Philosophy

Philosophy

Examine life’s biggest questions, from ethics to existence, with curiosity and critical thinking.

Bright orange star surrounded by a dense field of smaller white stars in space.
Carl Sagan was far from the first to declare we are the children of ancient stars.
An ancient manuscript page featuring a large pentagram entwined with themes of necromancy, its red and black text evoking forbidden rituals. Surrounding it are mysterious symbols in various languages, while a faint illustration of a seated figure lingers on the right.
Grab a sword, a small plate, and a young child. We've got a demon to summon.
A close-up of a reddish-orange engraving shows an elderly man with a beard and focused expression, as though he's reflecting on the wisdom found in books.
Self-help often distills philosophical ideas for the modern ear. Sometimes, its better to go back to the source.
The image showcases the JWST observations of the Firefly Sparkle galaxy alongside UGC 12158, a modern Milky Way analogue. It includes a reconstructed galaxy reminiscent of a baby Milky Way, beautifully interpreted through a lens model.
The Firefly Sparkle galaxy was only spotted because of gravitational lensing's effects. Yet galaxies like these brought us a visible cosmos.
A person holds a smartphone and a book with an ornate cover, clasped together in both hands.
The tech world’s fixation on artificial intelligence has spawned beliefs and rituals that resemble religion — complete with digital deities, moral codes, and threats of damnation.
Abstract image featuring glowing lines radiating outward, creating a wave-like, undulating pattern.
"We do not experience primarily because we have brains; we experience because we are alive."
An illustration intertwines reality with imagination, featuring a cow, a rainbow, and a human skull linked by red lines and targets.
Just because you can't experience it doesn't mean it's not real.
In this striking black and white portrait, a young person with short hair gazes with a serene resolve, their face half in shadow, as if to remind us all to go grudge-free.
We have it in our power to forgive a debt — and learning to use this power in the workplace can be golden.
Close-up view of a marble sculpture's lower face, showing a smile with detailed lips and chin against a dark background.
10mins
“If we're to be happy at all, it has to be found outside of this notion of pleasure. We have to step beyond hedonia. But the problem is that we risk going too far.”
A close-up of the quantum AI processor labeled "Willow" rests on a textured metallic surface, hinting at the mysteries of quantum computation and whispers of parallel universes.
By improving quantum error correction, quantum computations are now faster than ever. But parallel universes? That's utter nonsense here.
Google logo in large letters displayed on a glass building facade.
Welcome to The Nightcrawler — a weekly newsletter from Eric Markowitz covering tech, innovation, and long-term thinking.
A collage featuring hands holding a plant, additional hands in sepia tone, a grid background, orange accents, and the text "Reclaim Meaning" with the number 4.
What if the barrier to a fulfilled life isn’t technology but culture?
A digital vortex with glowing cyan concentric circles and geometric shapes giving a sense of depth and motion.
The problem for galactic-scale civilizations comes down to two numbers.
atoms
If atoms are mostly empty space, then why can't two objects made of atoms simply pass through each other? Quantum physics explains why.
Black and white portrait of a man with a thick mustache and short hair, looking slightly to the side.
“Could you create a god?” Nietzsche's titular character asks in "Thus Spoke Zarathustra."
A grand, ornate setting with three figures in flowing attire standing before a large, luminous circular window overlooking a vibrant cityscape.
With no reliable way to discern the author of an artwork, we may eventually abandon the question of whether something was made by humans or not.
A painting on an easel at the entrance of Plato's cave overlooks misty mountains, with a small fire flickering nearby.
Plato's cave metaphor illustrates the cognitive trap of ignorance, where we may be unaware of the limitations of our understanding.
A man looking at a mirror.
"Personhood" credentials could cleanse the internet of bots — but are the costs worth it?
A sepia-toned illustration of a man with wavy hair, reminiscent of Keats, resting his chin on his hand and gazing thoughtfully into the distance, embodying the contemplative patience of playing the long game.
Welcome to The Nightcrawler — a weekly newsletter from Eric Markowitz covering tech, innovation, and long-term thinking.