We all know there is a suite of “existential” tragedies inherent to human existence. Defining the concept precisely is impossible, but I would say roughly that an existential tragedy is a tragedy that arises from very basic and universal, or near-universal, aspects of our experience. I thought it could be…

This is an interlude to “A Philosophy for a New Old Welfare Economics” but doesn’t require you to have read the previous post 1. The broad outlines of the problem Sometimes a change makes everyone in a group better off, sometimes a change makes everyone in a group worse off…

This is part one of an outline of my planned PhD on the philosophy & practice of welfare economics. I’ll link part II here when I write it. I’m about three months into the research for my thesis, so forgive me if it’s a little loose. I wanted to put…

Every granite countertop that is made, every ensuite bathroom constructed, every patio laid out, signifies, in the final sense, a theft from those who hunger and are not fed, those who are cold and are not clothed. -MechaEisenhower In Australia, the government has just announced it will give 25,000 dollars…

Everyone has at least one hobby horse, I have a stable’s full. One of mine is the relationship between copper and psychiatric disorders. I first became interested in this connection when someone gave me a copper supplement to take and over a few days I became very anxious. …

I’m going to be talking about something that’s at once as dry as dust, and also one of the key instrumentalities through which money rules the world. …

TLDR: European Social Survey data suggests Leftwing people care more about being a virtuous person when it comes to values of altruism, humility & loyalty to friends. However people on the extreme end of the right care less than the leftwing, but more than moderate rightists. It’s important to be…

I I recall in tranquillity Fever-dive hours. Once I saw a sailboat listing Upon a great-waved sea The sea was I and so was the boat I could not see any stars For the blasts of ocean-spray In what quiet cove can I go hiding from a storm Blasting up…

I never thought that I’d have to write an article with that title. Chapotraphouse drew my attention to this extraordinary passage in an MIT Technology Review interview with Ezekiel Emmanuel: Q: What’s wrong with simply enjoying an extended life? A: These people who live a vigorous life to 70, 80…