Most of my articles usually involve me trying to defend one side of an argument. Instead, today, I’d like to go over one of the internal debates I’ve been having. I still haven’t picked a side, but I thought I’d share some of my ideas, and some of you can weigh in your opinions. The […]
Using Arete to Make Practical Decisions
Yesterday, I wrote about how arete can be used as a model for the meaning of life. Arete is an ancient Greek word which essentially means excellence or virtue. Today I’d like to drop back down to earth, and discuss how you can use arete in your daily life. In my view there are three […]
Arete: The Meaning of Life
I’ll admit that this is an ambitious post title. Thinkers have struggled against this question for thousands of years. One of the interesting things about this question is that the answers don’t converge on a single point. Instead there are many different methods to answer what might be the most important human question. I’m certainly […]
If You Aren’t Getting Hate Mail, Your Writing Probably Sucks
The most popular articles on this website are also the posts with the most negative comments. It took me awhile to realize this, but hate mail can actually be a sign you’re doing something right. Truly awful stuff gets ignored. It’s only the ideas that are new, involve risks or push boundaries that get hate […]
I'm a Wall Street Journal bestselling author, podcast host, computer programmer and an avid reader. Since 2006, I've published weekly essays on this website to help people like you learn and think better. My work has been featured in The New York Times, BBC, TEDx, Pocket, Business Insider and more. I don't promise I have all the answers, just a place to start.