Comments by "Eric McLuen" (@ericmcluen5177) on "Jared Henderson" channel.

For me language is often the atumbling block. Philosophers and theologians like naming things and don't often care if someone else used the same name in a slightly different context. Pobably the most difficult book I have, attemptedz to read was feom colege - Meaning of Christ, a Mahayana Buddhist Point of View. You basically had to learn a new language if you weren't well versed in Buddhist thought. I might give Goedel, Escher and Bach another shot at some point. But like all reading, knowing what you are getting into before you start can be a big plus.
28
Need to read Dispossessed. Have read Lathe of Heaven and amazed ot was written that long ago and is quite relevant today. Have Anathem and looking forward to reading it. Issue is that Stephenson sometimes seems to eneamored with his own writing and gets too cute for his own good.
9
Regarding professors, while they may know their subject frontwards and backwards, how many have actually studied on how to actually teach. And I keep thinking of Adjunct Lorn and Tavore... For coaching salaries, they are likely not paid directly by the state. Rather through the athletic depatment's budget which their success contributes to. Now how much they are getting paid is another issue.
7
Was a physics religion double major. We visited Argonne Labs and saw out E&M textbook on the shelf. The person said he just had to use it that day. What I think people miss is what you allude to. It is not always about knowing the answer but how to find it. Those critical thinking and communication skill are used constantly.
4
I recently read Blood Meridian as well to see how it influenced Bakker and the Second Apocalypse which I really did like. His prose kept drawing me in and then kicked me right back out and a few other issues. The Things They Carried by Tim O'Brien off the banned book list. Incredibly intense. Also just finished Dispossessed. A lot of interesting thought experiments but did enjoy it. Lathe of Heaven might rate a little higher for me. Non fiction is tough as it is most often history. Found the Liberation Trilogy by Atkinson very readable, and can check another Pulitzer Prize winner off the list. Would add just about anythijg by Elaine Pagels. Erasmus and Luther the Battle for Freewill was very interesting and quite entertaining.
3
I had to check the date Lathe was written considering a lot of the issues presented are very relevant today. I have read three - Lathe, Dispossessed and Left Hand. The first two read very much like what if thought exeriments. Characters are secondary to the themes and ideas presented. Her writing is also very economical - not a lot of fluff and she says what she wants to say and then stops. But yes, you do see shifts in writing around this time much like veterans who became authors like Tolkein and Cook.
3
Need to pick up Sun Eater as also a fan of Herbert and Wolfe. Erickson runs the gamut of themes in MBotF. History, empire, motherhood, brotherhood, grief, etc. They are often addressed multiple times from multiple perspectives.
2
Bakker writes disturbing almost too well. His prose is amazing but definitely not for the faint of heart or weak stomach.
2
When my brother was laid off with severance his oldest called it 'funemployment' while getting paid after getting paid while not working. Good luck on your future endeavors.
1
I was surprised to see LeGuin quote Chuang Tzu in Lathe of Heaven. I am not the one to ask about the differences between his and Lao Tzu's take on Daoism. Eastern philosophy does take a different state of mind. It deals a lot with symbolism and metaphor to talk about something without talking about it. Western philosophy also seeks to define reality. To vastly oversimplify many Eastern philosophies, reality cannot be denined and can only be experienced.
1
While listening to NPR on the car radio (does that make me seem old?), they were discussing study on the relationship of cell phones on test scores. Subjects who has the phone on them, even if in their pocket, scored significantly lower than those with it in another room. The reasoning is that there was still the temptation to look at it or check on something. And judging from my YT suggestions, YT shorts were developed by cats to keep us under their rule.
1
That's the problem with academia. Too many academics. Went to a small private college starting as a physics major, as I thought it might be interesting and practical, and ended up with a religion double major as that was fun. My New Testament professor was disappointed it was in Pella, IA, and not Pella Greece. So that is why I work at a financial institution.... Tuition went up about 25% in those four years, now my four year bill is about one. That being said, the communication and critical thinking skills learned have been invaluable. As well as the social experience in general. There is a disconnect between the college and real world. For a long time we were told a college degree is mandatory. Likely dated, but you even needed a degree, in anything, to manage a Pizza Hut. Vocational and trade schools were looked down upon. Now, those graduates are working in their chosen field with minimal if any debt.
1
Thomas Covenant is a different take on LotR. Malazan if you are up for a long haul. R Scott Bakker if you was to go full dark with ever trigger warning there is.
1
I didnt care for Dark Materials as a whole as it started out with potential then kept hammering theme at the sake of an interesting and coherent story. GGK has been my 'need a break' reads as stand alones are so rare. Lions and Under Heaven I felt better than Tigana as rjey were faster paced. And fewer sexy times that GGK has no business writing. And Deadhouse Gates gets a lot heavier into themes and more straight forward storytelling, on a different continent...
1
Prefered Lions ro Rigana. Need to read Under Heaven. But I wish GGK didnt atte.pt sex scenes. Have read Snow Crash and Cryptonomicon. Stephenson sometimes too eneamored with his own writing and his snark can get a bit much. But Anathem is on my list to read. Would add Lathe of Heaven for ideas. Then realize it was written in 74.
1
@_jared It isnironic that one can spend more time explaining what the issue of the debate actually is than providing a response.
1
Is it possible to study philosophy and not come across something in German? My high school German has actually come in handy since a lot of theological terms used are German. I try to read challenging books upon occasion just to keep the mental juices going. You also might learn more if you have to put effort in it. I have no background in philosophy, so the hard part is figuring out all the terms used. Similar experience reading a book from college on a Mahayana theology of Christ, which I attempted again later and still no dice. I started taking notes which were almost as much as what I was actually reading. Soon I hope to givr Goedel, Escher and Bach another shot and perhaps make it past the first page of Titus Groan.
1
So you also don't actually own the Kindle either since Amazon can snoop any time it wants too. Yet another reason I don't care for ebooks.
1