Crossing the divide: A website about Literature, Art & Philosophy by Venkat Ramanan

The courage that Steinbeck writes about is one of physical and moral bravery whereas the strength of character Levi portrays should properly be termed “spiritual” or “existential” valour. The Third of May 1808 , Francisco de Goya 1814 (Public Domain, Wikimedia Commons) e seem of late to be more and more concerned with the question of what makes us human. Perhaps this has to do with the rise of secularism or our angst about machines. But it would seem humans have mulled over this question for a lot longer than we realise (even if not with the same intensity). Aristotle for instance thought that reason was what was so unique about us. We were not only the only species to have the ability to exercise our intellect but are conscious that it is also morally good to do so. In more recent times, the historian   Yuval Noah Harari has steered clear  of reason and morality while holding that what is special about humans is the fact that they are the only animals who can work coll

below is the list (not in any order) of my book suggestions that we referred to in another post. This lists some books that have shaped my view of the world (especially philosophy of mind and AI). I do not, naturally, expect everyone to agree with what I have chosen. I am nevertheless listing it via a separate post in case others are interested/curious. Included in this list are some works of fiction which may be a surprise to some. However, an understanding of science and art is never complete without literature’s weltanschauung. ("I don't paint what I see, I paint what I know." Picasso) No Genre Author Book Title My thoughts Joseph Campbell The Power of Myth Joseph Campbell The Myths We Live By Philosophy/Cognitive Science Douglas Hofstadter & Daniel C Dennett (eds) Mind's I: Fantasies and Reflections on Self and Soul Dougl