What Is Existentialism? A Simple Guide to the Philosophy of Freedom
Existentialism says you exist first, then you decide what you are. Most philosophies work backward. They start with human nature, then tell you how to live....
What Is Hedonism? The Philosophy Most People Get Wrong
Most people hear "hedonism" and think of someone doing shots at 2 AM or buying things they can't afford. That's not hedonism. That's just poor impulse...
What Is Stoicism? A Beginner's Guide to the Philosophy That Won't Die
Stoicism gets a bad rap. People think it means being emotionless. A robot. It doesn't. The Stoics had a simple insight: most of your suffering comes from...
In Defense of Wanting Things
We've made wanting things into a moral failing. Want a nicer car? You're materialistic. Want recognition at work? You're vain. Want your ex back? You're...
Why Some Pleasures Feel Guilty
We call some pleasures "guilty" and others virtuous. Eating cake versus eating kale. Watching reality TV versus reading books. Sleeping in versus getting up...
The Guilt Tax on Happiness
I ate an expensive dinner last week while scrolling through news about famine. The pasta was perfect. I felt terrible about enjoying it. This guilt seems...
Why Suffering Gets Credit for Building Character
We have a weird bias about what teaches us things. Suffering gets credit for building character. "What doesn't kill you makes you stronger." "Pain is...
Why Smart People Believe Obviously Wrong Things
Smart people aren't less likely to believe wrong things. They're just better at explaining why they're right. I noticed this watching debates about topics I...
Certainty Isn't Truth
I used to think confidence meant truth. If someone spoke with certainty, they probably knew what they were talking about. If I felt certain about something,...
Your Moral GPS Is Set to 150 AD
Your moral intuitions feel rock-solid. Someone cuts in line and you're genuinely angry. Someone helps a stranger and you're genuinely moved. But here's the...
Why We're Terrible at Knowing What Will Make Us Happy
We're remarkably bad at predicting what will make us happy. Research shows this again and again. People think getting the promotion will make them happier...
What Free Will Actually Means
Most people think free will means you can choose what to do. That's not the real question. Of course you can choose. Right now you could choose to close this...
The Guilt About Feeling Good
I felt guilty yesterday for enjoying my coffee while reading about disasters in the news. This happens a lot. You're having a good time, then remember...
The One Thing We Know for Sure
Pain feels bad. That's not a complex philosophical statement. It's not even interesting. But it might be the only moral fact we can know for certain. Think...
Why 'It's Natural' Is Never a Good Moral Argument
People love saying things are "natural" when they want to win an argument. Meat-eating is natural. Monogamy isn't natural. Competition is natural....
Your Dinner Is a Philosophy
You're standing in your kitchen at 6 PM. What should you eat? This feels practical. Maybe boring. It's not. It's philosophy in action. Every choice reveals...
If We Can't Choose, Should We Still Punish?
Let's say free will is an illusion. Your brain makes decisions before "you" know about them. Every choice follows from prior causes stretching back to the...
The Problem That Breaks Belief
Here's the problem that ended my belief in God. If God exists, he's supposed to be all-powerful, all-knowing, and perfectly good. But terrible things happen...
What Stoics and Epicureans Actually Disagreed About
Most people think Stoics were against pleasure and Epicureans were for it. That's not the real disagreement. Both schools wanted the same thing: a peaceful...
Nietzsche Wasn't Celebrating
When Nietzsche wrote "God is dead," most people think he was celebrating. He wasn't. He was diagnosing a problem. A massive one. For centuries, God gave...