Philosophy Archives

Henry David Thoreau Quotes From Walden (+ Context)

What did Henry David Thoreau find “wearisome and dissipating”? What did he learn from his time at Walden Pond? What did he consider “the treasured wealth of the world”? In the 1840s, Henry David Thoreau built a cabin at Walden Pond, on the outskirts of Concord, and lived there for two years. More than 160 years after Walden was first published in 1854, people still read Thoreau’s book about the life he lived, alone, in the woods of eastern Massachusetts. Continue reading for seven Henry David Thoreau quotes from Walden that will give you a good sense of the book.

The 4 Types of Karma: Explained With Real-Life Examples

What are the four types of karma? How do they interact with each other? The four types of karma are sanchita (accumulated karma), prarabdha (allotted karma), agami (future actionable karma), and kriyamana (present actionable karma). By learning what each of these is, you can better understand the karma in your own life. Learn about the four types of karma and how each influences the bigger picture.

Is Karma Good or Bad? A Look at the Universal Law

Apotheosis—The Hero's Journey Leads to Nirvana

Is karma good or bad? How is the concept of karma explained by experts? Karma is both good and bad, depending on how you look at it; it is explained by experts in Eastern philosophy as a universal law of the universe, a system of interrelationships between actors where every action and feeling has consequences. Understanding karma this way shows you how it can have both good and bad effects on your life. Continue reading for more on the nature of karma and how we can use Newton’s Third Law to explain karmic relationships.

How to Define Bullshit: Is It Just a Modern Term for Rhetoric?

What does “bullshit” mean? Is it just another word for misinformation? Is it different from rhetoric? According to professors Carl T. Bergstrom and Jevin D. West, bullshit is defined as the use of misleading evidence to persuade an audience. They emphasize the importance of the phenomenon’s intent and how it’s put into operation. Read more to understand how to define “bullshit” according to Bergstrom and West in their book Calling Bullshit.

What Is Karma Yoga? Using Yoga to Work Through Karma

What is karma yoga? How can karma yoga help you balance the karma in your life? Karma yoga is a spiritual practice meant to reorient your mindset; by practicing karma yoga, you can develop a deeper connection to and harmony with the universe. Developing your understanding of how this works can grow your own spiritual practice. Here are some ways that karma yoga can help you release karma in your life.

Reduction to Absurdity: A Handy Tool for Calling Bullshit

What’s a reductio ad absurdum? When and how should you use this useful logical construct? In Calling Bullshit, Carl T. Bergstrom and Jevin D. West contend that anyone can learn how to identify and refute bullshit in its many forms. One way to call bullshit is to construct a reduction to absurdity. It’s also helpful to know how to respond when someone uses a reduction to absurdity with one of your claims. Keep reading to understand this handy tool and get some practical advice on how to use it to get closer to the truth.

How to Call BS: 3 Practical Strategies for Refuting Bullshit

When you recognize lies and misinformation, do you call them out? Do you have the guts to do it but lack the skills to counter false claims? Carl T. Bergstrom and Jevin D. West acknowledge that identifying bullshit alone isn’t enough to mitigate its spread. To that end, they share several techniques for calling bullshit so that others don’t fall for it: Construct a reductio ad absurdum, provide counterexamples, and use clarifying analogies. Read more to learn how to call BS and keep misinformation at bay.

Examine Your Belief: Questions to Probe What You Hold to Be True

What do you believe to be true? How sound are your beliefs? How do your beliefs impact your life? We all believe something, and we all live according to what we believe. So, what we believe matters. It’s wise to examine our beliefs to get clarity on what they are, why we hold them, and what difference they make in our lives. Continue reading for scores of belief questions that will help you move toward clarity and purpose.

How to Find Happiness in Life: 3 Offbeat Approaches to Joy

Is there one blueprint for happiness? Do you feel like you’ve tried everything, only to be stuck in discontentment? Recognizing that life can’t be controlled frees you from the limitations of pursuing constant positivity while enriching your life and revealing joy in unexpected places. That’s the view of Oliver Burkeman, who provides several alternative approaches to well-being and contentment. Read more to learn how to find happiness in life—in ways you might not have explored before.

There Is No Free Will, According to This Scientist

Do people have free will? How is the belief in free will harmful to society? After 40 years of study, neurologist Robert Sapolsky says there is no free will. He lays out what a world that doesn’t believe in free will would look like, and how it would impact the criminal justice system. Here are the arguments for and against free will, and why Sapolsky thinks believing in free will is harmful.