Essays — Erraticus

A romantic oil painting of three Victorian women overlooking majestic mountain peaks.

While pragmatists accept the tragic and boundless nature of a constantly changing and foundationless reality, William James offers hope in a naturalized theism.

Essays Philosophy

What Can Pragmatists Hope for in a Boundless World?

October 27, 2022March 2, 2023 20 min read Nick Gall Charles Sanders Peirce, Chauncey Wright, Hope, Meliorism, Pragmatism, William James

While pragmatists accept the tragic and boundless nature of a constantly changing and foundationless reality, William James offers hope in a naturalized theism.

A pebble beach with waves in the background, Black Rock Beach on Block Island where Megan Craig visited following the death of her long-time mentor and friend, the pragmatist philosopher Richard Bernstein.

A long-time friend and former student of the eminent pragmatist philosopher Richard Bernstein reflects on her mentor's commitment to pluralism and love of children.

Essays Philosophy

A Wishing Stone for Dick

August 9, 2022August 9, 2022 13 min read Megan Craig Children, Death, Loss, Pragmatism

A long-time friend and former student of the eminent pragmatist philosopher Richard Bernstein reflects on her mentor’s commitment to pluralism and love of children.

An artistic depiction of a person harvesting vegetables from a field for community supported agriculture.

Advocates of community supported agriculture believe their radical model addresses many of the problems that plague large-scale farming today.

Community Supported Agriculture Isn’t Just Another Way to Get Fresh Food

April 11, 2022August 28, 2022 12 min read Jared Spears Agriculture, Climate Change, Community, Localism

Advocates of community supported agriculture believe their radical model addresses many of the problems that plague large-scale farming today.

This Is Technopoly, an essay by Nicholas McCay and Erraticus

Essays Science & Tech

This Is Technopoly

October 28, 2021October 28, 2021 15 min read Nicholas McCay Politics, Technology

Embedded into every tool is an ideological bias, and unless we continually re-evaluate new technologies, we may end up within a technopoly.

Painting by Edvard Munch with a young ill woman seated, looking out a window during spring, accompanied by a woman providing her comfort.

("Spring" by Edvard Munch, 1889)

Essays Philosophy

Should We Take Comfort in the Knowledge Others Have it Worse?

October 21, 2021December 23, 2022 21 min read Sam Woolfe Buddhism, Consolation, Schopenhauer, Stoicism, Suffering

While the phrase “It could be worse” can provide us comfort, it may lead to less effective and less ethical forms of consolation.

War and Peace is rooted in Tolstoy’s longing for the infinite and universal. Yet, it reveals our need to focus on the concrete and mundane.

("The Battle of Austerlitz" by François Gérard, 1810)

History Isn’t Made by Great Men

August 12, 2021December 27, 2021 14 min read Henriikka Hannula Essential Reading, History, Literature

War and Peace is rooted in Tolstoy’s longing for the infinite and universal. Yet, it reveals our need to focus on the concrete and mundane.