Autonomy, free will, and self-control combine to create a useful myth. The myth is that we control our own destinies, that we are autonomous actors with rights, freedoms, and the opportunity to improve our lives through our own effort. The reality is that the world is incredibly complex, that we don't get to chose our … Continue reading A Useful Myth
Category: Rationally Speaking Podcast – Julia Galef
How We Argue – Talking Past Each Other
Senator Cory Booker discusses the state of national debate in politics in his book United and I think accurately describes an unfortunate reality of today’s political discourse. The arguments that we make today often don’t seem to be in alignment. Each side is arguing in a way that does not seem to actually address the point … Continue reading How We Argue – Talking Past Each Other
Our Careers
A real challenge for many people today is understanding how we should think about our careers and the jobs we do. Growing up we are told to go to college and to get a great job where we don’t have to work too hard. Along the way we watch people take jobs that sound important … Continue reading Our Careers
Redirection
Author Colin Wright reflects a lot of stoic principles in his writings, and in his book, Come Back Frayed, he echoes thoughts about the importance of self-awareness and self-reflection. He writes, “Some people who take the time to explore who they are and what they want — not the stories they’ve been telling about … Continue reading Redirection