№ 353. Meaning versus Happiness

"Some researchers have taken to doing that by looking at what they call “eudaimonic happiness,” or the happiness that comes from meaningful pursuits, and “hedonic happiness”—the happiness that comes from pleasure or goal fulfillment."

№ 352. Words v. Images

In the beginning was the Word (John 1:1). The eagle-eyed Evangelist knew that logos wielded power over reality.

Centuries later, another John,  a Gutenburg, ushered the modern era of human history with his movable type printing press in 1439. His machine democratized learning and helped catalyze Renaissance, Reformation, scientific revolution and sparked many, many wars. The death of old ideas, ancient regimes and powers gave way to new players and new world orders. The Vatican and the British Monarchy are the very rare relics that have survived the chaos of the last four or so centuries.

Another era has begun.

This era is fast shaping our thinking, our way of life and our politics. Today, in a world wrapped in Instagram images, GIFs and viral memes, the written word is losing much of its temporal relevance and political space.

Time Magazine is dead. Long live the emoticons. And the midnight tweets and fake news. Falsehoods, half-, quarter- truths or semblances thereof are slowly creeping as acceptable norms.