Paradoxes may be perceived as the core of philosophy. This book is a journey through the meaning and essence of paradoxes, the way our minds deal with them, and how societal dynamics sometimes generate unpredictable, astounding phenomena. It considers the mind’s specific characteristics that enable perceiving insurmountable challenges as doable, and how this way of thinking contributes to peacemaking. Moreover, it analyzes the paradoxical aspects of creativity, demonstrating the mechanisms fostering divergent thinking and neuroplasticity and the role of joy. Finally, it presented paradoxes in action. The paradox of generosity shows that more generous people are happier, suffer fewer illnesses and injuries, live with a greater sense of purpose, and experience less depression. The paradox of happiness says that striving for happiness undermines happiness; instead, doing meaningful things and having meaningful relationships fosters happiness indirectly. Openness and propensity to paradoxes may be a source of inspiration and a fulcrum for novel and successful actions. This tendency, called paradoxicality, may augment creativity and neuroplasticity. Paradoxes generally arouse surprise and wonder. The latter is perceived as a special starting point for philosophy, seemingly because it is a transformational state of mind in which we become aware of an expanded field of possibility

A pluriversal analysis of eighteenth-century British imperial designations of space, place and peoples through the contending performances cultures of British Sumatra as relayed by young naturalist William Marsden. In Bencoolen from 1771 to 1778, Marsden demonstrated that the island was the center of a new world historical language stretching from Madagascar to Easter Island. Here a performance of The Wonder! A Woman Keeps a Secret, in conjunction with the gathering of materials for his future history of Sumatra, galvanized new appreciation for Sumatrans’ diverse cultures and their place in Britain’s glbal history.