With Christmas and New Year approaching I can’t avoid trying once again to offer a gift to all who read this article.  I say “trying” because it takes two to make a gift:  the one giving and the one receiving, and the latter often is not able or simply does not want to receive it.
I am only a modest philosopher and therefore my offering is not of the material kind.  It is just a small piece of wisdom extracted from the nature of earth and the heavens using the tools of “significant” cognitive capacity, the skills of higher consciousness that come from processes of cognitive perception at an increased level of vigilance.
Irreverently, my perception in this case was not inspired by the great philosophers, but instead by two well-known magicians, or more accurately “illusionists”:  the celebrated Harry Houdini, who died in 1926, and the North American Chris Angel, who levitates at will and constantly eludes death.
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                                                                        Dario Salas Sommer
I have always been fascinated by Chinese culture, by its high level of comprehension of nature, its philosophical conception of human existence and the imperative of striving for spiritual and moral perfection.  A profound mysticism cuts across its endeavors, deeply influenced by the teachings of Confucius, of whom I am a great admirer, y by other philosophers and scientists such as Lao Tze.  I therefore was deeply pleased by the recognition that I recently received from the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences.
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