Epictetus - 14

From: The Golden Sayings of Epictetus (translated by Hastings Crossley) - from Project Gutenberg.

CXXXV
Reflect that the chief source of all evils to Man, and of baseness and cowardice, is not death, but the fear of death.
Against this fear then, I pray you, harden yourself; to this let all your reasonings, your exercises, your reading tend. Then shall you know that thus alone are men set free.

Thought

There is the material world and what has been described as the world of the mind. On first impressions, the difference between the two is probably obvious but what is the difference in those that inhabit these worlds? And how easy is it for these inhabitants to move from one world to the other?

Does it follow...

…that universities are where the deepest thinking and learning takes place?

There are still people who regret never having gone to university or failing to complete a degree course. I was reminded of such a person this week. He had tried three times to get a degree and, for one reason or another, had been unable to complete the course. Now aged 70, should an intelligent and very interesting man, successful in variety of other ways, still have regrets?

The truth is that a lot of shallow and mundane thinking now goes on in universities around Britain - and I am sure all around the world, too. Deep thinking and learning goes on where deep thinking and learning goes on; it is not confined to a particular place or type of institution. Yes, there are universities where very deep thinking has and will continue to take place. It is just that being called a university doesn't guarantee that it does, has or even that it ever will. And it can be done by those outside such places.

Maps built from squares

I came across the following map at the 'Tower of the Archmage' blog. I don't really know what this is about apart from assuming that it is a game of some sort. What interests me is the way in which the map is made using squared paper. This is the first Megadungeon map. The name perhaps gives a clue as to what 'Tower of the Archmage' may be about.

Further maps - and how they fit together - can be found on the Megadungeon Maps - 1st big level page. (There is also a map label with numerous entries to click.)

Using a book of squared paper, a 3D map - or at least a map with numerous levels or layers, one per page - can be produced. It could even form some sort of 3D maze.

Francesca Woodman

Francesca Woodman (1958-1981) was a photographer the subject of whose work was often herself. She produced numerous self portraits. She often worked in the square format. I found this somewhere but can remember where. What interests me about this image - which I think has been altered - is the square arrangement of the same square image at different magnifications. This reveals the composite dots typical of photographs as they used to appear in old newspapers.

Epictetus - 13

From: The Golden Sayings of Epictetus (translated by Hastings Crossley) - from Project Gutenberg.

CXXIX
I am by Nature made for my own good; not for my own evil.