It's not the first time it has been suggested; many religions and philosophies have done so. It seems to be accurate despite my believing myself to be very much real. I have a sense of identity, likes and dislikes, ideas and attitudes towards others and the world. I look in the mirror, probably fifty odd years from when I first did so, and I see this something or other staring back at me. Pale …
Main Content
I’ve been publishing Sunday Letters in one form or another since 2015. It is a conversation with myself, an exploration into the human condition amidst an alienating and destructive technocapitalist system of living. Subscribe and join in the conversation.
Cursed With A Brain
Sometimes it feels like I am cursed with a brain. Would it be better to regress to the level of an ant? Would that even be a regression? Maybe ants are more sophisticated than humans. Do I have a choice in the matter? Some people choose drugs, some choose betting, sex or shopping. Some people indulge in the victimisation and murder of others to escape their own minds. They crave power and control …
Niccoló Machiavelli & The Power Game
Niccolò Machiavelli was a 16th-century Italian philosopher and political commentator, best known for his 1513 work, The Prince. In this infamous text, he outlined his guidance on suitable behaviour for royals and aristocrats of his time, which essentially extended to the premise “ends justify the means”. In other words, the immoral, cruel and criminal actions of kings were justified if they …
Everyone Eventually Forgotten
The fundamental question I have wrestled with for most of my adult life is, who or what am I? Even as a teenager, I'd lie awake at night wondering about it all. I got busy for a while as I developed a career, and I forgot about it, but today the question is back, and it dominates my mind most of the time. I'm satisfied, for the most part, that my awareness of myself is something other than my …
On Introversion
I have a distinct tendency towards introversion. I am introspective, content in solitude, comfortable in my own skin, standing quietly on the periphery of the madness and occasionally taking part. Perhaps it’s a protection mechanism, but then, if it is, it's just as much a protection mechanism as an extrovert’s need to be in the spotlight. I enjoy the company of others, but I prefer small groups. …
War & Genocide: The Colonialist Playbook
It's hard to ignore the major and catastrophic man-made events that have been underway in the world for the past couple of years. Ukraine, Gaza, Syria, and others. They dominate our headlines and our minds. I've written about them directly and indirectly many times, including this post on moral disengagement from a few weeks ago, and this short one on the problem with human beings. I wonder if …