Quiet

   
     Photo by Cousin Sue Pinkerton

 

Yes, as a few of you have noticed, I have been quiet lately. I'm not writing -- but I am reading.

I'm reading:

Warped Passages: Unraveling the Mysteries of the Universe's Hidden Dimensions

The universe has many secrets. It may hide additional dimensions of space other than the familier three we recognize. There might even be another universe adjacent to ours, invisible and unattainable . . . for now.

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and:

The Happiness Hypothesis: Finding Modern Truth in Ancient Wisdom

In his widely praised book, award-winning psychologist  Jonathan Haidt examines the world's philosophical wisdom through the lens  of psychological science, showing how a deeper understanding of enduring  maxims-like Do unto others as you would have others do unto you, or What  doesn't kill you makes you stronger-can enrich and even transform our  lives.

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The first is a challenge to the brain, and I'm taking it slowly. The second is, I suspect, more a challenge to the will. I'm liking them both very much, lots of mind churning going on. I'm also thinking about:

NOVA | Ape Genius | PBS

In this companion Web site to the NOVA program Ape Genius, learn about the differences between human and ape minds, read an interview with MIT cognitive scientist Rebecca Saxe on the neural and psychological basis of social thought, explore an interactive primate family tree, view a slide show about an extraordinary linguistic bonobo named Kanzi, and watch two short video outtakes from the NOVA film.

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I'm especially thinking about the chimp who could not delay gratification when presented with the choice of two M&M's now, or five M&M's later -- until she learned her numbers, and was offered a choice of 2 or 5. The symbol gave her, apparently, the emotional distance required to make the more sensible (gratifying) choice.

I'm thinking about that a lot. Symbols are, after all, the poet's tools.

Comments

[Cindy]

I still have trouble with that choice.

[Cathy]

Ah there you are! I was going leave a message on your blog, asking your animals to please untie you so you blog again ;)

[Niki]

Yea! A new Blog! We miss you when you are away! Love the picture of the owl! Sue really got a great shot of it. I have only seen an owl like that once. I was camping and heard owl sounds. I walked through the forest following the sounds until I found it! It was very exciting!