Thomas Nagel is a renowned contemporary American philosopher, born in Belgrade (modern-day Serbia) on July 4, 1937. Outside philosophical circles he is perhaps best known for his 1974 essay "What Is It Like to Be a Bat?" where he argues against the material/physical reductionist account of the mind and especially - of consciousness. This remains Nagel's central … Continue reading Book Review: “Mind and Cosmos” by Thomas Nagel
Being Great to be Good Enough? Philosophical Exploration
Is 'good' good enough? Or is 'great' needed to qualify for being good enough? Although it sounds absurd if taken from a purely logical perspective, it is yet another proof of our inherent complexity that often contains outright contradictions. I know what it feels like to expect and demand greatness from myself simply to feel … Continue reading Being Great to be Good Enough? Philosophical Exploration
Ancient Tale of Happiness
Human longing for a happy life is probably as old as the humanity itself. However, happiness is one of those fleeting concepts that receives new meaning with the change of time, shifts in values, developments in culture. In other words, happiness is a moving target. What has been our track record so far in trying … Continue reading Ancient Tale of Happiness
Revolutions, Omelettes, and Philosophy
What on Earth can revolutions, omelettes, and philosophy have in common? A lot, as it turns out! At least if you think about it from the perspective of Isaiah Berlin (1909-1997). He was a philosopher, a thinker, a historian of ideas, and, according to many (I agree with them), one of the most fascinating, capturing, and creative … Continue reading Revolutions, Omelettes, and Philosophy
Let’s Talk Miracles – What Are They?
Last year around this time I wrote about miracles. More specifically, the 18th century Scottish philosopher's David Hume's views on them. It is that season again when my thoughts, at least sometimes, turn to the topic of miracles. Perhaps especially this year. Wouldn't the world really need a few good miracles now! It turns out, … Continue reading Let’s Talk Miracles – What Are They?
Spreading the Word: On Being Yourself
This Friday, I share with you two short videos. Something inspiring for the weekend. And perhaps something to think about. I've decided that Fridays are good days to post my 'Spreading the Word' pieces. So, from now on, they will appear on Fridays instead of Thursdays. It is a somewhat striking and very sad truth … Continue reading Spreading the Word: On Being Yourself
Hospitality in the “Odyssey”
It is one of the world's classics, Homer's Odyssey. The story of Odysseus' adventures on his 10-years-long homeward journey after the 10-years-long Trojan war is a legendary one. It is also an old one - first written down roughly some 2,700 years ago and probably existed in the oral tradition before that. If you have … Continue reading Hospitality in the “Odyssey”
Spreading the Word: Philosophy for Tough Times
One day later than usual, but still. Today, I share with you a short but, hopefully, inspirational video. It is a collection of uplifting philosophical quotes to give you extra bit of belief in your inner strength to deal with any problems you might be facing. Enjoy and keep well! Link to the article: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M_ZCZx6EzDc … Continue reading Spreading the Word: Philosophy for Tough Times
Why Do We Underestimate?
Why is it that we often underestimate the big importance of small things? Even though each time we do, we get taught a lesson by life to remind us that the devil is, indeed, in the details. He comes out when those details get underestimated. Photo by Jian Xhin on Unsplash Is it because we find … Continue reading Why Do We Underestimate?
The Stories Told by Our Dreams
What do you dream about when you sleep? What about your friends, relatives? Sometimes it can be a lot of fun sharing those strange stories from our dreams. After all, they are just strange stories, they do not really mean anything. Or do they? Image by intographics from Pixabay Here is a thought to ponder … Continue reading The Stories Told by Our Dreams
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