Hello, I’m your host, Michael Alan Prestwood and this is the September 11, 2024 Edition of the Weekly Wisdom Builder. Our goal is to cultivate your inner wisdom, empowering your inner voice, your inner coach – your philosopher guide, as Socrates would say.
To frame this week, let’s start with our “Quote of the Week.”
“The whole is more than the sum of its parts.”
Now onto this week’s 4 1-minute Hot Topics.
1. Philosophy
First up, a question rooted in the minds of our great philosophers…
How do knowledge frameworks help transform information into wisdom?
2. Science
Our second of four topics this week takes us into the empirical, into science…
What does LUCA tell us about our origins?
LUCA, or the Last Universal Common Ancestor, represents the point in history where all life on Earth converges. From humans to bacteria, every living organism shares this ancient ancestor. LUCA was a simple, single-celled organism that lived about 4 billion years ago, likely thriving in extreme environments like deep-sea vents. Though we don’t know much about what LUCA looked like, we know that the genes it passed down still exist in every living being today.
The discovery of LUCA tells us something profound: all life is interconnected. Every plant, animal, and microbe can trace its evolutionary roots back to this one ancestor. This shared lineage shows that the diversity of life on Earth—despite its many forms and complexities—springs from a common origin. We are all part of the same family tree.
Beyond the science, LUCA speaks to our place in the natural world. Understanding that we are connected to all living things reshapes how we see ourselves. It challenges the idea that humans are separate or special in the grand scheme of life and instead reminds us that we are just one branch on the vast tree of life.
3. Critical Thinking
Our third topic this week takes us into the area of thinking well…
Perhaps at the core of philosophy is the idea of skeptical thinking. Remember, one of the few things you have control over in your life is what you allow into your mind. This week’s question is…
Why are invalid fear-based arguments so effective?
Fear taps into one of our most basic survival instincts. When we feel fear, our brain pushes us to react quickly, often bypassing rational thought. This is what makes fear-based arguments—no matter how illogical—so persuasive. They appeal directly to our emotions, making it hard to separate real dangers from exaggerated or false claims.
Take this ludicrous example:
“Foreigners are invading our lands and eating our pets!”
Even without evidence, this kind of statement stirs up fear and anxiety. The idea of an external threat harming something personal, like pets, triggers an emotional response that can override reason. People may react strongly, accepting the argument at face value without questioning the validity of the claim or considering the lack of supporting evidence.
Fear works because it’s fast and powerful. But that’s also why it’s dangerous in an argument. When fear is used to manipulate, it clouds judgment and shuts down critical thinking. Recognizing these tactics helps us stay grounded and resist being misled by emotions instead of facts.
4. History
Our final topic this week brings historical context to our lives. Knowing the past helps you navigate the future…
In the area of history, this week’s question is…
Did the Buddha believe in Mount Meru and the six realms of existence?
While we don’t know for sure, most scholars agree that the Buddha did not literally believe in Mount Meru or the six realms. Yes, these were common beliefs of the time—and still are for some today—but the Buddha’s concepts of rebirth, self, and non-self suggest he used these ideas more as teaching tools than literal truths.
First, the history. In ancient India, Mount Meru was believed to be the literal cosmic mountain at the center of the universe, with its peak touching the heavens and its base rooted deep in the underworld. Surrounding Mount Meru were the six realms of existence: heavenly realms of gods, human and animal realms, the realm of hungry ghosts, and hellish realms. Today, some still hold these beliefs literally, while many others view them symbolically, using them as part of their moral guide. These realms represent cycles of rebirth, where beings are reincarnated based on their karma. This cosmology shaped much of ancient Indian belief, influencing religious traditions like Hinduism, Jainism, Buddhism, and later Sikhism. For many, even today, these realms remain literal places mapping the soul’s journey across lifetimes.
The Buddha incorporated local beliefs about Mount Meru and the six realms into his teachings, but his focus was always on essence, not the self, being reborn. In Buddhism, essence refers to the underlying energy of existence, contrasting with reincarnation, which implies a soul is reborn. His teachings emphasized overcoming suffering and attaining enlightenment in this life, not the afterlife.
That’s it for this week!
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Until next time, live your days in a way that sends virtuous ripples into an unseen tomorrow you will never witness. Be authentic, and may you always:
“Enjoy the journey, with truth and honor, causing no harm.”
— The End. —