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...
Science and Technology and Values as Seen in Heisenberg’s ‘Physics and Beyond’
This blog post examines how science and technology intertwine with human values through Heisenberg’s ‘Physics and Beyond’. Heisenberg’s Atomic Theory Heisenberg’s book ‘Physics and Beyond’ begins with a chapter titled ‘Encounter with Atomic Theory,’ which recounts discussions Heisenberg had with friends during his high school years. Here, Heisenberg and his friend Robert...
Heisenberg’s ‘Part and Whole’: Why Is an Engineer’s Responsibility So Important?
In this blog post, we explore the essence and importance of the responsibility engineers must uphold amid scientific and technological progress, through Heisenberg’s ‘Part and Whole’. Heisenberg is a physicist renowned for the ‘Uncertainty Principle,’ one of the core theories of quantum physics. ‘Part and Whole’ is a book Heisenberg authored, compiling debates he engaged in with...
How to Understand and Interpret Franz Kafka’s Works?
Kafka’s literary world explores the essence of human existence amidst absurdity and solitude. This guide presents an interpretive approach to deciphering reality and inner worlds through his symbols and metaphors. Franz Kafka was born on July 3, 1883, in Prague, the son of a Jewish merchant. He received a German education and earned a doctorate in law from Charles Ferdinand...
What questions does Gregor in Kafka’s ‘The Metamorphosis’ pose about human existence and relationships?
This blog post examines the questions about the meaning of human existence and the nature of relationships raised through Gregor’s transformation in ‘The Metamorphosis’. What would happen if I woke up one day to find myself transformed into a giant insect? This premise, explored in Franz Kafka’s novel The Metamorphosis (Die Verwandlung), might feel somewhat unsettling and...
Franz Kafka’s The Metamorphosis: A Commentary
Through a commentary on Franz Kafka’s The Metamorphosis, we explore the profound symbols and messages of alienation, humanity, and family relationships contained within the novel. Franz Kafka: A Life of Rejection and Alienation Franz Kafka was born in 1883 in Prague, Czech Republic, within the Austro-Hungarian Empire, as the eldest son of a German-speaking Jewish middle-class family...
Cervantes and Don Quixote: What is their literary significance?
Cervantes’ masterpiece Don Quixote transcends chivalric satire to explore the conflict between human nature, reality, and fantasy. Don Quixote has transcended time, offering laughter and reflection while exerting a profound influence on literary history. Cervantes and Don Quixote Commentary A literary giant of Spain, he was born on September 29, 1547, in Alcalá de Henares, near...
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...