A poem for Wednesday

I found this poem in Daniel Wegner’s The Illusion of Conscious Will.

A leaf was riven from a tree,
“I mean to fall to earth,” said he.
The west wind, rising, made him veer.
“Eastward,” said he, “I now shall steer.”
The east wind rose with greater force.
Said he: “‘Twere wise to change my course.”
With equal power they contend.
He said: “My judgment I suspend.”
Down died the winds; the leaf, elate,
Cried: “I’ve decided to fall straight.”
“First thoughts are best?” That’s not the moral;
Just choose your own and we’ll not quarrel.
Howe’er your choice may chance to fall,
You’ll have no hand in it at all.


Ambrose Bierce, The Devil’s Dictionary (1911)

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Peter Singer meets Crawley

Great interview with Australian Philosopher, Peter Singer.


You can view all three parts in our video gallery.

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