In this blog post, we revisit the limits of civilization hidden behind progress through ‘Entropy: A New World View’. In Jeremy Rifkin’s book, entropy is defined as “the amount of change in a thermodynamic system when an object absorbs heat and undergoes a change.” Theories like Newton’s framework or Einstein’s theory of relativity are accepted as truth because no...
Programming the Universe (Does the Universe Really Operate Like a Quantum Computer?)
In this blog post, we explore how the universe operates like a quantum computer and the new paradigms this creates, based on Seth Lloyd’s ‘Programming the Universe’. ‘In the beginning, there was the bit.’ Anyone unfamiliar with this book might find this statement somewhat puzzling. They likely know bits only as a unit of data size. Modern physicists are primarily interested in two...
Is it true love when parents try to design and control their children’s lives?
This blog post deeply examines whether control exercised under the guise of choices made for children is truly love, exploring it from the perspectives of freedom and dignity. People often call children ‘a gift from God’. For the giver, a gift signifies celebration and blessing; for the recipient, it brings happiness. The phrase ‘a gift from God’ signifies how profoundly children are a...
Does Thomas Kuhn’s Theory of Scientific Revolution, Normal Science, Truly Exclude Criticism?
This blog post examines whether the concept of normal science in Thomas Kuhn’s theory of scientific revolution truly excludes criticism and only shifts paradigms during crises. Thomas Kuhn, a philosopher of science who coined the new concept of ‘paradigm,’ defined it in The Structure of Scientific Revolutions as “a total framework or set of concepts that combines scientific...
Can Guns, Germs, and Steel Explain Human History?
This blog post critically examines Jared Diamond’s argument that ‘Guns, Germs, and Steel’ explains the gap in civilizations. Why I Read the Book Guns, Germs, and Steel is a book written by Jared Diamond in 2005. Although it is over a decade old, it consistently ranks as the most borrowed book at Seoul National University’s Central Library, maintaining steady popularity. I...
How was Hemingway’s masterpiece, ‘The Old Man and the Sea,’ created?
Hemingway’s ‘The Old Man and the Sea’ was born after 15 years of conception and writing. We examine how this masterpiece came into the world through its creative background and literary evaluation. Ernest Hemingway began writing ‘The Old Man and the Sea’ in early 1951 while living near Havana, Cuba. He completed the first draft by late April that year and submitted the manuscript to...
Reading a Novel and Writing a Letter (The Old Man and the Sea)
I’ve written a letter sharing the emotions and insights I felt after reading The Old Man and the Sea. I’m sharing the lingering impact of this novel, which captures the old man’s struggle and hope. Hello? I was wondering how to cheer you on, and I decided to write a letter with all my heart. I hope this letter becomes an encouraging boost for you, so I’ll jot down a...
Does science progress solely through single paradigm shifts? (Limitations and Complementary Aspects of Kuhn’s Theory)
This blog post examines whether Kuhn’s paradigm theory can fully explain scientific development, exploring its limitations and complementary aspects through various case studies. Introduction Philosopher of science Thomas Samuel Kuhn explained how science progresses in his book ‘The Structure of Scientific Revolutions’. While disciplines like chemistry or geology align well with his...
Chronology of Ernest Hemingway and Introduction to the Meaning of ‘The Old Man and the Sea’
This blog post introduces a chronology of Ernest Hemingway’s life organized by year and the key meaning and characteristics of his masterpiece ‘The Old Man and the Sea’. Ernest Miller Hemingway Chronology Ernest Miller Hemingway (1899–1961) was born on July 21, 1899, in Oak Park, Illinois, USA. His father was an obstetrician who enjoyed hunting and fishing, while his mother was a...
What significance did the sea hold in Hemingway’s life, and how was it reflected in his work?
For Hemingway, the sea was not merely a backdrop, but a stage for life and struggle. His work The Old Man and the Sea deeply explores human limits and willpower, revealing his philosophy through the sea. Ernest Miller Hemingway (July 21, 1899 – July 2, 1961) Ernest Miller Hemingway was born in Oak Park, a suburb of Chicago, Illinois, in the American Midwest, the second of six children and...