In Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance: An Inquiry Into Values, a philosophical novel and a fictionalized autobiography, Robert M. Pirsig uses a journey through mountains as an elegant metaphor for one’s spiritual journey through…
Tag: Philosophy
Richard Schweder’s Three Ethics That Help Understand Culture Wars
Many of the key battles in the American culture war are essentially about whether some aspect of life should be structured by the ethic of autonomy or by the ethic of divinity…
Nietzsche’s Attack on Socrates’ Daemon (The Birth Of Tragedy Summary)
One might say that Socrates was the first guy who fucked us up. Badly. And here is the reason. According to Socrates’ equation, “reason = virtue = happiness.” This is probably the single most powerful idea that even today shapes the ideals of a modern man, from our education to the rest of our lives.
Four Lessons Found in Quotes from Voltaire’s Candide
Who was Voltaire? François-Marie Arouet, better known as Voltaire, is the principal representative of the Age of Enlightenment. He fought passionately against dogmatism of any kind, advocated free speech, was censored, imprisoned and exiled multiple…
Do Reason and Science Improve Humankind? Summary of Dostoevsky’s Notes from Underground
Fyodor Dostoyevsky in his novel Notes from Underground presents another strong case against the blind reliance on logic and science for the betterment of humankind. Dostoyevsky presents his arguments through a fictional character – the Underground Man, a retired civil servant living in St. Petersburg.
Seneca’s 12 Rules for a Better Life (Letters from a Stoic Summary)
In his letters to Lucilius, Seneca gives him the following advice: “Measure your life: it just does not have room for so much.” There lies the irony of life. Even though wise people teach you…
Did The Move From Hunter-Gatherer Life Make Us Better Off?
A series of trivial decisions aimed mostly at filling a few stomachs and gaining a little security had the cumulative effect of forcing ancient foragers to spend their days carrying water buckets under a scorching sun.
John Gray on Fictions or What’s Wrong With Holding Beliefs
I think the dependency on beliefs, the idea that a set of beliefs or a system of beliefs can somehow provide meaning to human life, is a mistake. – John Gray
Nassim Taleb on Why Being Nonsucker is More Important Than Being Right
In real life… exposure is more important than knowledge; decision effects supersede logic. – Nassim Taleb One of the most useful and applicable distinctions I came accross reading Nassim Taleb’s book Antifragile: Things That…