Philosophy Archives

Antifragile: Book Overview, Key Concepts & More

What is the book Antifragile about? What is antifragility, and how does the Antifragile book explain this concept and teach us how to actually be antifragile? Nassim Nicholas Taleb’s book Antifragile talks about a major misconception we have about how to be strong. Instead of focusing on resilience, we should build antifragility—a defense against things going wrong, and the ability to withstand it when they do. Read more about Antifragile, book concepts, and how to build antifragility below.

Path Dependence Theory: The Sequence Matters

What is path dependence theory? How can understanding path dependence help us create antifragile systems? Path dependence theory is the idea that in order for an event to happen, a specific sequence of events must be followed and performed correctly. The outcome depends on the entire sequence. Read more about path dependence theory and antifragility.

What Is Vipassana Meditation? Pure Observation

What is vipassana meditation? What is the ultimate goal that vipassana practitioners try to achieve? Vipassana is perhaps one of the most practiced forms of meditation in the mainstream yoga culture. But what is vipassana meditation exactly? In simple terms, vipassana meditation is the type of meditation where you practice observing your stream of consciousness without entertaining what comes up. In this article, you will learn what vipassana meditation is, the purpose of vipassana practice, and its ultimate objective.

Do Checks and Balances in U.S. Government Work?

What are checks and balances in the U.S. government? Are they effective? Checks and balances in the U.S. government is a system intended to prevent authoritarianism by distributing power equally. Each branch has its own norms and means of operating. Read more about checks and balances in the U.S. government and what they do.

Political Norms in America: Effective Partisanship

What are political norms? How do norms help keep democracy safe? In America, political norms are a critical part of the nation’s history. Politics in the U.S. have always been characterized by fierce party rivalries and difficult elections. But even so, norms held the country together throughout its early history. Read more about U.S. political norms and what they mean.

How to Live a Balanced Life With Taoism

Why is there no such thing as “good” and “evil” in Taoism? How can one achieve balance through objectivity? The Taoist belief is that one must live a balanced life and can achieve this by living objectively. This means that a Taoist master must embrace all people without labeling or defining them. Continue on to learn more about objectivity and balance in Taoism.

The Three Marks of Existence: Buddhism 101

What are the three marks of existence in Buddhism? How do you Buddhists see the world? Buddhists believe that there are three fundamental features that characterize worldly existence. Collectively, they are referred to as the “three marks of existence” or “three universal truths.” They are anicca (impermanence), dukkha (unsatisfactoriness), and anatta (selflessness). Keep reading to learn about the three marks of existence.

The Rise of Humanism: A Philosophy of the New World

What is the central tenet of the humanism philosophy? How did the shift from theism to humanism change human societies? Humanism is a philosophy premised on the belief that humanity has the authority to create meaning within the universe. The societal impact of humanism is most seen clearly in the following areas: ethics, politics, aesthetics, economics, and education. Keep reading to learn about the philosophy of humanism and how it has changed human societies.

The Rise of Techno-Religion and the Fall of Humanism

What is techno-religion? How did the rise of techno-religion threaten to knock down the very ideals that gave birth to the phenomenon? Techno-religion is a humanist ideology in which technology—not God or other theistic concepts—is used as a means for satisfying the human quest for meaning and spiritual salvation. Techno-religions can be divided into two categories: transhumanism and dataism. Interestingly, both threaten to knock down the very ideological bedrock on which they stand. Keep reading to learn about the two types of techno-religion: transhumanism and dataism.

Yuval Noah Harari on the Death of Liberalism

Are we witnessing the death of liberalism? Why is liberalism becoming irrelevant as technology advances? According to Yuval Noah Harari, an Israeli intellectual and the author of Homo Deus, advances in technology might make liberalism a thing of the past. He predicts the death of liberalism to be the result of three potential developments: 1) the loss of military and economic usefulness, 2) the rise of decision-making algorithms, and 3) the creation of the “superhuman.” Read about the projected death of liberalism.