Understanding we are Worthy, Capable, Connected, and Called to Adventure for a more Joyful and Resilient Life
The Idols of the Mind, developed by philosopher Francis Bacon, can help us understand better how to avoid thinking errors. Most of understand hypothetically that we can commit thinking errors. We usually imagine that these errors proceed from common causes like the following: One: Not paying careful attention to what we are thinking about. Two:… Continue reading The Idols of the Mind: Common Thinking Errors
It’s important to know how to think for yourself. Being able to do this is important especially for two reasons. The First Reason First, there are a lot of people in the world who would love to do your thinking for you. That way they can get you to believe what they want you to… Continue reading How to Think for Yourself
What is the cause of inflation? We have experienced inflation in the United States (and globally) for the last couple of years. And it is hard on people. So naturally, people frequently discuss the cause of inflation, often in hopes that we can stop inflation or decrease it. I am especially interested in conversations about… Continue reading The Cause of Inflation
I was discussing Plato's Allegory of the Cave[1] in one of my classes last week. This story, which I heard for the first time in college, is the story that made me eventually become a philosopher. I love it, and I think everyone should know about it. Here is the basic gist (with a few… Continue reading Are You in Plato’s Cave?
Could you benefit from talking to a philosophical consultant? I have recently started a philosophical consulting practice connected with my blog. And because philosophical consulting is somewhat unusual, I thought it would be good to tell you a little bit about it. While people are not very familiar with philosophical consulting, most people are familiar… Continue reading Do You Need a Philosophical Consultant?
I would like to tell you a weird story about the Satanic Panic that occurred in the 80s. Believe it or not, it relates to some contemporary events. First, a sensitive content warning: This post briefly discusses rumors of satanism and pedophilia. So please be aware of that as you read. The 80s Satanic Panic… Continue reading What the 80s Satanic Panic Can Teach Today
Over the years, I have heard a lot of people ask this same question in various forms: Should we tolerate everything? And this is certainly an important question. One of the hallmarks of the U.S.[1], ideally, is that we tolerate diversity of ideas.[2] Because of this, we have a long-standing tradition of tolerating a variety… Continue reading Should We Tolerate Everything?
I have a confession. In my young adult life, conspiracy theories were my hobby. One of my all-time favorite shows is the X-Files. The premise of the show is that there is a government conspiracy to hide the existence of extraterrestrials. Adventures with Conspiracy Theories I am still not totally sure if I believe in… Continue reading Do You Tend Towards Conspiracy Theories?
Here is a brief, tragic, and important history lesson. It's about the Irish Potato Famine and weird rumors, and it relates to the recent elections. A Bit about the Potato Famine In the mid-1800s, Ireland was struck by the now-infamous potato blight. It had devastating consequences on the Irish population. (You can find all of… Continue reading Irish Immigrants, Weird Rumors, and the Elections
This post is about something I call a My Guy Bias, which is a thinking problem anyone can develop personally or politically. It's really common and causes a lot of suffering. Our Attachments Human beings form strong emotional attachments to people. This trait can be good because it often helps us develop loving and loyal… Continue reading Do You Have a “My Guy Bias”?