Society Archives

The Economic Religion: In Capitalism We Trust

What is meant by an economic religion? Do you think capitalism can be considered a religion? According to Yuval Noah Harari, an Israeli public intellectual and a historian, we are living in the era of the economic religion of free-market capitalism. Although we don’t explicitly call capitalism a religion, it informs many of our ethical judgments as much as (if not more than) traditional religions do. Keep reading to learn about the concept of economic religion.

Liberal Humanism in a Nutshell

What is liberal humanism? What are the central values of the liberal humanist ideology? Liberal humanism is a philosophy that values individual freedoms above all else. For a liberal humanist, every human perspective matters. Because of this, they run into problems when valid, but differing perspectives clash. Keep reading to learn about liberal humanism.

What Is Transhumanism? Using Tech to Upgrade Us

What is transhumanism? How will transhumanism impact the future of mankind? Transhumanist ideas abound in sci-fi literature and cinematography. But what is transhumanism exactly? Transhumanism is a philosophical movement, the proponents of which advocate the upgrading of the human mental and physical form with the use of technology. Keep reading for the answer to the question: what is transhumanism?

Relative Happiness: Stop Comparing Yourself

What is relative happiness? Why can comparing yourself to others be so detrimental? How can you improve your happiness levels? Relative happiness is when you ceaselessly compare your life to the lives of others. This kind of thinking will almost always result in dissatisfaction and envy. But you can learn to control your comparison compulsions. Keep reading to learn how to overcome relative happiness.

The Imagined Order: The Power of Fiction

What is an imagined order? How are imagined orders created? An imagined order is essentially a rule or restriction that people believe to be real, even if it’s not grounded in an objective reality. Imagined orders are a by-product of the human search for meaning. As people imbue imagined realities (e.g. stories about divinity) with meaning, imagined orders are created in the process. Keep reading to learn about the concept of an imagined order.

Core Virtues: Cultivate the Best Version of Your Self

What is the most useful way to think about core virtues? Why does cultivating your virtues lead to a satisfying life? Cultivating your core virtues is about fulfilling your potential and working on self-improvement. Everybody’s virtues are different but the key to satisfaction in life is to strive towards achieving a set of positive attributes. Keep reading to learn why strengthening your core virtues will bring you satisfaction.

Types of Humanism: Liberal, Socialism, Evolutionary

What are the three types of humanism? What are the central tenets of each branch of humanism? Similar to the religions that came before it, humanism has split into different branches. There are three primary branches or types of humanism are liberalism, socialism, and evolutionary humanism (fascism). Keep reading to learn about the three types of humanism.

The Role of Writing in the Creation of Religion

How and why was organized religion created? What role did the invention of writing play in the creation of religion as a centralized system of belief? According to Yuval Noah Harari, the main impetus to the creation of religion as a centralized system of belief was actually the invention of writing. Writing allowed leaders to create a universal holy text to validate the story of divine guidance for the masses to follow. Keep reading to learn about the creation of religion.

Norms of Society: It All Depends on the Situation

What are the two main norms of society? Why is it damaging to introduce market norms in a friendship? How is it beneficial to introduce social norms in the workplace? There are two main norms of society: social norms and market norms. Social norms are requests made by friends or family, and market norms are transactional obligations. Mixing the two societal norms can have unexpected outcomes. Keep reading for more information about the norms of society.

Is Immortality Possible? Theoretically, Yes!

Is immortality possible? Do you think eradicating death is a feasible medical goal or a hopeless pipe dream? Historically, people embraced death as a part of the deal because immortality was not even conceived as a possibility. However, as medical advances continue, scientists suggest that immortality is likely possible. Keep reading for the answer to the question: is immortality possible?