Edward Library

 Thomas Hobbes's Leviathan , in this insightful edition by Pulbit, offers a timeless exploration of human nature, society, and the foundations of political power. While the commentary included in this version may not suit every reader, it provides a valuable framework for understanding Hobbes's dense and profoundly influential work. This review delves into two core themes that resonate just as strongly today as they did in the 17th century: the primacy of experience and the rational origins of belief. At the heart of Hobbes's philosophy is a staunch empiricism. He argues that "the most prudent man is the one who has the most experience." Our capacity for imagination and judgment, according to Hobbes, is built upon the vast library of our memories. The more we experience, the more material we have to draw from, allowing for more careful and considered decisions. However, Hobbes astutely notes the inherent limitations of this. No single individual can experience eve...

  1. It is the role of science to let us know the facts. Mystics rejoice in riddles and wish for them to remain mysterious. Scientists rejoice in riddles for a different reason: they give them something to do. mobile e-book: 320p In the past, humans practiced totemism, animism, and shamanism, offering sacrifices to improve the weather, performing rain rituals, or, as in the legend of mantou from the Romance of the Three Kingdoms where twenty head-shaped buns were offered to a river god to calm its waters, taking various measures to appease the wrath of gods through sacrifice. However, because science has developed, modern humans can now predict, to some extent, why weather phenomena like the rainy season and typhoons occur and where they will strike. We can even induce rain through artificial rain technology. Thus, when we are ignorant of the facts, things may seem miraculous and be seen as the work of gods, but once we know the facts, we can understand them. It seems that humani...

  1. Let's Reflect on Ourselves "When you pay attention to your own experiences when you get angry at your child's behavior, you begin to realize how much your reactions have interfered with an ideal relationship with your children." (e-book p. 70) There are moments when I get particularly angry at a specific behavior of my child. I ask myself, "Why does this action make me so angry?" and "Why am I reacting so sensitively?" I reflect on whether I, too, received negative feedback for the same behavior in the past. By contemplating my anger and looking back at my past, I come to understand the root cause of my sensitivity to that particular action. I realize that my specific reactions are also responses stemming from past experiences. Therefore, to change my behavior, I must first acknowledge the origin of my reaction and then consider how to change. Through this process, I can restore my bond with my child and achieve deep self-reflection. My ingr...

 I recently explored the world of quantum mechanics through a book called "The Quantum Story." The book interestingly explains the history of quantum mechanics in a narrative format. Based on its contents, I've summarized my understanding of key quantum concepts and my personal thoughts. Schrödinger's Cat and Superposition The most famous thought experiment in quantum mechanics is undoubtedly "Schrödinger's Cat." Inside a sealed box, a cat is placed along with a single radioactive atom that has a 50% chance of decaying in one hour. If the atom decays, a device releases poison, and the cat dies. After an hour, what is the cat's state before we open the box to "observe" it? According to quantum mechanics, the cat is in a state where life and death probabilistically coexist—a state known as superposition . Until observed, its fate is not determined. Two Interpretations: Copenhagen and Many-Worlds There are several interpretations of this ...