How to Read Lacan Summary (8/10)
Zizek in How to Read Lacan* does not merely articulate the philosophy of Lacan but adds his own philosophical slant. The book begins with a description of a major development that occurred at the turn of the…
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The Battle for Pure Prestige
Man is a social animal, directed by others, but his sociability does not lead him into a peaceful civil society, because at the root of sociability is conflict. In trying to unmask the root of conflict and desire, I…
The Experiencing Self
What we learn from this talk is that there are two different ways of thinking about happiness.
The Hero with a Thousand Faces Summary (8/10)
The Role of Myths Myths are a mechanism we can use to find out who we are, and what we value implicitly. It teaches us about the stages of life, and how to pass through them successfully – while avoiding the…
Heidegger On Technology
Here’s a summary of Martin Heidegger’s The Question Concerning Technology published in 1954. --- The Opening Shot: Tech’s More Than Gadgets** Heidegger doesn’t mess around. He’s not here to chat about your phone’s…
On the Phenomenon of Bullshit in Politics
It has been said that there is more bullshit now than ever before. This essay will explore the reasons for this increase, as well as some of the consequences.
What the Story of David and Goliath tells us about Introverts and Extroverts
The Victorious Underdog David versus Goliath* The book “David and Goliath” by Malcolm Gladwell is a story about the underdog. Throughout history, society has celebrated the victories of the disadvantaged hero –…
Lesson 7: Learn How to Negotiate with Yourself
There are many things that are fun to do. But if you keep doing what’s fun for long enough, you’ll get depressed. Why? Because you substituted short-term gratification for long term happiness.
The Opposite of Fiction is Not Truth (Week 48 of Wisdom)
People excuse their moral shortcomings by doing good things that are trivial, observed Slavoj Zizek. “It is okay that there is injustice in the world, because I recycle” or when it comes to politics, “I did not vote…
Zizek and Theology Summary (7/10)
Zizek and Hegel Zizek is famously a Hegelian. His interpretation of Hegel’s dialectic is that the negation (or antithesis) does not just heal the break created, but removes the frame within which the antithesis…
A Summary of “Against Heresies” (7.5/10)
“Against Heresies” (Adversus Haereses) is a seminal work of Christian theology written by Irenaeus, the Bishop of Lyons, in the late 2nd century. The text is primarily focused on refuting Gnostic beliefs and…
Strong Men Create Good Times – Analysis
“Hard times create strong men, strong men create good times, good times create weak men, and weak men create hard times.” The quote is from a post-apocalyptic novel called “Those Who Remain” by the author G. Michael…