An inspiring quote about truth and how to seek it
What does melancholy mean? That depends on whom and when you ask. For example, the Cambridge Dictionary tell us that melancholy is "sadness that lasts for a long period of time, often without any obvious reason". If we consult the word's etymology - Greek melankholia, from melas, melan- ‘black’ + kholē ‘bile’ - we are brought back to its long history of medical theory, as it developed from the ancient, … Continue reading Melancholy: Brief History
“The past is a cemetery of promises which havenot been kept.”Paul Ricoeur Paul Ricoeur (1913-2005) was a French philosopher who contributed to combining phenomenological descriptions of human reality with hermeneutic interpretations. The way I experience something and the way I make sense of it influence each other and are interwoven into one whole. This thinking … Continue reading A Thought on History and Identity
All idioms have their backstories that can often reveal something interesting about the human condition. The Irish phrase "to chance your arm" (meaning - to take a risk) is a fascinating example. Its story features a very old door. This is said to be the door that played a key role in the birth of … Continue reading Will You Chance Your Arm?
Many people across the world are celebrating the beginning of a new year today, and some are thinking about New Year's resolutions - how to improve ourselves, be better persons, take on new projects, hobbies, or change some habits. Maybe you would like to be more compassionate and understanding with other people. This worthy goal … Continue reading What Does Empathy Mean
There is nothing like a historical 'murder mystery' for the Christmas festivities, don't you think? Whether you celebrate this Christian festival or not, whether you agree with Nietzsche that "God is dead" or not, you might be interested in diving into a 'tour of medieval unbelief'. This one-hour lecture explores medieval European dissenting and blasphemous … Continue reading Medieval Sceptics
In this second part of my essay (see the first part here), I focus on exploring the relational identity of philosophy in terms of philosophy’s social relevance and contributions. A number of recent articles have directly or indirectly addressed the question of philosophy’s identity. Some of the common themes that emerged include philosophy’s role … Continue reading What Is Philosophy? Thinking About the Question (Part 2 of 2)
What is philosophy? What are the mysterious people called ‘philosophers’ doing, and what is their role in human society? In this paper, I do not aim to answer these questions definitively. Instead, my goal is to explore the question itself. What do we mean when we ask what is philosophy and what is the role of philosophers? … Continue reading What Is Philosophy? Thinking About the Question (Part 1 of 2)
What is the role of philosophy in our modern age? We no longer believe in grand narratives (for the most part!), and empirical sciences seem to hold the keys to all existing and future knowledge. So what about philosophy - is there any place for it left? Although one of the oldest of disciplines that … Continue reading Spreading the Word: Philosophy’s Role Today
What is the relationship between literature and philosophy? It depends on how you understand each and, more broadly, on how you approach the matter of defining things. In his 2001 book "Philosophy's Literature", philosopher Andrew Benjamin explores, among other things, the way philosophy (or rather one of its dominant traditions - stemming from Plato and … Continue reading Literature and Philosophy
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