own vague recollections of my earliest memories seem to begin in my third year of life, shortly before my third birthday when our family moved to Pennsylvania from Schenectady, New York. Bits and pieces of memory from those early days still exist within me, and I remember most vividly, sitting on the large windowsill … Continue reading Memory, Language, Early Childhood
James Taylor wrote a song called, "Carolina In My Mind," asking two questions: "Can't you feel the sunshine? Can't you just see the moonshine?" The chorus ends with the words, "I'm goin' to Carolina in my mind." Have you ever been transported to another time as you became lost in a powerfully written book, or … Continue reading Experience of Imagination
With all of the shouting and media coverage of the demise of Osama bin Laden, perhaps the most poignant and important response after the announcement by President Obama, came from a woman named Carie Lemack, whose mother, Judy Larocque, was on American Airlines Flight 11, which hit the North Tower between the 94th and 99th … Continue reading Compassion versus Terrorism
Vaughn Williams knew something about the early morning by the time he composed "The Lark Ascending," and for me it is nearly impossible to hear this piece without imagining myself at some observation point in the early morning as the day begins. The following posting by Barbara Heninger briefly describes the orchestral version: The work … Continue reading As April Ends…The Lark Ascends
