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Blog Title Change

Jan 13th, 2009
by Michael Krahn.

I changed the title from “A Mind Awake” (after a book about C.S. Lewis) to “The Ascent to Truth” (after a book by Thomas Merton).  I like books, in case you haven’t noticed.

I chose the new title for several reasons:

1. It’s the title of one of my favorite Thomas Merton books
2. I hope everyone believes that truth is a noble goal and that they’re traveling and rising toward it
3. In another sense the word means “a movement or return toward a source or beginning” or in some ways “a surrender to what IS”, a surrender to truth, and we must seek to surrender to truth, and to the ultimate Truth – Jesus Christ.

What do you think? Do you like the new title or the old title better?




Posted in: Blogging, Books, Books and Authors, C. S. Lewis, Thomas Merton.

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  • http://krusekronicle.typepad.com Michael W. Kruse

    I liked the old name but I like the new one even better. Good pick.

  • Andy Doan

    It’s a bit heavy handed for my taste but it is a nice progression from the last title. More mature in a way.

  • http://sniderremarks.blogspot.com/ Don Snider

    I like the new title. I got the meaning before reading your reasoning behind changing.

  • Michael Segui

    I like the old title better.

  • Michael

    ‘Ascent to Truth’ could be described as false advertising couldn’t it? In the UK we call it misrepresentation. “Ascent to Absurdity” or perhaps even “Ascent to Improbability” would be more apt.

  • Michael Segui

    Having read neither book, I don’t bring any preconceived notions (based on those books) with me when I read the titles (although I did start reading NO MAN IS AN ISLAND by Merton that you lent me but I got sidetracked).

    I prefer “A Mind Awake” as it makes you seem more open to discussion with those who have differing or opposing views from you.

    To me, “The Ascent To Truth” seems more exclusive. Who’s version of truth are you ascending to? While I am sure that most of the readers of your blog believe that truth is a noble goal and that they are (hopefully) travelling and rising toward it, I am quite sure that collectively the definition of “truth” will be hard to agree upon.

    Is it the ascent to Mike Krahn’s version of truth?
    Thomas Merton’s?
    Mine?
    Alfred Tarski’s?
    Immanuel Kant’s?
    Dennis Rodman’s?
    I am sure that while our personal definitions would be quite similar (although I have my doubts about Rodman), we would all disagree on certain points.

    For me, I am always leery of conversing with people who claim to have an exclusive inside track to the “one true Truth”.
    I have on almost all occasions found them to be quite unwilling to discuss opinions that differ with or do not align perfectly with theirs (although I personally know this to not be the case with you).

    To me “A Mind Awake” means you are open to discourse, while “The Ascent To Truth” means you are not.

    Just my 2 cents.

  • http://www.michaelkrahn.com Michael Krahn

    Because there is no truth, or because you don’t agree with mine/

  • http://www.michaelkrahn.com Michael Krahn

    Your questions are the reason I like the title.

    Is it the ascent to Mike Krahn’s version of truth?
    Thomas Merton’s?
    Mine?
    Alfred Tarski’s?
    Immanuel Kant’s?
    Dennis Rodman’s?

    Let’s find out.

  • Michael

    :) I’m sure there is a truth, I just don’t believe you or I know what it is.

  • Michael Segui

    How has your version of truth changed over time?

  • http://www.michaelkrahn.com Michael Krahn

    VERY postmodern of you. ;-)

  • Michael

    Isn’t something either true or not true? Surely truth doesn’t come in ‘versions’ nor does it change. Opinions and perceptions might alter but truth?

  • Michael

    Haha.:)

    Ultimately the wish to ascend to truth is an impossible journey. Of course, for all practical purposes we must hold certain ideas as true but really, it’s all guesswork, we cannot prove it thus truth is something we’ll never really understand or grasp. Neither of us can lay any claim to it. I’m just more honest than you. I say “there probably is no god.” The reverse doesn’t apply does it?

    I find the notion of searching for truth to be interesting but ultimately futile moreover, this is especially the case when we’re talking about the paranormal. At least I could explain, test and demonstrate, let’s say, matrices, linear algebra or determinants. I can get out my Rubik’s Cube and, from start to finish, explain group theory and how it relates to various permutations.

    None if it can really be proven ‘true’ yet there is a logical conclusion to any such theorem.

    That’s very different to Weegie boards, ghosts, god, fairies or unicorns. Rather than accepting truths such as 1+1=2 we’re taking the idea of truth one step further. Truth, in these kinds of discussions, becomes extremely elastic or malleable, it can no longer be referred to as truth.

    I like the way that we deal with crimes that have not yet been proven. We use the word ‘allegedly’.

    The world would be a much better place is we all realised that truth is something we can never lay claim to and used the words ‘allegedly’ and ‘probably’ a lot more when we make the claims we do. :)

    God is great.
    There is no God.

    Those two sentences, the pain they have caused through the ages. Imagine, if only the sentences looked more like this:

    God is great; allegedly
    There probably is no God

    Wouldn’t life be a lot nicer? :)

    It’s certainty that drives us to division. It always has done and always will do. Certainty is the cause of our woes, our anger, our wars. If we weren’t all so certain, if we weren’t all on an ascent to truth we’d be a lot happier.

  • Michael Segui

    OK then… how have your opinions and perceptions of truth changed since you were say 16?