The Lotus-eaters and the static utopia
Within the entertaining world that is Greek Mythology, there is of course the great classic of Homer’s Odyssey. The story focuses on the titular protagonist, Odysseus, Greek hero of the Continue Reading
To the human race, this universe is not yours…
The idea that the world belongs to the human race is not a new one; in the Holy Bible, book of Genesis, it explicitly states: Then God said, “Let Continue Reading
The Flow of Experience…
Experience… Just stay in the present moment and you’ll realise by direct awareness that experience is not episodic. To those practitioners paying mindful attention to the present, they will soon Continue Reading
What is Nihilism?
We’ve all head the term nihilism, sometimes liberally thrown about as a synonym for pessimism or defeatism. But in philosophical circles worthy of the name, it’s an actual philosophical system Continue Reading
Monty Python and the Holy Grail of postmodernism
The 1975 film, Monty Python and the Holy Grail is a classic postmodern film. Making use of its characteristic Pythonesque comedy to subvert traditional storytelling, religion, time and Arthurian myth. Continue Reading
Do I give assent to this?
Among the tools of the stoics is Epictetus’ Discipline of Assent. Now the Greek work for consent or approval is sunkatathesis, but in the stoic context it means agreeing with Continue Reading
Schopenhauer and the striving
For Schopenhauer the will is the thing in itself, all revealed and bare to anybody who looks at the phenomena of every day matter. The will is inherent in Continue Reading
Premeditatio malorum – ‘premeditation of adversity’
We just don’t know for certain what is around the corner as we go about living our lives. When times are rosy, we naturally let our guard down in Continue Reading
Your Purpose in (Post)Modernity
Your reason for being here? Your parents met and you were born. That explains the ultimate cause for your existence up to this point in time, and any questions asking Continue Reading
What is emptiness?
“When emptiness is possible Everything is possible; Were emptiness impossible, Nothing would be possible.” – Nagarjuna When something is described as empty, what is typically meant Continue Reading
No Ship of Theseus
Theseus’ paradox has been a contested thought puzzle throughout the ages of Western philosophy. The Ancient Greek philosophers were known for having heated debates circling in about the ship’s Continue Reading
The ship of Theseus
Theseus’ paradox, more popularly known as the ship of Theseus, is an ancient thought experiment first appearing in the writings of the famous ancient Greek historian, biographer and philosopher Continue Reading
Schopenhauer and Presentism
While reading On the Vanity of Existence, an essay by German philosopher Arthur Schopenhauer, I came across this passage I wish to share: “That which has been exists no more; Continue Reading
A stab in Schopenhauerian pessimism – enjoy youth while you can…
“In early youth, as we contemplate our coming life, we are like children in a theatre before the curtain is raised, sitting there in high spirits and eagerly waiting Continue Reading
The trap of expectation
Large featured image, just so you get the message! While reading through German philosopher Arthur Schopenhauer’s Counsels and Maxims, I came across this sentence: “The safest way of not Continue Reading
Stoic response to death – Returning to non-existence
The notion there’s no afterlife after death, only an oblivious nothingness absent of consciousness, was an idea already familiar in the ancient world. The Greek philosophers entertained this view Continue Reading
Stoic response to death – Time’s running out…
The stoics were in the habit of reminding their friends through their letters, the students in lecture halls and especially themselves on the certainty of death. Seneca, like all Continue Reading
Memento Mori – Remember you will die…
This part is a build up towards the main point: the stoic response to death. So for now there will only be minimal mention of stoicism here. Memento Continue Reading