Philosophers to Robots

In this episode, A Summer of Imagination: Roman Philosophers to Robots

Imagination is both a mirror and a telescope, showing us who we are and where we might go. This summer, I traveled through centuries of imagination with an unlikely group of companions: Marcus Aurelius, Jonathan Swift, Mark Twain, Robert Louis Stevenson, Jules Verne, Jack London, and Isaac Asimov.

Each unveiled a different world, but together they showed the power of stretching human thought.

Let’s begin with Marcus Aurelius, the Roman emperor, writing nearly two thousand years ago in the 170s A.D. His Meditations didn’t take me to a far-off land but inward — a guide on how to govern oneself. He reminded me that while we can’t control the world, we can shape our own thoughts and actions. The most challenging journey is mastering the mind.

Fast-forward to the 1700s and Jonathan Swift. In Gulliver’s Travels (1726), he used satire like a scalpel, holding up a funhouse mirror to politics and human pride. He made me laugh and cringe at the same time, proving that the absurdities of human nature are timeless.

Next came Mark Twain, who gave us Huck Finn, a scruffy teenager drifting down the Mississippi in 1884. Huck taught me that freedom isn’t just about running away — it’s about finding your voice in a noisy, divided world.

Then I set sail for Treasure Island (1883). Robert Louis Stevenson’s swashbuckling adventure aboard the Hispaniola was filled with pirates and treasure maps, but the real drama lay in the choices. His tale reminds us that freedom has a cost, and true courage lies in choosing the right path.

From there, Jules Verne carried me into the speculative. He didn’t just write stories; he drafted blueprints for the future. Whether diving to the Earth’s core (1864) or racing Around the World in Eighty Days (1873), his adventures bristle with wonder. What once seemed impossible now feels like a preview of the world we live in.

The trail turned harsh with Jack London. In The Call of the Wild (1903), a pampered dog is stolen from comfort and thrust into the brutal Yukon. It’s a raw tale of greed, survival, and instinct, asking a chilling question: stripped of comfort, what does true power look like?

Finally, we stepped into the future with Isaac Asimov. In I, Robot (1950), he wasn’t dazzled by gadgets. Instead, his stories wrestle with human questions: What happens when our creations think for themselves? Can progress outpace our humanity?

Seven writers. Seven worlds. Centuries apart, yet connected by one truth: stories don’t just entertain — they push the boundaries of science, society, and the human heart. Reading across time feels like an apprenticeship, sharpening my own storytelling and reminding me that the real journey isn’t on the page, but inside us when we dare to dream and reflect.

Now that my summer travels have ended, I find myself a little lost. I’ve been to so many worlds, but where should I go next?

So tell me — What book is calling for our next adventure?

I’m Patrick Ball. Stay curious, ask questions. See you in the next episode.

Comments

A Heart Full of Thanks

Oh, the thanks I could think, and the thanks I could say! For the wonderful people who brightened my day. The first one is Lori, my wife, sweet and true, Who knows just the thing and knows just what to do. She whipped up a feast with a smile and a sigh, With corn on the cob and a steak cooked “On the Fly!” My neighbor, Steve, with a mischievous gleam, Said, “No fence work today! No work, it would seem! You’ll paint with some water, some colors so bright, And sign your new painting with all of your might!" I laughed and I said, “But I don’t know that skill! I’ll slap on some paint and see what sticks still!” Then there’s my friends on the Facebook machine, The best group of readers that ever was seen! They read all my blogs and they hear my podcasts, They send all their cheer that's built to last! And Billy and Linda. A Snoopy card in the mail. A wonderful surprise that was sure to prevail! From very good friends, a delightful new tale ! But the thanks didn't stop, no, not...

History Isn’t a Museum

✨ In this episode, History Isn't a Museum—It's a River . . . History isn't a museum—it's a river, and like it or not, we're already swimming in it. Its waters carry timeless lessons forward, flowing through each generation, waiting to be rediscovered . This profound realization struck me while reading Marcus Aurelius's Meditations . Imagine: a Roman emperor and philosopher two thousand years ago, writing notes that sound like advice from a modern mindfulness coach. When he says, "You have power over your mind—not outside events. Realize this, and you will find strength," it feels like he's speaking directly to us. The water may change, but the river is the same. Examining this writing with a fresh, childlike perspective and a wealth of experience, I realize how consistent human nature remains over time. Every generation faces familiar challenges, marked by frustration, peace, courage, faith, baseball, and the search for meaning across the ages...

Lessons from 1872

In this episode, Lessons from 1872: Travel in the Age of No-WiFi . . . Imagine having 80 days to explore the world, with no smartphones, no jet planes, and no money concerns. A thrilling thought, right? That’s the fantasy Jules Verne implies in his classic adventure, Around the World in 80 Days , and it's a question I've been pondering from my easy chair in Vista, California. This week’s On the Fly , we're traveling back in time with one of the most thrilling literary adventures ever written. Early on, it’s clear this is Phileas Fogg’s story—a man of clocks and calculations, whose every move is measured. His journey isn’t about discovery, but a bet—a mathematical challenge involving money, schedules, and perfect timing. But when you think he’s the engine of the story, someone else quietly steals the show. Meet Passepartout: The Heart of the Journey. Jean Passepartout, Fogg’s new valet, is Fogg’s complete opposite. A former circus acrobat seeking a quiet life, he joins Fo...

You're Not Stuck

✨ In this episode, You’re not Stuck—you’re in a habit you forgot you built. One bad moment can ruin your day, but one habit can change your life. In this episode of On the Fly , discover how small, daily actions can rewire your mindset, replace negativity with possibilities, and even lift the people around you. Your 7-day challenge starts now. You’re Not Stuck—You’re Just in a Habit. Yes, a single bad moment, a rough headline, or a tense conversation can throw off your entire day. Before you know it, your thoughts are spinning in a hamster wheel of frustration and negativity. Here’s the reality: you don’t have to stay on that wheel. The secret isn’t a lightning bolt of motivation—it’s something quieter but far more powerful: habit. “We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act but a habit.” – Aristotle. Mindset doesn’t change through grand gestures—it changes through small, repeatable actions . Your brain is constantly building pathways—tiny roads tha...

On The Fly

Search This Blog