This is a revised version of a blog post that first appeared on Material Synthesis, April 23, 2017 What is a materialist, according to me? A materialist is a person who believes that matter—material things and objects, their interactions, and the dynamic, shifting, and malleable forces that act upon and in conflict with them—are primarily … Continue reading “What is a Materialist?”
Scenes and Systems: Puzzle Pieces of an Interior
A scene is a part of an interior space whose purpose is to evoke some emotional state. A system is a part of a space whose purpose is to serve a particular function or solve a utilitarian need. Areas that contain neither a scene nor a system tend to become cluttered or barren, as their … Continue reading Scenes and Systems: Puzzle Pieces of an Interior
Heaven and Hell are the Ultimate Cope
Maximus says, "I will have my revenge, in this life or the next." But does he wait for "the next"? Does he rely on some mystical reckoning to dole out justice? No sir. Like all cope, excuses, avoidance, cognitive dissonance, sour-graping, et cetera, the ideas of heaven and hell are often used to prevent human … Continue reading Heaven and Hell are the Ultimate Cope
Don’t Become What You Despise
This is the main weakness of believing that "might is right." As soon as it's applied to you, all of a sudden, it's unfair and invalid. if you're against racism—let's say you're against racism against white people—don't BECOME a racist. If you're against sexism, let's say against men, don't BECOME a misogynist. if you think … Continue reading Don’t Become What You Despise
Compassion: A Weapon of Peace
If there are no absolute truths, then there are only feelings that come closest to the truth. In this sense, compassion is the only true feeling. And even if there are things that are perceived as absolute truths, like God or souls, there are plenty who don’t believe in them. Is it an absolute truth … Continue reading Compassion: A Weapon of Peace
Self-Pity: The First and Last Delusion
I struggle to avoid self-pity. I would rather be self-reproachful, which has lent its own challenges. But I would rather believe that I’m nothing special and be right than the opposite and be wrong. This wrong belief is the basis of self-pity: the idea that, among all people, my unique inner qualities mean that I … Continue reading Self-Pity: The First and Last Delusion
What “Radicalism” Means Under Neoliberalism
We live in an age where these individuals are considered "radical" or "extreme": Here are some thoughts. The idea of "radicalism" has been co-opted from times of old — say, pre-World War II. Back then, it meant something along the lines of "a belief in the necessity of altering the current mode of production, economic … Continue reading What “Radicalism” Means Under Neoliberalism
Can We Separate the Art From the Artist?
Someone recently asked me if it is possible to separate the weirdo that is Mel Gibson from his films, specifically Braveheart. Is it possible to like a person's work if we know him to be "problematic" in some way? And those are not "scare quotes." Some things actually are problematic.Before even beginning to argue whether … Continue reading Can We Separate the Art From the Artist?
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