MetaFilter posts tagged with metaphysics

Astral Decades

philip-random — Thu, 25 Sep 2008 00:04:22 -0800

“In the condition I was in, it assumed at the time the quality of a beacon, a light on the far shores of the murk; what's more, it was proof that there was something left to express artistically besides nihilism and destruction.” Lester Bangs on the topic of Van Morrison's Astral Weeks which began recording exactly 40 years ago today in Century Sound Studios NYC. Released less than two months later, it might not have changed popular music forever. But it definitely changed a few lives. A recent take on the title song by the man himself. Glen Hansard's 2008 Bonaroo version, which proves it's really just rebel Irish folk after all. A 1989 version of 1980's Summertime in England, just because. The metaphysics of something or other. That whole Lester Bangs essay. A recent biography just in case you were under the impression that Van was actually a nice guy.

My Brain Made Me

Gyan — Sun, 11 Mar 2007 06:06:35 -0800

Neurolaw - The Brain on the Stand

Dynamically vacuous

painquale — Sun, 15 Jan 2006 13:10:57 -0800

Beyond metaphysics, there is 'pataphysics. Beyond metaphor, there is pataphor.

The physics of reality

Gyan — Sat, 03 Dec 2005 18:35:50 -0800

Does God Play Dice?

get an after-life.

all-seeing eye dog — Thu, 13 Oct 2005 07:47:24 -0800

Is there any real possibility of an after-life? Some argue that belief in the after-life is an inherently unfalsifiable proposition. Others argue that science has already ruled out the possibility. Buddhism takes a radically different view, embracing a conception of the after-life far different from any found in the Judeo-Christian faiths. What about the possibility of Eternal Recurrence, as proposed by Nietzsche? Just what do we mean when we speak of the "after-life" anyway?

God's Darwin or Chance's Drawin'?

daksya — Thu, 11 Aug 2005 14:13:57 -0800

Did the discovery of evolution lead to Darwin's agnosticism, as claimed? Carl Zimmer wonders. More importantly, can evolution be reconciled with Christianity?

Consciousness

Gyan — Sun, 07 Aug 2005 11:14:43 -0800

Who are YOU?

I simply had to post this link

painquale — Wed, 19 Jan 2005 19:43:21 -0800

The Determinism and Freedom Philosophy Website

(S/W)AP

kliuless — Sat, 04 Sep 2004 12:13:51 -0800

Smolin vs. Susskind on the anthropic principle. For those keeping score: Stephen Hawking is for it. Brian Greene is not.

Hooft

Gyan — Sat, 01 May 2004 03:48:02 -0800

Essence of Everything? According to Zuse, cellular automata (PDF). He's not alone.