The World's Best Book Summaries
Curious to learn about Nietzsche’s virtue philosophy? What does he believe about human morality? In the 1880s, German philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche wrote Thus Spoke Zarathustra to share his views on life, virtue, and philosophy in general. In the book, Nietzsche offers his perspective on cultivating your strengths as virtues. Read on to learn about Nietzsche’s views on virtue, according to Thus Spoke Zarathustra.
What is Section 230 in terms of social media companies? Why is it being challenged? U.S. Code Section 230 is a law saying companies that provide access to information via the internet are not liable for content posted by third parties. If the Supreme Court rules that Section 230 doesn’t apply to social media companies, they will likely block all controversial content to limit their liability. Read on to learn about Section 230 and how these changes may transform social media as we know it.
What is Friedrich Nietzsche’s philosophy of revenge? How does he explain justice, punishment, and revenge? On revenge, Nietzsche’s philosophy can be understood, in part, by exploring his philosophical work Thus Spoke Zarathustra. According to the novel, concepts like justice and punishment are just euphemisms for revenge. Keep reading to learn more about Nietzsche’s philosophy of revenge, based on Thus Spoke Zarathustra.
Are humans rational? Are we less rational than we think we are? In Mistakes Were Made (But Not by Me), Carol Tavris and Elliot Aronson say that we’re naturally inclined to believe that we’re rational actors moving through an ordered existence. However, our rationality can’t justify the bad things we do. Find out why we use rationality to excuse bad decisions, and whether humans are as rational as we think we are.
What is self-justification? Why do we try to justify our wrong actions? Self-justification is when we try to justify our beliefs or bad things we’ve done. Carol Tavris and Elliot Aronson explain this process in their book Mistakes Were Made (But Not By Me) and how we do it to convince ourselves we’ve done the right thing. Keep reading to learn what self-justification is, with an example.
Why do people hurt others? Why do people justify causing harm? While we can’t always understand why people hurt others, we can try to understand how they justify it. In Mistakes Were Made (But Not by Me), Carol Tavris and Elliot Aronson argue that we use self-justification to hurt others so we can preserve our reputation as being good and right. Continue reading to find out how excusing harm ultimately hurts ourselves, and how we can move past it.
Why do good people do bad things? What defines goodness? To keep us free from cognitive dissonance, we often convince ourselves that the bad things we’ve done don’t matter because we’re good people. In Mistakes Were Made (But Not by Me), Carol Tavris and Elliot Aronson question whether the bad things we do ruin our image as good people. Let’s look at why good people do bad things and try to justify their actions.
What are Avatar 2 critics saying about James Cameron’s new film? What are the problems with Avatar 2, according to critics? With the release of Avatar 2, James Cameron has been accused of cultural appropriation and promoting a “white savior” narrative. Some indigenous activists have even called for a boycott of the film. Read on for an explanation of the controversy and to learn exactly what some Avatar 2 critics are saying.
Have you made a big mistake? How do you take accountability for your actions? We’re all human, so we make mistakes from time to time. But it’s important that we take accountability, rather than shifting the blame elsewhere. Learn how to take accountability for your actions, according to Carol Tavris and Elliot Aronson’s book Mistakes Were Made (But Not by Me).
Are billionaires ethical? Is it possible to be a billionaire without exploitation? How do people become so rich? According to a survey, most Americans see billionaires as neither good nor bad for the country. However, there’s a growing number of those who doubt that it’s possible to be an ethical billionaire, claiming the ultra-wealthy unfairly influence policy-making and don’t use their riches for the greater good. Read on to learn if billionaires are ethical, based on arguments for and against billionaires in the U.S.