tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4051826042602269061.post1057439409742955491..comments2024-03-25T09:01:20.997-07:00Comments on Diary of an Autodidact: Why Does the World Exist by Jim HoltDiary of an Autodidacthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11849157548643091986noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4051826042602269061.post-38560241888123296612016-08-26T21:30:36.355-07:002016-08-26T21:30:36.355-07:00J have just finished wading through this book by J...J have just finished wading through this book by Jim Holt. There were times I almost drowned by being swept away by repetitious currents and quicksand on the banks. Perhaps the most impressive aspect of the book is the fairly exhaustive NOTES at the end: as a philosophy major Holt demonstrates a more than passing acquaintance with many of the major streams of philosophy. Like another reviewer I was disappointed that Holt did not develop his own hint of believing in his youth in some kind of gnosticism involving an evil demiurge hint of a figure. I sometimes wonder if the banishment of Arius from the Council of Nicea was not the very premature closure of a debate only recently brought into public consciousness by the conundrums raised by quantum physics and the big bang discussion. Like some others too I was a bit miffed by the arguably gratuitous inclusion of episodes of quaffing wine in the Cafe Flore where the ghost of Satre still lingers. I also regret that there was not a greater discussion of Wittgenstein's idea that if you clear up the language then philosophical issues tend to clear up too (notwithstanding that Wittgenstein also said strongly that concerning that about which we know nothing we should remain silent.) Good on Holt for not remaining silent but this does not excuse him from even mentioning Wittgenstein in this context. His move towards a sympathetically but very brief allusion to Buddhist philosophy towards the end of the book could well justify another book devoted to this in its own right - I hope so. I am certainly not qualified to comment on the accuracy or otherwise of his summaries of what quantum physics is on about or indeed anything but the most basic scientific concepts. Muk Mukhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04283899213258862339noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4051826042602269061.post-21474181609228796402013-03-31T21:52:17.315-07:002013-03-31T21:52:17.315-07:00I'm not thrilled with Blogger's way of sig...I'm not thrilled with Blogger's way of signing in for comments either - it took me a couple of tries too. If you have a Google account - Gmail, youtube, etc., you can just log in using that. Anonymous is for those luddites without gmail...<br /><br />Thanks for the kind words. I'll have to check out your site as well. Diary of an Autodidacthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11849157548643091986noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4051826042602269061.post-59582671766127904002013-03-31T16:44:23.011-07:002013-03-31T16:44:23.011-07:00I've read and deeply admired Jim Holt's bo...I've read and deeply admired Jim Holt's book WHY DOES THE WORLD EXIST? I've also read many reviews and commentaries about the book. Although I am emphatically an atheist, I have complete respect for theists of many different stripes, albeit certainly not for all theists. Your blog on Holt's book is one of the most perceptive and thoughtful ones of the literally scores that I've read. Keep up the good work!<br /> <br />I'm a not too distant neighbor of yours living in Santa Clarita, and a movie & documentary film producer. (I'm not sure what to select for, or what is meant below by "Comment as:" i.e. "Google Account", "Live Journal," " "Anonymous," etc.), but I will gladly join your blog site as a "follower."Julian Kraininhttp://kraininproductions.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4051826042602269061.post-39158459456567263232013-03-31T16:36:03.676-07:002013-03-31T16:36:03.676-07:00This comment has been removed by the author.Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07855874775477955194noreply@blogger.com