Blank slate filled with impressions
Now, the details…
30 Phil, Chapter 16, Al-Farabi, Touchstone 40: Intellect.
Intellect refers to the ability to reason and understand objectively, particularly with regard to abstract or academic matters. Al-Farabi delineated human understanding into three phases: the potential, actual, and acquired. His insights laid the groundwork for today’s understanding, a roadmap for how our thinking grows over time.
The Potential Intellect is the inherent capacity within us all to absorb and process information, much like an empty library of shelves waiting to be filled with books. The Actual Intellect is the activated potential within us, the process of transforming information into knowledge and understanding. It’s like a library that’s started filling its shelves with books, each one signifying a new concept, fact, or perspective grasped. The Acquired Intellect is the advanced state of understanding where knowledge and insight spring forth from an internal wellspring, echoing a sense of innate wisdom. Imagine a comprehensive library that becomes a center for creating knowledge itself.
was first published on TST 2 years ago.
By the way, the flashcard inspired by it is this.
Subject: The Flood Stories.
Biblical flood stories echo much older Mesopotamian myths rather than unique historical lineages.
King Shuruppak, an ancient Sumerian ruler, is not Noah’s father but is linked to the Sumerian flood hero, Ziusudra. This story predates the biblical tale of Noah’s Ark by centuries and parallels it so closely that it may have influenced the later biblical account.
Now, the details…
No, King Shuruppak was not Noah’s father, but he was the father of Ziusudra, the hero in the Sumerian flood myth, which has striking similarities to the biblical story of Noah’s Ark. The Sumerian myth predates the Bible by centuries, and many scholars believe Ziusudra and Noah represent the same type of archetypal figure—a righteous man chosen by the divine to survive a cataclysmic flood. While not directly related, King Shuruppak could be seen as the father to a Noah-like figure in ancient Sumerian lore.
From chapter 1 of “30 Philosophers:”
No matter what, the Sumerian story was largely lost to humanity for millennia. That changed in 1853 when British archaeologist Austen Henry Layard found a library of clay tablets. One of the tablets contained a fragment of the Epic of Gilgamesh, and subsequent excavations over decades uncovered more tablets containing the complete epic.
Stories of great floods that destroy have been a popular motif in many ancient cultures around the world. Two of the most well-known flood stories come from the ancient Mesopotamian epic poem, the Epic of Gilgamesh, and another from the Hebrew Bible’s Book of Genesis.
was first published on TST 2 years ago.
By the way, the flashcard inspired by it is this.
Front: What do scholars call recurring story patterns across cultures?
Back: Archetypes
Now, the details…
(Crete, ) – The Palace of Knossos, the largest Bronze Age archaeological site on Crete, is famous for its sophisticated and colorful frescoes. These paintings depict a variety of subjects, including processions, animals, and scenes of daily life, characterized by naturalistic figures and a vibrant palette. One of the most iconic images is of the bull-leaping ceremony, showcasing the importance of bulls within Minoan culture and religion. The frescoes reflect the Minoan civilization’s artistic prowess, with a keen eye for naturalism, movement, and the depiction of textiles and patterns, setting them apart from the more stylized art of contemporaneous cultures.
was first published on TST 2 years ago.
By the way, the flashcard inspired by it is this.
