Francis Bacon’s “Of Prophecies” — Francis Bacon’s “Of Prophecies” Verily, we live in a new age of signs and wonders. An age of superstition, where the distrust of many towards “legacy media” is matched unevenly with a credulity towards partisan information that itself can beggar belief. With QAnon, we seem to have returned to a period in which large…

Lessons from classical political theory — Never before has so much destructive power been placed in the hands of one man. The conversations we’ve all been having, about Putin pushing the button and all that could follow, are almost surreal. At this moment, it is natural for people to be worrying and wondering: what will Putin…

Amidst covid, lockdowns, economic chaos, mass layoffs, and now a looming confrontation of nuclear powers, Married at First Sight has long… — Amidst covid, lockdowns, economic chaos, mass layoffs, and now a looming confrontation of nuclear powers, Married at First Sight has long been a light diversion in dark times. What better way than to unwind from reality than gawking at some mindless “reality” TV?

Stoic meditation is about memorizing Stoic teachings deeply, which you can call upon facing adversities. As Marcus Aurelius says: — Stoic meditation is about memorizing Stoic teachings deeply, which you can call upon facing adversities. As Marcus Aurelius says: Continually, therefore, grant yourself this retreat and repair yourself. But let them be brief and fundamental truths, which will suffice at once by their presence to wash away all sorrow, and…

With the February 24, 2022 invasion of Ukraine, as during the annexation of the Crimea in 2014, a flood of articles and blogs have appeared… — With the February 24, 2022 invasion of Ukraine, as during the annexation of the Crimea in 2014, a flood of articles and blogs have appeared in Western media (and here on Medium) proposing that the neo-fascist philosopher Aleksandr Dugin is “Putin’s brain”, “Putin’s guru”, or “Putin’s Rasputin”; the “grey eminence”…

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is something regularly experienced by individuals who have been subject to some event or events which… — Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is something regularly experienced by individuals who have been subject to some event or events which violated their sense of what is possible, and which made them feel extremely unsafe. For many soldiers, it is events from their combat experience. For many civilians, it may be…

Sir Francis Bacon is, of all philosophers, perhaps the greatest patron of innovation and change. As Bacon announced his own ambition in… — Sir Francis Bacon is, of all philosophers, perhaps the greatest patron of innovation and change. As Bacon announced his own ambition in the magnificent “Proem” to The Interpretation of Nature: Now among all the benefits that could be conferred upon mankind, I found none so great as the discovery of…

Francis Bacon’s “Of Empire” — The comedian Mel Brooks, in his History of the World, has a lusty pre-revolutionary Louis XVI proclaim “it’s good to be the King”, as he takes royal liberties with the fairest of his subjects. We’ve all probably imagined at one time or another (and from the earliest ages) that absolute…

A note on the casuistry of evil — A note on the casuistry of evil If you’ve been around ideas for much time, and paid attention, you may have been struck that there are a finite number of argument types that repeat. Over and over. The subjects change, the times change. But the same argumentative strategies are reproduced. …