Words of Wisdom — January 3, 2014

Umberto Eco on Belief

“When men stop believing in God, it isn’t that they then believe in nothing: they believe in everything.”- Umberto Eco (born on this date in 1932)

bigthinkeditor

The most surprising and impactful new stories delivered to your inbox every week, for free.

“When men stop believing in God, it isn’t that they then believe in nothing: they believe in everything.”
– Umberto Eco (born on this date in 1932)

The most surprising and impactful new stories delivered to your inbox every week, for free.

Black and white photo of a young woman resting her chin on her hand, set against a green background with circular and brain patterns.

Thinking

Why Hannah Arendt left philosophy behind to face the world

Arendt thought 20th-century philosophy had become too passive and abstract. She called for “active thinking” that prepares us to live in the real world.

An astronaut stands proudly on the moon's surface near scientific equipment and a lunar lander, as the American flag waves in the background, symbolizing a pioneering USA nation.

Starts With A Bang

Science’s value, unlike NASA, cannot be destroyed by politics

After drastic cuts to the NIH, the FDA, the NSF, and the DOE, NASA science faces down its smallest budget ever. All of society will suffer.

Split-panel collage of illustrations with partial faces of four historical figures, featuring diverse expressions and art styles, separated by colored lines. Each face reveals a hint of misunderstood philosophy, inviting viewers to ponder the unseen depths behind their enigmatic gazes.

Mini Philosophy

5 of the most misunderstood quotes in philosophy

That Nietzsche quote might not mean what you think it does.

Intricate 3D red maze with vertical walls, viewed from an angle, showing complex pathways and geometric design.

Smart Skills

You’re not lost. You’re just following someone else’s map.

Those who know who they are — and what they truly value — refuse to compromise their authentic direction to placate others.

A vivid image of a bright, colorful galaxy with swirling red, blue, and white clouds of gas and dust, where galaxies collide amid distant stars in the dark, expanding universe.

Starts With A Bang

Ask Ethan: Why do galaxies still collide in the expanding Universe?

The Universe is expanding, and individual, bound structures are all receding away from one another. How, then, are galaxies still colliding?

Up Next

Words of Wisdom

Playing the Blame Game

“The superior man blames himself. The inferior man blames others.”- Don Shula (born on this date in 1930)