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Ancient Wisdom

Garry Gergich is the true Stoic on Parks and Rec, exemplifying Stoicism.
Parks and Rec expounds a great deal upon the teachings of Stoicism, but it is Garry Gergich—not Ron Swanson—who embodies the Stoic ideals. (Image: NBC)
Culture Essays 

Garry Gergich the Stoic

June 28, 2021January 1, 2022 15 min read Matthew Downhour Ancient Wisdom, Friendship, Stoicism

Parks and Rec expounds a great deal upon the teachings of Stoicism, but it is Garry Gergich—not Ron Swanson—who embodies the Stoic ideals.

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God is a question an atheists invitation to intellectual humility Erraticus image by Kelly Kiernan
(Kelly Kiernan)
Interviews Religion 

‘God Is a Question’: An Atheist’s Invitation to Intellectual Humility

April 29, 2019March 27, 2021 16 min read Jeffrey Howard Ancient Wisdom, Buddhism, Christianity, Community, Mindfulness

William Irwin seeks to quell bad faith arguments and encourage greater acceptance of the uncertainty so endemic to life’s big questions.

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Wanderlust is a vice not a virtue erraticus image by Ibrahim Rifath
(Ibrahim Rifath)
Essays Philosophy 

Wanderlust Is a Vice, Not a Virtue

April 15, 2019June 1, 2020 12 min read Christopher Porzenheim Ancient Wisdom, Essential Reading, Nostalgia, Ralph Waldo Emerson, Stoicism

Critiques of wanderlust by Ralph Waldo Emerson and the Stoics have far-reaching consequences for our ability to lead meaningful lives.

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Honeybees and Zen During Ecological Collapse Erraticus Image by Boris Smokrovic
(Boris Smokrovic)
Essays Psychology 

Honeybees and Zen During Ecological Collapse

February 14, 2019June 1, 2020 7 min read Heather Swan Ancient Wisdom, Buddhism, Environmentalism, Nature

Honeybees don’t only inform us of further ecological collapse but invite us into being more mindful: present and compassionate.

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Mary Poppins as the Bodhisattva Ideal Erraticus Image Walt Disney Studios
(Walt Disney Studios)
Culture Ideas 

Mary Poppins as the Bodhisattva Ideal

January 11, 2019August 28, 2020 7 min read David Paul Kirkpatrick Ancient Wisdom, Buddhism, Film

P.L. Travers, who hung out with British mystics and studied alongside a Zen Buddhist master, would have approved of the Mary Poppins sequel.

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You're Unhappy Because You Focus on What Your Can't Control Erraticus Image by Brooke Cagle
(Brooke Cagle)
Ideas Psychology 

You’re Unhappy Because You Focus on What You Can’t Control

November 10, 2018June 1, 2020 6 min read Massimo Pigliucci Ancient Wisdom, Buddhism, Emotional Well-being, Stoicism

If you succeed in shifting your goals internally, you’ll be happier, because what other people do is largely beyond your control.

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A Pragmatic Approach to Ideas

An online publication focused on human flourishing, taking a pragmatic approach to ideas. We care about ideas that help us to live well together, focusing on their practical consequences.

 

“Pragmatism, on the other hand, asks its usual question. ‘Grant an idea or belief to be true,’ it says, ‘what concrete difference will its being true make in anyone’s actual life? How will the truth be realized? What experiences will be different from those which would obtain if the belief were false? What, in short, is the truth’s cash-value in experiential terms?'” — William James

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