Philosophy

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)

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

October 21, 2021October 21, 2021 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.

(Jumpstory)

Look for Things That Don’t Change

July 19, 2021July 19, 2021 5 min read Ben Parry Ontology, Perception, Progress

By seeking out the things that don’t change—or invariant structure—we can invest in areas of life that are endlessly rewarding.

Richard Rorty Rortyan Liberalism Truth Pragmatism Cheryl Misak Philosophy

(Louise Boyle/Cornell University Library)

Rortian Liberalism and the Problem of Truth

April 16, 2021May 19, 2021 16 min read Adrian Rutt Epistemology, Essential Reading, Liberalism, Politics, Truth

In defending liberalism, the philosopher Richard Rorty argues that there is no difference—in practice—between aiming at justification and aiming at something more called truth.

Algorithmic View Consciousness Algorithms Process Philosophy Algorithmic

Humans Are Not Merely Algorithms

March 22, 2021May 20, 2021 18 min read Steve Minett Consciousness, Ontology

In contrast with the algorithmic view of consciousness, process philosophy suggests that we’re fundamentally energy or “drops of experience.”

So You Think There Are Laws in Nature?

February 23, 2021December 27, 2021 13 min read Eleni Angelou Essential Reading, Metaphysics, Nature

A “skeptic” and a “believer,” two friends debate over whether there are laws in nature. Do supposed regularities qualify as laws?

Absurdism The Plague Albert Camus The Absurd COVID-19 Myth of Sisyphus

("Bring Out Your Dead" by Edmund Evans)

It’s All a Bit Absurd

February 15, 2021April 28, 2021 12 min read Derek Parsons Absurdism, Emotional Well-being, Pandemic

Amidst a pandemic, Albert Camus’ novel The Plague suggests that we can find courage, community, and hope while embracing the absurd.

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