What are you reading?

[RidonKs]

yeah there are multiple facets. since most of our gadgets these days involve communication, it becomes an open circuit with people at either end. and then it's not so much a problem of feeling detached from the technology as figuring out where it starts and you end. i dunno if its so much the complexity of digital programming as you said as it is function and interaction with human beings. i suppose thats what you mean by difficulty in understanding the components.

i feel like somehow there's a great analogy to be made between language and technology.... how semantic/syntax and program/device relate to one another, with specific regard to the human being at the center of it all. i dunno what it is tho lol

[Jailblazers7]

Yeah, it is definitely something I'll have to sit and think through as I read the book. There is definitely something of a puzzle being formed throughout my reading of it that will take some time to digest.

I keep having mini-revelations (or just bullshit musings possibly) as I read through the book. For example, I was just introduced to the concept of the scientific method creating the chaos it seeks to reduce which is I have never previously considered. His conclusion about the creation of hypothesis is something that doesn't mesh with my previous opinion. It helps that the book is very well-written because these topics/questions could be infinitely more difficult to consider with a less skilled writer.

[RidonKs]

ha yea, that definitely rings a bell. its sort of like a rabbit hole, opening a can of worms type concept isn't it? and he's pissed because he thought he'd eventually find some axiom and he realizes there isn't one.

whatever else it is, at least it's neat lol

[AirMike]

My top 3 writers are: Frederic Forsyth, Tom Clancy and John le Carre.
I am going to read the latest one by Carre after my finals week, I can´t wait...

[Jailblazers7]

I'm not sure I came away with a coherent and consistent philosophy out of the book but it did bring up some really interesting idea. I think the most interesting idea was the "quality event" and how it relates to religion (the Buddha) and science. He seems to bring up the idea that there is a subconscious process that underlies reality and the relationship between subject and object. It is hard to really discuss it without sitting down and thinking through it more thoroughly but he establishes a connection between the scientific process (specifically hypothesis generation) and eastern philosophy.

Something interesting that I think he touched upon was how technology creates a subject-object relationship between people. As far as the internet, facebook and messageboards make it easier to view people in terms of surface characteristics and treat them as objects.

The most practical portion of the book comes when he discusses how to improve yourself based on the idea of quality. The philosophy here seems to just be a more elaborate system to describe self-improvement and emotional commitment to life and work.

It was a very good read and I'm sure I will go through it again in a few years. I'll probably check into that philosophy podcast to get their take on things.



Awesome read. It was the first time in years where I burned through the whole thing because I couldn't put the book down. It was really interested to get behind the psychology of Ender. It was very easy to think of the characters and Ender as fully grown adults but then the writing gave powerful reminders of childhood.

Fantastic book that I liked so much that I will avoid the film adaptation.