Should I feel bad about things?

When something feels this good, w/o causing harm to others, why not just enjoy it?

Through talking to others over the years, I’ve learned that what I think of as my “conscience” is very different from the ordinary person’s conscience. While it is true that I do feel badly about certain things from time to [...]

A Feminist Viewpoint

Feminism is a tough subject for me to discuss, if only because I generally hang out with a lot of feminist friends who hold distinctly different ideals than I on the topic.
This is not to say that I am anti-feminist, nor is it to imply that my friends are anti-feminist. On the contrary, both my [...]

Consequentialist Ethics in an Infinite Universe

A Consequentialist Argument for Weighted Consideration of Interests
or: How an Infinite Universe Affects Consequentialist Ethics
A common argument against consequentialist ethics is the empirical fact that most persons seem to place more weight on the consideration of interests of those they know than on those they don’t. While not fatal, it is true that most [...]

Moving Beyond Capitalism (But Not Through Socialism)

Before you read this post, you have to watch this video:

When you’re done watching, read on. I’ll wait for you.
Okay, finished watching? Good. Now I have a few things to say. But before I start, I want to share the first thing I wrote down when I first watched this:
I’m still [...]

Worthy of Attention: Taking Stock of Reality: Duty—NOT Charity

As a philosophical skepticist, I sometimes find it hard to make arguments that would convince anyone that I am correct in my views. But if I restrict my audience to a subset of the population, then I believe that I can, because of shared initial premises, convince a great number of people to see [...]

Worthy of Attention: Taking Stock of Reality: Tackling Hedonism Head-On

Though there are many things in this world that are worthy of attention, only one issue may be discussed first in this column. And rather than using this initial pulpit to discuss politics, or the environment, or the subjugation of non-human animals, I wish to bring up the one issue that most directly affects [...]

Sans Sanguine Sanity

From my bound journal, dated Dec 31, 2004. 
Often, the heart of compassion reels at new knowledge not because it is unused to learning, but because the realities of life are so distraught with misfortune.
Only just previously, I was able to take my sister on an outing, eating at a vegetarian restaurant, touring a strip mall [...]

Notice There’s No P in Mnemosyne

But there’s truth in a-Lethe…    [groan]
Brr. It’s somewhat chilly tonight.
On my way to the cafeteria, I noticed a small, purple flower off by the wayside. It was alone, surrounded by green leaves, green vines, and green grass. I had to step more than a few steps off the sidewalk to be able to reach [...]

Mathematics, Science, and Philosophy

I had two take-home exams due today. I didn’t start them until after nearly 4 am this morning.
At first I was scared. I glanced at the tests, and simply didn’t know where to start. The questions seemed senseless to me, and certainly well beyond my ability.
I had five hours to finish the tests, which were [...]

Mink & Milton: Na Nou Na Nou (Or: Greek Rhyming & Depressing Timing)

Oh, god, I feel sick.

I feel…
…depressed.
…worried.
…scared.
…stupid.
I do not feel…
…happy.
…intelligent.
…alive.

The verb “I lead” is agw in Greek; the future “I will lead” would be agsw, except the letters coalesce to axw. This is weird, yet still makes sense. But then you get to the aorist “I led”: hgagon. WTF.