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Abhishek VR
Abhishek VR

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Apr 24, 2022

In his book The Ascent of Man, the Polish mathematician and historian of science Jacob Bronowski…

In his book The Ascent of Man, the Polish mathematician and historian of science Jacob Bronowski ponders how mankind is different from animals in that he alone takes great delight in his skills and abilities. He asks us to compare the striking, but superficial, similarity in the actions and physiological…

Jacob Bronowski

2 min read

Jacob Bronowski

2 min read


Jul 6, 2021

On some words with the prefix ‘plat-’

· We inquire into the etymologies of the following words – plate, platform, plateau, platypus, platitude, platinum, and platonic. · The root word is ‘plata-’ meaning ‘flat’ in Latin. · Plates and platforms are flat, as is a plateau (a hill or mountain with a flattish top). · The platypus…

Plate

1 min read

Plate

1 min read


May 19, 2021

Thou, Animal!

Desmond Morris’ book The Naked Ape describes our own evolutionary history as a species, originating as a nomadic, fruit-eating primate inhabiting thick forests, gradually developing into a hunting, carnivorous ape living a settled existence on the plains. He claims that our ancestry continues to influence us, even though culture and…

Martin Buber

4 min read

Martin Buber

4 min read


Apr 10, 2021

Frazer’s Razor

· “The popular explanation of a popular custom is never to be rejected except for grave cause.” Application in James G. Frazer’s explanation of fire-festivals among ancient European peoples: · Description of the fire-festivals: kindling of great bonfires, leaping over them, driving cattle through or round them; races with blazing…

1 min read

1 min read


Jan 27, 2021

The Dove’s Wish

There once lived a dove in a forest — she had to fly many miles each day to find fruit for her chicks and would return to her nest very tired every evening. One day, while fetching twigs with which to renovate her home, she met a magician and they…

2 min read

The Dove’s Wish
The Dove’s Wish

2 min read


Jan 18, 2021

The Three Stages of Learning

All through his boyhood days, the hero of our story had dreamed of making a mighty voyage across the entire world, seeing new places, tasting new foods, meeting strange people, hearing tall tales… he could go on with the dream. …

4 min read

The Three Stages of Learning
The Three Stages of Learning

4 min read


Jan 15, 2021

The Magician and His Daughter

It was already time to set off for school but Josephina was nowhere to be found. Her father had searched for her everywhere, under the cart, atop the guava trees, in the well, to no avail. …

1 min read

1 min read


Dec 28, 2020

On Charles Lamb’s Ear

· Charles Lamb calls his ear a ‘handsome volute on the human capital’, a phrase that deserves savouring for both its etymological and architectural humour. · First the etymological: the word ‘capital’ comes from ‘caput’, Latin for ‘head’. This is the origin of terms like ‘per capita’, ‘captain’ (the head…

1 min read

1 min read


Dec 24, 2020

The Silence of the Lamb

The hero of our story is the youngest of a flock of sheep and his name was Charles, Charles Lamb. Charles had a problem: he could not stop talking. And all his family and friends were fed up of him. …

2 min read

2 min read


Dec 22, 2020

The Three Leopards

Leopards are solitary creatures. They meet only for the purpose of mating, unless other special circumstances prevail, which they did, there having been a three-month long drought that had left the grasslands dry and the earth crusty. One day, at dusk, three leopards were at the same watering-hole, hoping to…

2 min read

The Three Leopards
The Three Leopards

2 min read

Abhishek VR

Abhishek VR

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