The Puzzle Instinct : The Meaning of Puzzles in Human Life download book TXT, FB2
9780253340948 English 0253340942 "Humans are the only animals who create and solve puzzles -- for the sheer pleasure of it -- and there is no obvious genetic reason why we would do this. Marcel Danesi explores the psychology of puzzles and puzzling, with scores of classic examples. His pioneering book is both entertaining and enlightening." -- Will Shortz, Crossword Editor, The New York Times ..". Puzzle fanatics will enjoy the many riddles, illusions, cryptograms and other mind-benders offered for analysis." -- Psychology Today ..". a bristlingly clear... always intriguing survey of the history and rationale of puzzles.... [A] splendid study...." -- Knight Ridder Newspapers, One of the most famous anagrams of all time was constructed in the Middle Ages. The unknown author contrived it as a Latin dialogue between Pilate and Jesus. Jesus' answer to Pilate's question "What is truth" is phrased as an ingenious anagram of the letters of that very question: Pilate: Quid est veritas? ("What is truth?") Jesus: Est virqui adest. ("It is the man before you.")The origin of anagrams is shrouded in mystery. One thing is clear, however -- in the ancient world, they were thought to contain hidden messages from the gods. Legend has it that even Alexander the Great (356--323 b.c.) believed in their prophetic power. -- from Chapter TwoThe most obvious explanation for the popularity of puzzles is that they provide a form of constructive entertainment. But in The Puzzle Instinct Marcel Danesi contends that the fascination with puzzles throughout the ages suggests something much more profound. Puzzles serve a deeply embedded need in people to make sense of things. Emerging at the same time in human history as myth, magic, and the occult arts, the puzzle instinct, he claims, led to discoveries in mathematics and science, as well as revolutions in philosophical thought.Puzzles fill an existential void by providing "small-scale experiences of the large-scale questions that Life poses. The puzzle instinct is, arguably, as intrinsic to human nature as is humor, language, art, music, and all the other creative faculties that distinguish humanity from all other species.", Why are humans fascinated by puzzles? Puzzle-addict and renowned communication theorist Marcel Danesi takes readers on an exploration of the philosophical implications of the puzzle instinct. Puzzles are as old as humanity and the human instinct for puzzles betrays the larger perpetual search for meaning to life. Danesi not only has included many in this book to puzzle over, he explores why we like to puzzle over them as well. Among the smaller puzzles in this book are the solutions to some much larger puzzles: What is the necessary raison d'etre that puzzles serve, why did they emerge at the same time in history as myth, magic and the occult arts, and why can't we put them down.Puzzles are as old as humanity and the human instinct for puzzles betrays the larger perpetual search for meaning to life. Marcel Danesi not only has included many in this book to puzzle over, he explores why we like to puzzle over them as well. Following a history of puzzles, Danesi goes in depth into the main genres of puzzles - from riddles and anagrams to magic squares and optical illusions. As each chapter unfolds, Danesi puts the puzzle genre into the greater cultural context from which it arises, and to which it still applies. He explains the portrayal of riddles as "warnings" against the ambiguities built into language, or tells us that magic squares are manifestations of innate tendencies to see patterns worked into number systems and designs. On the other hand, Danesi contends, puzzles are not merely the product of superstition; more often than not, they have led to veritable discoveries in mathematics and science, as well as revolutions in philosophical methods, after which they have quietly disappeared into the background of history. This book is not a puzzle collection intended for aficionados. It is, uniquely, an exploration of the philosophical implications of the puzzle instinct. Among the smaller puzzles in this book are the solutions to some much larger puzzles: What is the necessary raison d'etre that puzzles serve, why did they emerge at the same time in history as myth, magic and the occult arts, and why can't we put them down. However, if you do feel the need to make sense of things by attempting to solve puzzles there are many examples in this book. And if you absolutely can't come up with the solutions to some, they are provided at the back of the book.
9780253340948 English 0253340942 "Humans are the only animals who create and solve puzzles -- for the sheer pleasure of it -- and there is no obvious genetic reason why we would do this. Marcel Danesi explores the psychology of puzzles and puzzling, with scores of classic examples. His pioneering book is both entertaining and enlightening." -- Will Shortz, Crossword Editor, The New York Times ..". Puzzle fanatics will enjoy the many riddles, illusions, cryptograms and other mind-benders offered for analysis." -- Psychology Today ..". a bristlingly clear... always intriguing survey of the history and rationale of puzzles.... [A] splendid study...." -- Knight Ridder Newspapers, One of the most famous anagrams of all time was constructed in the Middle Ages. The unknown author contrived it as a Latin dialogue between Pilate and Jesus. Jesus' answer to Pilate's question "What is truth" is phrased as an ingenious anagram of the letters of that very question: Pilate: Quid est veritas? ("What is truth?") Jesus: Est virqui adest. ("It is the man before you.")The origin of anagrams is shrouded in mystery. One thing is clear, however -- in the ancient world, they were thought to contain hidden messages from the gods. Legend has it that even Alexander the Great (356--323 b.c.) believed in their prophetic power. -- from Chapter TwoThe most obvious explanation for the popularity of puzzles is that they provide a form of constructive entertainment. But in The Puzzle Instinct Marcel Danesi contends that the fascination with puzzles throughout the ages suggests something much more profound. Puzzles serve a deeply embedded need in people to make sense of things. Emerging at the same time in human history as myth, magic, and the occult arts, the puzzle instinct, he claims, led to discoveries in mathematics and science, as well as revolutions in philosophical thought.Puzzles fill an existential void by providing "small-scale experiences of the large-scale questions that Life poses. The puzzle instinct is, arguably, as intrinsic to human nature as is humor, language, art, music, and all the other creative faculties that distinguish humanity from all other species.", Why are humans fascinated by puzzles? Puzzle-addict and renowned communication theorist Marcel Danesi takes readers on an exploration of the philosophical implications of the puzzle instinct. Puzzles are as old as humanity and the human instinct for puzzles betrays the larger perpetual search for meaning to life. Danesi not only has included many in this book to puzzle over, he explores why we like to puzzle over them as well. Among the smaller puzzles in this book are the solutions to some much larger puzzles: What is the necessary raison d'etre that puzzles serve, why did they emerge at the same time in history as myth, magic and the occult arts, and why can't we put them down.Puzzles are as old as humanity and the human instinct for puzzles betrays the larger perpetual search for meaning to life. Marcel Danesi not only has included many in this book to puzzle over, he explores why we like to puzzle over them as well. Following a history of puzzles, Danesi goes in depth into the main genres of puzzles - from riddles and anagrams to magic squares and optical illusions. As each chapter unfolds, Danesi puts the puzzle genre into the greater cultural context from which it arises, and to which it still applies. He explains the portrayal of riddles as "warnings" against the ambiguities built into language, or tells us that magic squares are manifestations of innate tendencies to see patterns worked into number systems and designs. On the other hand, Danesi contends, puzzles are not merely the product of superstition; more often than not, they have led to veritable discoveries in mathematics and science, as well as revolutions in philosophical methods, after which they have quietly disappeared into the background of history. This book is not a puzzle collection intended for aficionados. It is, uniquely, an exploration of the philosophical implications of the puzzle instinct. Among the smaller puzzles in this book are the solutions to some much larger puzzles: What is the necessary raison d'etre that puzzles serve, why did they emerge at the same time in history as myth, magic and the occult arts, and why can't we put them down. However, if you do feel the need to make sense of things by attempting to solve puzzles there are many examples in this book. And if you absolutely can't come up with the solutions to some, they are provided at the back of the book.