I’m a humanist because, to me, the philosophy of humanism has always been about positivity of the self, of others, and of the cosmos. It is both optimistic and trusting that human existence, science and... Read More

“All Ph.D. supervisors disappoint—just ask Arendt,” a newly minted graduate told me. It was a provocative statement, yet it captures a recurring tension in academia: the disillusionment that arises when intellectual brilliance is paired with... Read More

We like to believe our values are chosen—deliberated, earned. But more often, they are inherited under pressure—adopted to secure belonging, avoid shame and meet invisible standards shaped by power, fear and survival. Nowhere is this... Read More

This will be my fourth decadal installment of a short report to The Humanist’s readers on the state of our global climate and of society’s attitude.  It’s personal because during my childhood, being raised by... Read More

Kate Crawford, a research professor of communication at the University of Southern California's Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism, warned a crowd during a 2017 session at SXSW about the harm of artificial intelligence to... Read More

At Life's Edge Lesley When I sit beside people as they take their final breaths and hold their hands, I feel their body softening, their pulses fading. When they recede from the world, I can... Read More

“Sometimes I think I have felt everything I am ever going to feel. And from here on out, I am not going to feel anything new — just lesser versions of what I have already... Read More