Copyright notice
All text and original images in this blog © 1990-2010 by William P. Coleman. Some rights reserved. You may reuse only as specified in the Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License or by written permission.About me
If you'd like to know more about me, please see the About page. My qualifications for the scientific entries are in my CV.
I see no reason to segregate scientific and technical posts from humanistic ones. In my life, scientific concerns mix with ethical ones, and they shade into a philosophical interest in the nature of cognition and the nature of people. Doing science is as creative as writing fiction, and I get inspiration for both from the same gods.
You will find little here on current politics. I'm an activist, but not in symptoms. Experience in martial arts shows me that the sure way to lose is reactivity; but if you stay cool and remember your training and what you're there for then you achieve goals and, when conflict is unavoidable, you fight and win. The idea of the liberal arts I was brought up in is that broad understanding of cultures and ideas gives you deeper, better goals -- making success more likely and more satisfying. Negatively, the hysteria since 9/11 shows how a country frightened and reactive can destroy itself more than an enemy can. I'm trying to contribute by changing the terms of discourse. . . . As Allen Ginsberg wrote, "America, I'm putting my queer shoulder to the wheel."
One fact shouldn't require special mention, but it sometimes does: namely that I'm gay. This blog is not primarily about being gay, but the topic sometimes comes up. I'm proud of being gay and do not hide. Muse
Category Archives: Tao
Laozi, Chapter 19
Daodejing — The Classic About Ways and Instances Translated by William P. Coleman If holiness disappears and wisdom is thrown away, then people benefit a hundred ways. If benevolence disappears and righteousness is thrown away, then people return to filial … Continue reading
Lao Tzu, Chapter 18
Daodejing — The Classic About Ways and Instances Translated by William P. Coleman After the great way had been forgotten, there was benevolence and rectitude. Intelligence and knowledge appeared, and there was great falseness. The six relationships fell out of harmony, … Continue reading
Lao Tzu, Chapter 17
Tao Te Ching — The Classic about Ways And Instances Lao Tzu (Translated, with comments, by William P. Coleman) Chapter 17 The best ruler? His people know he exists. The next best? They love and praise him. The next, they … Continue reading
Lao Tzu, Chapter 16
Tao Te Ching — The Classic about Ways And Instances Lao Tzu (Translated, with comments, by William P. Coleman) Chapter 16 Reach to the farthest end of emptiness; maintain unmoving stillness. If I look at many things as combined, then … Continue reading
Lao Tzu, Chapter 15
Tao Te Ching — The Classic about Ways And Instances Lao Tzu (Translated, with comments, by William P. Coleman) Chapter 15 Of old, those who were skilled at being were masters. They were subtle and could penetrate deeply into natures; … Continue reading
Lao Tzu, Chapter 14
Tao Te Ching — The Classic about Ways And Instances Lao Tzu (Translated, with comments, by William P. Coleman) Chapter 14 We look at it and can’t see its name, so we say it’s invisible. We listen to it and … Continue reading
Lao Tzu, Chapter 13
Tao Te Ching — The Classic about Ways And Instances Lao Tzu (Translated, with comments, by William P. Coleman) Chapter 13 Honored, we fear dishonor. Highly esteemed, misfortune becomes inseparable from our selves. What does it mean when I say, … Continue reading
Lao Tzu, Chapter 12
Tao Te Ching — The Classic about Ways And Instances Lao Tzu (Translated, with comments, by William P. Coleman) Chapter 12 The five colors make one’s eyes blind. The five tones make one’s ears deaf. The five flavors make one’s … Continue reading
Wang Wei — My Retreat at Chung-nan Mountain
My Retreat at Chung-nan Mountain Wang Wei 701-761 CE (translated by William P. Coleman) In the middle of my life, I was very fond of tao; now my home is in the south, by this mountain. When inspiration comes, I … Continue reading
Lao Tzu, Chapter 11
Tao Te Ching — The Classic about Ways And Instances Lao Tzu (Translated, with comments, by William P. Coleman) Chapter 11 Thirty spokes unite at a hub; it’s the emptiness there that makes the wheel usable. Shape clay to … Continue reading
