INSTITUT DE CIÈNCIA DE MATERIALS DE BARCELONA (ICMAB-CSIC)’s Post

"Nothing speaks to us as forcefully as a book, which expects nothing in return, other than that we think and feel." Herta Müller was awarded the 2009 Nobel Prize in Literature for her writing that addresses an individual's vulnerability under oppression and persecution. Her works are rooted in her experiences growing up as one of Romania's German-speaking ethnic minorities. She describes life under Nicolae Ceaușescu's regime and how dictatorships breed fear and alienation that stays in an individual's mind. Discover more: http://bit.ly/2OSoIkL

Trevor Noah has proven that focusing on your talent is very important! When you focus on your talent, you are more likely to experience a sense of fulfillment and satisfaction from your work or activities. Utilizing your talents allows you to express yourself in a way that feels natural and enjoyable, leading to a greater sense of purpose and happiness. When you work in an area that aligns with your talents, you are likely to be more productive and efficient. You'll naturally excel in areas where you have talent, allowing you to produce high-quality work and achieve better results. By focusing on your talents, you can carve out a niche for yourself in your chosen field. This can lead to career advancement opportunities, as employers and clients often seek out individuals who have specialized skills and talents. Ultimately, focusing on your talents can lead to a more fulfilling and successful life, allowing you to make the most of your unique abilities and create a positive impact in the world.

Read the attached interview, from this long-serving "Great Statesman"

Don't miss this insightful blog post highlighting the thoughts of Descartes, Hegel, and Goethe on the concept of freedom. The post delves into Hegel's perspective on the eternal recurrence of human history, emphasizing the dynamism of tradition and the continuity of successive ages. Gain a deeper understanding of the profound ideas discussed in the post by following this link: https://ift.tt/coprEj1

On this day in 1328 – William of Ockham, the Franciscan Minister-General Michael of Cesena, and two other Franciscan leaders secretly leave Avignon, fearing a death sentence from Pope John XXII. Worst of all, Ockham forgot his razor. OK - That last sentence was a joke. Look it up. :) Let us follow William of Ockham: "It is pointless to do with more what can be done with fewer." "... "only faith gives us access to theological truths. The ways of God are not open to reason, for God has freely chosen to create a world and establish a way of salvation within it apart from any necessary laws that human logic or rationality can uncover." "Logic is the most useful tool of all the arts. Without it no science can be fully known. It is not worn out by repeated use, after the manner of material tools, but rather admits of continual growth through the diligent exercise of any other science. For just as a mechanic who lacks a complete knowledge of his tool gains a fuller [knowledge] by using it, so one who is educated in the firm principles of logic, while he painstakingly devotes his labor to the other sciences, acquires at the same time a greater skill at this art."

Umberto Eco: A Practical List for Identifying Fascists Fascism, a term laden with historical significance, remains a subject of debate and controversy when it comes to its definition. Umberto Eco, the celebrated Italian philosopher and author, offered a profound perspective on fascism through his essay, “Ur-Fascism.” In this article, we delve into Eco’s 14 points that encapsulate the essence of fascism, providing a comprehensive and insightful exploration of this political ideology. https://lnkd.in/eeupFhae

We are heading towards extinction... 😯 (For a much more optimistic interpretation of the plot below, read the article by Adam Mastroianni in his 'Experimental History' here: https://lnkd.in/gG-27h6d).

https://lnkd.in/g6JkYdp4 An international panel on Leo Strauss, Friday April 26, 2024, 10-1 pm ET Hosts: Svetozar Minkov, Roosevelt University & Hannes Kerber, Boston College Speakers: Eric Buzzetti, Concordia University, Montréal, "The Theologico-Political Problem: Xenophon's Oeconomicus and the 1946 'Shipwreck'" Alexis Carré, Harvard University, "Strauss, Schmitt, and the Political Polarity" Marco Menon, Università della Svizzera Italiana, "Strauss as a Theologian" Rasoul Namazi, Duke Kunshan University, "Strauss as a Farabian Historian" Alex Priou, University of Austin, "Strauss as Scholar-Philosopher" Find out more: https://lnkd.in/gyvUMHDC / ls_foundation https://lnkd.in/gHzT7nFR... https://lnkd.in/gZUnTnHe... https://lnkd.in/gjVDRRSr... Strauss letter to Krüger: https://lnkd.in/gguEaGzT... Comments from Ronna Burger: Socrates’ unwillingness to deal with Parmenides (Theaetetus 183e)-- “I’m afraid we’ll fail as much to understand what he was saying as we’ll fall far short of what he thought when he spoke”-- a model for the Straussian “humility” of the “historian”?, which of course is the boldness of the interpreter’s thinking inspired by the gap between speeches and intention. [re: Namazi's presentation] On the relation between political philosophy and philosophy as such, Benardete’s 1974 memorial speech for Strauss: “the political-theological issue as the philosophical issue, since the problem of the human good is grounded in the city, and the problem of being in god. Political philosophy was therefore the eccentric core of philosophy, and the problem of Socrates the problem of philosophy itself.”

Anteriad US is closed today, in observance of Juneteenth. This day marks an important and monumental event in US history and represents hope, inspiration and freedom. Learn more about Juneteeth ➡️https://hubs.ly/Q02ClRvf0

✍ Read here the essay of professor emeritus at the Maria Curie-Skłodowska University, Christopher Garbowski, on the Solidarity movement in Poland and the personalism of John Paul II as reflected in the Encycliclal Laborem Exercens. Professor Garbowski places the Encyclical in its historical context and explains how JPII defended the dignity of work and the ''mystery of the human person'': https://lnkd.in/e2QivgFY