Published in Real Talk with Ryan·Aug 30, 2021Member-onlyThe Dark Side of Social Justice ActivismSocial justice activism is always about justice . . . right? Not exactly. Like all things, social justice activism has two sides: one light, one dark. The light side is courageous, compassionate, and empowering. …Culture12 min read
Published in Real Talk with Ryan·Jul 7, 2021Member-onlyDoubt is a VirtueMost people talk about doubt like it’s a bad thing. “Don’t doubt yourself.” “Don’t doubt the process.” “Don’t doubt that success, fame, fortune, whatever, will happen for you. Just keep the faith and hustle, hustle, hustle.” In the self-help world, doubt is public enemy #1. That’s a problem. Doubt is…Self Improvement6 min read
Published in Ascent Publication·Jun 24, 2021Member-onlyHow to Live a Meaningful Life with Chronic PainChronic pain feels like a curse, but your life is still up to you. — It leaches the life out of you, makes you miserable. But it doesn’t mean your life is over. You need to understand that, especially if you’ve just begun experiencing it. There are many people who have lived meaningful, impressive lives despite their chronic pain. Take William James, for example. He…Chronic Pain8 min read
Published in Real Talk with Ryan·Jun 18, 2021Member-onlyDon’t Judge a Bill by its CoverEvery week a new hashtag about a piece of legislation roars onto the trending tab. Every week mobs of people draw battle lines and hurl insults at each other, crusading for a bill they vigorously support or condemn. You’ve seen this. Anyone who spends even a few minutes on social…Politics8 min read
Published in Ascent Publication·Apr 30, 2021Member-onlyHow to Develop Strong Core ValuesIf you want people to trust you, respect you, or follow you, you need to get your core values straight. No one wants to follow a leader who lies, cheats, avoids responsibility, or breaks promises. Such “leaders” aren’t leaders aren’t at all. To be a good leader — scratch that…Leadership5 min read
Published in The Apeiron Blog·Apr 26, 2021Member-onlyNew to Buddhism? Read These 4 BooksBuddhism is badass but complicated. These books make it easy. — Buddhism is badass. I don’t think the Dalai Lama would approve of my choice of words but I think he’d agree with the general sentiment. I’ve written about Buddhism before. It’s one thing to read about the subject, and another to have the skills to investigate and analyze the themes…Buddhism5 min read
Apr 25, 2021Setting aside that the concept of white privilege is actually helpful, and that postmodernism has…1Philosophy as a Way of LifeI agree that they don't do it explicitly from a postmodernist perspective, but postmodernism has…I agree that they don't do it explicitly from a postmodernist perspective, but postmodernism has many different forms, which includes things like truth based on identity group perspectives instead of an objective reality. And I do agree that Foucault's study of madness (and prisons) is good; I think the problem…1 min read
Published in A Philosopher’s Stone·Apr 8, 2021Member-onlyWhy Moral Relativism Is Dangerous“Today, there seems to be only one absolute thing: relativism”. —Joseph Goebbels, Hitler’s Minister of Propaganda Relativism is bullshit. Okay, maybe that’s not the most eloquent way of saying it, but it’s true. Relativism insists that everything is relative, which, besides being a contradiction (because if everything is relative then…Philosophy6 min read
Published in A Philosopher’s Stone·Mar 26, 2021Member-onlyWhich Type of Morality Works Best?The drunk man repeated himself like a broken record. “Thou shall not kill! That’s what the Bible says. That’s what God commanded and I violated that commandment. Thou shall not kill…” I was out for drinks with my friend when a stranger asked to borrow a cigarette. My friend obliged…Religion14 min read
Published in A Philosopher’s Stone·Jun 22, 2020Member-onlyThe Illusion of SeparatenessTo say Hinduism is complicated is like saying the universe is big. That might be true, but it doesn’t give you an idea of just how big it is. …Hinduism5 min read