Happiness and the void…
At the Stand-up Philosophers, we advocate that Nihilists should be happy because many are not. Indeed there’s a long literary tradition of miserable nihilists depressing everyone by telling them that Continue Reading
Doing a Chrysippus
The Greek Stoic philosopher Chrysippus (279 – c. 206 BC) was a major figure in Stoicism, he was head of that school and was reputed to be a prolific Continue Reading
A problem for the body…
Something that often comes up in our conversations here at the Standup Philosophers is the subject of bodily aches and pains, illness and disease and their effects upon the peace Continue Reading
Getting out of your own way…
For most of my life, I’ve felt like I was drowning, feverishly thrashing under the water scrambling my way to the surface which is forever out of reach. No matter Continue Reading
The Pernicious Rise of Anti Natalist Philosophy
Have you ever thought that the planet might be better off without humanity? If so then you’ve been anti-natalist which is a philosophical position that assigns a negative value to Continue Reading
The dissatisfied Viking
This short article builds upon the recent article I published: Buddhist philosophy – Exploring Dukkha as more than just suffering, as well as a helping from stoic philosophy to Continue Reading
The humble honesty of a Roman emperor
“I am made up of the casual and the material. Neither of these will disappear into nothing, just as neither came to be out of nothing. So every part Continue Reading
Buddhist philosophy – Exploring Dukkha as more than just suffering
If you study Buddhist philosophy, there’s this Pali term that’s thrown about often, but it’s not a trivial term, but a central concept to the entire philosophical framework. Continue Reading
Selected La Mettrie Quotes…
Here’s selection of nine thought-provoking quotes from the French physician and materialist philosopher Julien Offray de La Mettrie. The quotes are presented in a meme format: 1 2 3 4 Continue Reading
The Ghosts That Haunt Me…
Every man has his demons, if you don’t it’s either because you are very young or haven’t lived. We all are guaranteed one thing in life and that is the Continue Reading
Buddhist philosophy – Reality but a series of appearances…
(Note: Sanskrit or Pali words are highlighted in italics) Buddhism is conventionally recognised as a religion, but if you talk to Buddhists and philosophers who study this ‘religion’ that label Continue Reading
A Tree Falls Down in the Forest…
This is a popular philosophical question, ‘If a tree falls in the woods and nobody is around to hear it, does it make a sound?’ Irish idealist philosopher George Continue Reading
Marcus Aurelius on Death and the Cessation of Being
Like all great philosophers Marcus Aurelius the noblest of the Emperors of Rome also pondered death. Here’s a collection of quotes detailing what he had to say on the subject. Continue Reading
The Stoic Virtue – Temperance
Temperance is one of the 4 Stoic Virtues and is best summed up as a moderated, balanced and disciplined life. For example whilst it’s undoubtedly good to work for a Continue Reading
Thoughts on Virtue, Part 1 – Sacred Life
If whilst walking in the countryside you encounter a spider’s web that blocks your path, do you go around or do you break it? Does it matter if the spider Continue Reading
The Absurdism of Joker
SPOILER WARNING MOST OF THE MAIN PLOTS ARE DISCUSSED IN THIS ARTICLE Back in October of this year, the UK cinemas were graced by the showing of Joker Continue Reading
On Old Age by Cicero – fourth objection, It is not far from death.
We come to the last conclusion of this series, the fourth objection: “We must finally consider the fourth objection to growing old – an objection that seems especially calculated Continue Reading
Mystic Nihilism, Reincarnation in Materialist Form – Part 2
Infinity and nothing are very closely linked. There’s something very strange about ‘nothing,’ because we can conceptualise it and not experience it. It’s impossible to have an experience of ‘nothing’ Continue Reading