Human, All Too Human: A Book for Free Spirits
In the late 19th century, Europe was in a period of transformation. Countries found themselves moving away from monarchal rule to democratic rule. Darwin’s theory of evolution by natural selection had shaken the foundations of theology and of the origin of the human species and taken hold in the minds of the intelligentsia; trains now stretched from France to Germany and all around Europe; the Church was experiencing a decline in political power, under threat from the new scientific innovations spreading across the continent; everywhere one looked, one saw signs of an ever increasing rate of change that would come to be the norm in the 20th and 21st centuries…
On Suicide and the Monopoly of Suffering - A Reading from Emil Cioran
What drives people to suicide? What is the experience of someone considering suicide? There is an epidemic of suicide in the United States right now, especially among young men, so any understanding one can glean about suicide is important to discuss, especially if it might help prevent a suicide.
Discussing Death - Breaking the Stigma with Personal Questions and Thoughts
The raging pandemic over the last year has, for many folks, brought an uncomfortable spotlight to bear on mortality. I've spent lots of time over the last several years dealing with my own death, and internalizing the acceptance of the fact that…
In My Next Life, I Should Like to Become a Housecat
In my next life, I should like to become a housecat. Once, I considered myself a dog person, as most Americans do, but cats have much to be said for them. They know what they need, and do not typically ask for more…
My Kitten Knows of Dao
Kara and I have acquired a new kitten. She is a small, short-haired, twelve-week-old gray kitten. Her name is Artemis. We took her on a ‘trial’ basis to see our other cat, a big, seven-year-old calico named Luna, would accept her…
Becoming Beauvoir: A Review
Simone de Beauvoir became a force de jour in French existentialist philosophy, and has inherited an (in)famous reputation, depending on who you speak with. As the longtime friend and lover of Jean-Paul Sartre (1905-1980), she made many waves in the culture…
"The Banished Immortal" Book Review: The Wanderlust, Drunk Poet
In my senior year of college, I was lucky enough to attend a summer study abroad program. As someone majoring in philosophy and psychology, with a minor in Asian Studies, I calculated the cost of completing vital credits by attending the 5-week study abroad session…
Hiking - It is Always “The Moment”
The mountains have always been my home. When I feel down and lonely, when the depression begins to get the better of me, there the Rockies stand, staring at me, reminding me that they are there, and will be there all my life…
The Useless Tree
Recently, my girlfriend and I flew to South Carolina in order to see a friend from childhood get married. It was a beautiful wedding, in the shade, surrounded by large trees with moss hanging down…