What does science have in common with religion? — 1. Historically, intellectuals and common folk widely believe that “truth” and a commitment to it are intrinsically good. 2. Nietzsche –who himself was dedicated to the truth — begs to differ by exposing the flimsiness of concepts like “good & evil” and “truth & untruth.” 3. An oath to truth is rooted in the human instinct towards ascetic ideals in all world religions and societies. Science is merely the latest software update of this hardwired instinct.

We suggest that those suffering from mental illness be open about their predicament but still socially exclude them for their problems. — Mental health advocacy and activism have become prominent aspects of modern popular culture. Generally, this has manifested through calls to be more open about one’s mental health and seek treatment when appropriate. For the most part, this is a good thing. Statistically, mental health stigma has precipitously declined over the…

Being a writer and a philosopher is not a choice one makes, for it is a commitment, and commitments make us, not the other way about. For, if the choice was as free and easy as the folk understanding of it suggests it is, few would choose to go down…

Why the zombie argument obscures investigations into the nature of consciousness — Scientifically, a zombie apocalypse like the ones depicted in films aren’t inconceivable. Typically, the origin of science fiction zombies is some contagion or another that is at first brutally fatal, and subsequentially alarming as the person is reincarnated as a cannibal. However, just because something is inconsiderable doesn’t mean that…

In Buddhism, understanding Emptiness leads to compassionate intentions and behavior — In Buddhism, undifferentiated concepts of emptiness, nonduality, and the ultimate are often taken to mean “nonexistence.” This, however, is incompatible with Buddhism’s fundamental ethical principle of compassion. This paper intends to argue that this incompatibility arises from a fundamental misunderstanding of the concept of emptiness. In section 1, I intend…

How to train around a wrist fracture — In early September 2021, I fractured the ulnar styloid process of my wrist. I’m a powerlifter, so initially, I was devastated. The knee-jerk reaction was that I’d be out of commission indefinitely. Luckily, my intuitions were proven wrong! I’ve been working out at a nearly equal intensity as I was…

A simple answer to a key powerlifting question: knee sleeves are superior to knee wraps — The barbell back squat is arguably the single most important movement in any strength and conditioning program. That is, if your strength and conditioning programming does not include the barbell back squat in some capacity, you should reconsider your programming. …

Even though calling them out is warranted, it could get us into trouble — As it stands, I have about 8 clients. I am happy with all of them. They are all willing to sign contracts that I issue them — or, if they issue a contract to me, these contracts are ethical in nature. Likewise, they all pay me on time and by…

What Contemporary Psychology can Learn From Kierkegaard — You will be hard-pressed to find someone who has not experienced some form of trauma or tragedy in their lives. Whether it is directly experienced by oneself, or by a loved one, those who have not fallen prey to the worst that Being has to offer are in the minority. Two Ways of Interpreting Trauma and the Domino Effect …