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Love: The Foundation of Morality? Iris Murdoch's Perspective

2025-08-17

Love: The Foundation of Morality? Iris Murdoch's Perspective

Philosopher Iris Murdoch argues that love is central to morality. She posits that morality hinges on how we perceive the world, and that 'attentive love' helps overcome self-centered biases, allowing for clearer understanding of others and more ethical actions. Murdoch uses the example of a mother-in-law's prejudiced view of her daughter-in-law to illustrate that even without outward actions, biased perceptions constitute a moral failing. Overcoming this requires attentive love, which redirects us from self-focus towards others, leading to a truer grasp of reality.

(aeon.co)

Misc Iris Murdoch

Beyond Good and Evil: A Philosophical Contemplation of Entanglement with Nature

2025-07-27

Beyond Good and Evil: A Philosophical Contemplation of Entanglement with Nature

This article explores the entangled relationship between humanity and nature, and the ethical dilemmas inherent within this relationship. From the perspectives of philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche and eco-philosopher Val Plumwood, the article challenges anthropocentric views, arguing that humanity is not a separate entity from nature but rather a part of its food chain. Plumwood's crocodile attack experience, along with Nietzsche's critique of free will and suffering, prompts a re-evaluation of our relationship with nature, considering how to transcend traditional dualistic morality to coexist harmoniously. The article also warns against the risks of blindly pursuing purity and health, pointing out that embracing entanglement is not easy and requires us to redefine ourselves and our interests.

(aeon.co)

Misc Nietzsche

The Depersonalization Crisis: It's Not Loneliness, It's Invisibility

2025-06-20

The Depersonalization Crisis: It's Not Loneliness, It's Invisibility

This article argues that contemporary society faces a growing 'depersonalization' crisis, distinct from loneliness. It's the feeling of being unseen and unheard, stemming from standardized interactions, technology overuse, and social exclusion. Through interviews with gig workers, therapists, and physicians, the author reveals how these factors erode the sense of being recognized in human relationships. The solution, the author suggests, lies in addressing the root causes—standardized interactions, marginalization, and excessive screen time—and prioritizing human connection in technological advancements, avoiding the simple mechanization of human interaction.

(aeon.co)

Misc depersonalization technology ethics

Last Letters: Facing Mortality, Understanding Life

2025-05-20

Last Letters: Facing Mortality, Understanding Life

In a Bordeaux bookshop, the author discovers a collection of last letters written by those executed by Nazi firing squads during WWII. These poignant missives offer a raw glimpse into the human condition facing imminent death, revealing stages of grief and the precious memories clung to in final moments. The author reflects on how these letters, far from merely documenting wartime atrocities, force a profound contemplation of life's meaning and the importance of cherishing every moment.

(aeon.co)

Misc

Renaissance Humanism and LLMs: A Cross-Temporal Dialogue

2025-05-16

Renaissance Humanism and LLMs: A Cross-Temporal Dialogue

This article explores the similarities and differences between Renaissance humanist education and modern large language models (LLMs). By analyzing examples from Erasmus's *Ciceronianus* and Rabelais's *Gargantua and Pantagruel*, the article points out that humanists trained their writing skills by imitating classical authors, similar to how LLMs generate text by training on corpora. However, humanist writing training can also lead to a generalized form of expression lacking specificity and communicative power for particular situations, much like LLMs sometimes produce seemingly plausible but factually unfounded 'hallucinations'. The article ultimately emphasizes the importance of listening and responding in interpersonal communication and cautions against the instrumentalization of language generation tools. Focusing on the social and interactive nature of language is key to effective communication.

(aeon.co)

AI Humanism

Hollywood's Story Formula: Myth or Shackle?

2025-05-14

Hollywood's Story Formula: Myth or Shackle?

This article delves into the prevalent three-act narrative structure used in film and television, tracing its roots back to Aristotle and its widespread adoption in Hollywood. While acknowledging its commercial success, the author questions its repetitive and conservative nature. It masks the underlying structure, reinforces the status quo, and potentially hinders critical thinking about reality. The article also explores alternative narrative forms, such as cyclical and fragmented narratives, and calls for filmmaking to better reflect the fragmentation and complexity of contemporary society.

(aeon.co)

Design

Alien Languages: Stranger Than We Imagine

2025-05-12

Alien Languages: Stranger Than We Imagine

Fictional alien languages, like the Heptapod language in Arrival, while bizarre, share surprisingly similar underlying structures to human languages. This prompts philosophical reflection on the "space of possible languages": true alien languages might be far stranger than we've imagined, constructed in ways radically different from human tongues. The article explores four levels of language: signs, structure, semantics, and pragmatics, analyzing how alien languages might differ in each. This includes using non-human sensory modalities (smells, electrical impulses), possessing unique grammatical structures, and even lacking the concept of 'meaning' as we understand it. Preparing for truly alien languages requires abandoning anthropocentrism and actively exploring the possibilities of language. This is not only crucial for potential extraterrestrial contact but also for a deeper understanding of our own language and cognitive abilities.

