Subjective Tastes & Character Judgments—Two Great Flavors that Taste Lousy Together
“ALL I HEAR ABOUT these days is the NBA finals. Who are these brainless yahoos who get so obsessed about a ball going into a net?” “I hate those ditzes who care so much about... Read More
Humanism and a Work/Life Balance
MY TWO HANDS are not getting along. On the one hand, the purpose of a humanist life is to make the world better. There’s no afterlife, so the meaning of our lives comes from making... Read More
Starting with the Assumption that I’m Wrong
So I’ve been trying this thing. If I’m contemplating a change in my thinking or my life—especially for ethical reasons—I shift my perspective for a bit, and start with the assumption that I’m wrong. I... Read More
The Part about Black Lives Mattering Where White People Shut Up and Listen
Listen up, fellow white people. If we care about racism—and if we’re humanists, we bloody well better—there’s something we need to do. It’s enormously important. If any other action we take is going to be... Read More
New Thoughts on Atheist Anger, and the Difference between Peace and Complacency
Can we find some degree of peace and acceptance in our lives, without becoming complacent about all the things that are terrible in the world? Or, to turn the question around: Can we let ourselves... Read More
Dealing with Death in an Unjust World
(Note: the following contains references to racist, transphobic, and misogynistic violence.) In the face of unjust death—what can humanists say and do? I have a new book out called Comforting Thoughts About Death That Have... Read More
The Pros and Cons of Caring Deeply about Others’ Suffering
First, the cons: When you care deeply about other people’s suffering, you suffer too. Not as much as they do, generally, but you still suffer. You feel a small piece of what it feels like... Read More