Free will is a thorny philosophical problem. Many see it as the foundation for our lives and morality. Others deny it exists. I’m not so sure where I fall on beliefs about the reality of free will. I strongly suspect it comes down to how you define it. Defined too strictly and it isn’t even […]
What Does it Mean to Work Hard?
I don’t feel like I work very hard. These days I usually wake up when I want to. I take frequent breaks. I even take random days off to spend time with friends, to go hiking or to read a book. This seems to be true even when I have a lot of work to […]
Beware of “Magic Bullet” Thinking
I used to believe a lot of the flaws in the personal development industry came from overselling. Everyone claims you can find instant wealth, health or happiness by giving them some money. People, gullible to these messages of immediate improvement, are duped into believing their exists a “magic bullet” for all their problems. While this […]
When is it Good To Be a Hypocrite?
In my recent article where I shared beliefs I’ve changed (or started to doubt) since starting writing this blog, I included one hypothesis about why we so often fail to do the things we should: Are a lot of “good” habits just signalling attempts? Maybe I’ve just been reading too much Robin Hanson, but he […]