(aeon.co)

AI alien language philosophy of language

Stendhal Syndrome: Ecstasy and Exhaustion in the Modern Museum

2025-05-11

Stendhal Syndrome: Ecstasy and Exhaustion in the Modern Museum

This essay explores Stendhal Syndrome, an intense emotional response to encountering masterpieces of art, contrasting it with the modern museum-going experience. Beginning with Stendhal's overwhelming experience in Florence, the piece details his profound emotional reaction to art. It then contrasts this with the hurried pace of modern museum visitors, arguing that the current approach prevents genuine engagement with art. The author suggests that a deeper, more Stendhalian experience is crucial for true appreciation of art.

(aeon.co)

Misc Stendhal Syndrome Museums

Schrödinger's Cat: A Thought Experiment That Continues to Haunt Science

2025-05-01

Schrödinger's Cat: A Thought Experiment That Continues to Haunt Science

In 1935, Erwin Schrödinger proposed the famous "Schrödinger's Cat" thought experiment, using a cat that is both dead and alive to satirize the interpretation problems of quantum mechanics. This article traces the journey of this experiment from an obscure physics argument to its permeation into popular culture and its prompting of widespread philosophical reflection. Schrödinger's cat was not intended to describe reality, but rather to reveal the paradox of "superposition" in quantum mechanics: the state of a microparticle is uncertain before observation, and only observation can cause it to "collapse" into a definite state. The article explores the views of different physicists, including the Copenhagen interpretation and the many-worlds interpretation, and ultimately attributes the popularity of Schrödinger's cat to its prompting of reflections on human choices and fate, as well as its opening up of the imaginative space of parallel universes.

(aeon.co)

Tech Schrödinger thought experiment

Pale Blue Dot: Insignificance and Grandeur in the Cosmos

2025-04-28

Pale Blue Dot: Insignificance and Grandeur in the Cosmos

In 1990, Voyager 1 captured the iconic "Pale Blue Dot" image, showcasing Earth's insignificance in the vastness of space. This sparked reflection on humanity's existential meaning, contrasting with the awe-inspiring "Earthrise" photo from Apollo 8 in 1968. "Pale Blue Dot" evokes both wonder and a sense of cosmic insignificance, echoing Pascal's terror of the infinite silent spaces. The article explores the origins of this feeling, examining philosophical perspectives (like Pascal's ideas) and cognitive limitations of human perception. Ultimately, it argues that while Earth appears insignificant on a cosmic scale, the discovery of other conscious life in the universe could redefine its meaning.

(aeon.co)

Misc Perception

Beyond the Romantic Narrative: A Reassessment of Vietnamese Anti-Colonialism

2025-04-14

Beyond the Romantic Narrative: A Reassessment of Vietnamese Anti-Colonialism

The heroic narrative of Vietnamese anti-colonial struggle, depicting a unified nation resisting foreign invaders, is widely celebrated. However, new scholarship reveals a more complex history. The first half of the 20th century saw competing nationalist ideologies vying for influence, offering diverse interpretations of Vietnamese national identity and anti-colonial strategies. The article explores the ideas of key figures like Phan Boi Chau, Phan Chau Trinh, Nguyen An Ninh, Pham Quynh, and Ho Chi Minh, highlighting their use of national shame to motivate compatriots towards anti-colonial nation-building and their differing interpretations of concepts like 'freedom' and 'democracy'. This challenges the simplistic, romanticized narrative, showcasing the complexity and diversity of Vietnamese anti-colonialism.

(aeon.co)

Misc Vietnamese history anti-colonialism

Kerala's Economic Miracle: From Poverty to Prosperity

2025-03-28

Kerala's Economic Miracle: From Poverty to Prosperity

Kerala, a relatively small state in southwestern India, was once among the poorest in the country. However, in a few decades, it experienced a remarkable economic transformation, surpassing the national average per capita income. High literacy rates, excellent healthcare, and low population growth played crucial roles. Furthermore, the long-standing social welfare policies of Left-wing governments, coupled with deep integration into the global economy, remittances from the Gulf, and booming private sector investment, contributed to Kerala's economic miracle. However, overdevelopment and climate change pose new challenges, requiring Kerala to balance economic growth with environmental sustainability.

(aeon.co)

Startup Kerala

The Truth About Anger: Beyond Retribution, Towards Cooperation

2025-03-22

The Truth About Anger: Beyond Retribution, Towards Cooperation

This essay explores the nature and destructiveness of anger. Starting with Aristotle's definition, the author argues that anger stems from significant damage to something one cares about, coupled with a desire for retribution. However, this desire for payback is deemed irrational, as it fails to restore what was lost. Retribution only makes sense when anger focuses on status rather than justice, a narrow and self-centered perspective. The author advocates a 'transition' from retribution to focusing on the future, resolving issues through cooperation and reason. Nelson Mandela's life serves as a powerful example of this transition's importance in both personal and political life.

