Found these plants at the place we are staying in Paternoster. They almost looked fake, having a slight plastic look. But I really think they are beautiful and rather unique. Some sort of succulent.

On our way to a lovely seaside town for Christmas and the dogs are coming with. So far it's been a good trip, but the dogs are anxious. Good times!

Just another reminder to check out my latest post! Make sure to subscribe if you want to read more like this. open.substack.com/pub/ivanbock...

Just another reminder to check out my latest post! Make sure to subscribe if you want to read more like this. open.substack.com/pub/ivanbock...

New essay: "Freedom Worth Having" open.substack.com/pub/ivanbock... #philsky #freewill #blog

I've finished writing my essay on free will, and it is way longer than I thought it would be. But this is pretty common for me. I'm going to try and finish it up today. So hoping to have it totally done and ready for Friday. #philsky #blog

screw it it's a holiday week here's the new video on youtube www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pdji...

Yahweh shortly before the Flood:

A public notice for those interested in philosophy blogs! #philsky #blog

I'm sharing my first post on my new Substack blog: open.substack.com/pub/ivanbock... Make sure to check it out! Please consider liking, sharing, and subscribing! There is a lot more to come! #philsky #blog

Interested in skepticism and pragmatism? Wonder about different approaches to philosophy? Then check out my blog and my latest essay where I discuss moderate skepticism. #philsky #blog

My first Substack post is officially live. Please check it out! open.substack.com/pub/ivanbock... #philsky #blog #skepticism

Happy to report the first post is scheduled to release soon. Keep an eye out, or subscribe to the blog, to be able to read my short intro to moderate skepticism - the philosophical approach I endorse. #philsky #blog

I'll be going live with my first substack post soon. I'm moving my blog over there. If interested in meta-ethics, pragmatism, skepticism, existentialism, and virtue ethics, then please consider checking it out and subscribing for future posts: open.substack.com/pub/ivanbock... #philsky #blog

I say this somewhat tongue in cheek, but it is funny how many people dismiss philosophy only for us to keep finding out people like Socrates really were wise: youtu.be/9M_QK4stCJU?... #philsky

happy bday French writer Albert Camus, b.1913. “In the midst of winter, I found there was, within me, an invincible summer. And that makes me happy. For it says that no matter how hard the world pushes against me, within me, there’s something stronger – something better, pushing right back.”

Pretty decent summary of Epictetus' views and teachings. It has that classic stoic sentiment and psychological theory, while also stressing Epictetus' 'role ethics'. That combination, I think, is a particularly useful and socially just perspective to take. #stoicism #ethics

Fun day at the #RedBullFlugTag ! We came without a plan and ended up getting some nice seats.

“Think for yourself, and let others enjoy the privilege to do so, too.” — Voltaire, Treatise on Tolerance

Truly a beautiful time in Cape Town as the flowers start to bloom. Our bird-of-paradise plants are looking great! #flowers #capetown

#EmotionalSupportSpood #Arachtober Little Brown Creeper boy missing a palp and looking very small (they always do) 🥹

"Whoever knows that he is profound strives for clarity; whoever would like the crowd to think he is profound strives for obscurity. The reason for this is that the crowd thinks something is profound whenever it cannot see to the bottom of it" - Nietzsche #philsky

“There is only one thing a philosopher can be relied upon to do, and that is to contradict other philosophers.” — William James, Memories and Studies #philosophy #philsky

"Given their disciplinary expertise, we believe that evolutionary scholars are uniquely equipped to critique these speculations, which borrow from EP’s credibility to advance a depreciatory view of women, while harming the public reputation of the field at large and in academia."

"What doesn't kill you makes you stronger" is the laziest moral philosophy ever invented and I'm tired of pretending it's wisdom. youtu.be/A1z2xW6Zyto

Currently busy dealing with our insurance regarding a leak and water damage to our home. This is so frustrating, as the service providers clearly missed a leak when they came the first time and are now claiming we need to submit a second claim for the 'new' leak. We have now gotten to the point ...

"He who indulges empty fears earns himself real fears." Seneca

Uninformed manosphere influencer: "No, no, I voted for a 'good strong man', not a bad one. A good strong man would have been awesome."

A quote that gets to me every time: "I must die. But must I die bawling?" - Epictetus Stay strong and keep fighting the good fight. #ethics #stoicism

This is such an amazing passage from The Brothers Karamazov! It is easy to see why some considered Dostoyevsky to be a prophet. Now more than ever, we must remeber this message. Don't foster solitude, foster brotherly love. #booksky

As usual, Shaun hits it out of the park. This is a fantastic breakdown of the completely bullshit book, The War on Science. Have a look if you have the time. youtu.be/tyU5Xkk6TuE?...

This is my regular reminder to everyone that jstor is open to the general public now; a free account there will give you access to 100 papers a year.

New paper accepted!🎉 Is Taylor Swift responsible for how she makes her fans feel? Yes; the notion of affective power (the ability to influence how others feel) can help identify the responsibilities celebrities have towards their fans. w/ G.Mills & @alfredarcher.bsky.social Preprint ⬇️

“Each day acquire something that will fortify you against poverty, against death, indeed against other misfortunes as well; and after you have run over many thoughts, select one to be thoroughly digested that day.” — Seneca, Moral Letters to Lucilius

this exists it is called thinking

I just wanted to share the Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy article on Miracles. I enjoyed it much more than the SEP article on the same topic. I found it slightly more fair-handed and balanced. The discussion on miracles as gestures is also interesting. #philsky iep.utm.edu/miracles/

As I used to say on Twitter, you either die a hero, or you live long enough to see your work become an 'Oxford Studies Online' pdf

Theories of analyticity cannot handle this

“Three passions have governed my life: the longing for love, the search for knowledge, and unbearable pity for the suffering of mankind.” — Bertrand Russell, The Autobiography of Bertrand Russell

Just showing up in lefty spaces doesn’t mean you are engaging with them. He always pivoted to whatever he wanted to talk about. That’s why his visit to Oxford recently went viral. Tilly knew his game and was ready for his pivot. So no, he doesn’t get credit for politicking. youtu.be/Zn0_2iACV-A?...

I hadn’t given it much thought, but I guess I really thought we were gonna get ‘Charlie Kirk’s complicated legacy’ rather than ‘America mourns her sweet perfect boy’ and, uh, serves me right for overestimating legacy media I guess!

Having a real-time debate over here whether “practicing politics the right way” is essentially about form (Klein) or about content (everyone left of him). Klein’s problem is that his valuing of current open debate welcomes demagoguery that destroys the possibility of future open debate.

Something I have to say: Someone who puts on the act of being a 'cordial debater' but only does this in contexts where such a thing cannot be productive, is not a model example of the modern politically engaged person. All this praise being put on someone who actually only stirred the pot is awful.

The assassination of Charlie Kirk makes we worry we can no longer have peaceful discussions of whether gays should be stoned to death or civil and collegial debates about whether black people are inherently inferior. Our culture will suffer. New York Times tomorrow

“If you wish to be loved, love.” ― Seneca

Latest post. Don’t know how many I have still in me helendecruz.substack.com/p/cant-take-...

This paper by Hannah Winckler-Olick looks cool. We need more Beauvoirean existentialism in contemporary moral philosophy. (DM me your email address if you need a copy) onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10....

to be found on Gutenberg as well: www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/4583 ... adding to my to-read list

Far more people should read Hume's Dialogues! Not only is it a great and engaging read, but Hume's arguments and observations are still relevant and hugely convincing. Anyone who wants to be reasonable regarding religious belief should contend with the ideas in the Dialogues. #philsky