(aeon.co)

Misc retribution cooperation

Martha Nussbaum: Capabilities Approach and Beyond Anger

2025-03-07

Martha Nussbaum: Capabilities Approach and Beyond Anger

This article explores the thought of renowned philosopher Martha Nussbaum, focusing on her capabilities approach and views on emotions, particularly anger. The capabilities approach argues that governments should ensure all citizens possess the capabilities to lead flourishing lives, not simply fulfilling citizens' preferences but providing real opportunities for well-being. Nussbaum lists ten central capabilities, framing them as rights. However, her view on anger has evolved; she now considers anger normatively problematic, often stemming from self-centeredness and status competition. She advocates for 'transition'—shifting anger into constructive action to improve well-being. Nussbaum's philosophy remains deeply intertwined with real-life experiences, her writing demonstrating the interplay of personal narrative, emotion, and philosophical thought.

(aeon.co)

Misc capabilities approach anger

The Forgotten Philosopher: Mary Midgley and the Domestication of Philosophy

2025-02-16

The Forgotten Philosopher: Mary Midgley and the Domestication of Philosophy

Mary Midgley, a 20th-century philosopher, wrote a radio script in the 1950s, "Rings and Books," exploring the male-dominated nature of philosophical history and its impact on philosophy itself. Rejected as "trivial," it resurfaced decades later. Midgley argued that philosophers' lifestyles influence their views, with the male-dominated tradition neglecting female and family experiences, leading to limitations. Using Descartes as an example, she highlighted his isolated approach, overlooking the importance of human relationships. Midgley's ideas resonate with contemporary feminist philosophy, emphasizing the social and contextual nature of knowledge, challenging traditional objective views.

(aeon.co)

Misc feminism epistemology

Species, Subspecies, and Conservation: A Taxonomic Debate

2025-02-05

Species, Subspecies, and Conservation: A Taxonomic Debate

This article delves into the complexities of species classification, focusing on the debate surrounding the definitions of 'species' and 'subspecies' and their implications for biodiversity conservation. The author argues that the traditional species concept is overly simplistic, neglecting the diversity and importance of subspecies. Using Noah's Ark as an example, the author illustrates the sheer number of animals that would have been needed to account for subspecies. The article further explores the limitations of 'species-first' conservation strategies and calls for a greater focus on subspecies conservation to achieve a more comprehensive understanding and protection of biodiversity.

(aeon.co)

Tech species classification subspecies conservation

French Modernists and the Mass Media: A Love-Hate Relationship

2025-01-17

French Modernists and the Mass Media: A Love-Hate Relationship

This essay explores the complex relationship between 19th-century French modernist writers and the mass media, particularly newspapers. From Baudelaire to Proust, they both loathed the negative impacts of newspapers (e.g., inciting crime, suppressing literature) and were deeply influenced by them, utilizing their platforms for creation and promotion. Newspapers served as both a crucible of modernity and a laboratory for literary innovation. Writers struggled against them while actively integrating them into their work; Mallarmé's groundbreaking poem *A Throw of the Dice* was published in the commercial magazine *Cosmopolis*. Ultimately, the author argues that in the face of the internet's information deluge, we can learn from the French modernists' experience, maintaining artistic independence while skillfully leveraging new media.

(aeon.co)

Literature Modernism Mass Media Literature

We Were Never Pure: A Long History of Globalization

2025-01-10

We Were Never Pure: A Long History of Globalization

This essay challenges the notion that globalization began in the 1990s, arguing instead that it's a continuous process throughout human history. By analyzing historical markets, the Columbian Exchange, and cultural exchanges, the author demonstrates that cultural blending isn't a modern phenomenon but a fundamental characteristic of human societal evolution. The article critiques the view of globalization as a threat, suggesting this stems from historical amnesia and a fantasy of 'pure cultures.' It calls for recognizing globalization as the driving force of human cultural evolution, not a catastrophe.

(aeon.co)

Misc globalization cultural exchange

J.G.A. Pocock's 'The Machiavellian Moment': A History of Political Contention

2024-12-27

J.G.A. Pocock's 'The Machiavellian Moment': A History of Political Contention

This article explores the impact of J.G.A. Pocock's influential work, 'The Machiavellian Moment,' on historiography and political thought. Pocock challenged the purely liberal interpretation of the American founding myth, arguing for the enduring presence of classical republicanism, sparking intense debate. This controversy extended beyond differing historical interpretations, touching upon the core of American national identity. Pocock's central argument posits the inherent political nature of historical narratives and the crucial role of historians in shaping political identities, highlighting the inevitable political contestation surrounding historical interpretations.

(aeon.co)

Misc Political Thought American Founding

Metamorphic Rocks: Messengers from Earth's Depths

2024-12-27

Metamorphic Rocks: Messengers from Earth's Depths

This essay explores the incredible journeys of metamorphic rocks. Starting as humble seabed sediments, these rocks are buried deep within the Earth's crust, undergoing intense heat and pressure that transforms them into new mineral forms. Their eventual return to the surface provides invaluable insights into the planet's deep interior. The author vividly describes this transformation as an epic journey, highlighting the importance of metamorphism in plate tectonics and the crucial role of water in the process. The story also contrasts the ease of exploring space with the challenges of accessing Earth's subsurface.

(aeon.co)

Tech metamorphic rocks Earth science Metamorphic rocks