Lipstick, Pussy Power and Toxic Femininity
A harmful myth has been circulating recently which I feel called upon to counteract. Some have called it “toxic femininity.” I’ve seen it expressed, to varying degrees, in Jordan Peterson’s…
No, You Don’t Have a Disorder. You Have Feelings
The London Times recently carried a story about an avalanche of self-harm among British school children. According to the article, “school nurses are dealing with panic attacks, self-cutting, overdoses and…
The Task Facing Masculinity.
“I think everyone would agree the world would be a better place if we had less testosterone.” My friend shared this quote with me in bemusement after he heard it…
Life on Mars: The Ethical Implications of Colonizing the Red Planet
It’s a Godawful Small Affair Human expansion into space is at the periphery of our current, scientific knowledge. There is a long and earnest history of proposals for such a…
Where Now for Areo?
Yesterday, Areo said “goodbye” to its creator, Malhar Mali. In his farewell, Malhar said, “I started Areo because I was frustrated; I was disappointed at what many outlets deemed to…
The Apex Laborer: Technology and the Human Ego
The prevailing view that we’re safe from technological unemployment has a dubious basis. We will continue to create new jobs, but we can’t yet create new human capacities. The presumption…
What We’re Reading #11 — June 4th, 2018
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The Selfish Nature of Human Cooperation
An optimistic anthropological perspective on human nature has emerged in the last two decades: the view that cooperation is the most essential human activity and that conflict, violence, and moral…
Why Good People Turn Bad Online
Meet the scientists finding out how we can defeat our inner trolls and build more cooperative digital societies. On the evening of 17 February 2018, Professor Mary Beard posted on…
The Amorality of the Mob: Personal Reflections on the Evergreen Incident One Year On
It’s the one-year anniversary of the day on which mild-mannered leftist Jewish professor Bret Weinstein was confronted in his classroom by a mob of angry students. By a strange twist…
Who’s Afraid of the “Intellectual Dark Web”?
I have been meaning to comment on the sound and fury about Bari Weiss’ New York Times piece on the “Intellectual Dark Web,” an informal network of “heretics” and “renegades” who dissent…
Sympathology: Being Aggrieved on Behalf of Those Who Are Not
Pathologized Sympathy There is a group of people who frequently appear in the headlines, identified by a wide range of terms. Instead of listing all of them here, it’s best…
The Democratic Fundamentalist: A Response to Nathan J. Robinson’s “Socialism as a Set of Principles”
Three cheers for socialism! What’s not to like?
Understanding Human Nature Is the Best Way of Fixing Our Political Culture
Many factors contribute to political divisiveness and rancor. Some of them are natural and nearly inevitable aspects of fundamental human nature, but others are not. Of those that are not,…
The Victim Mentality will Imprison You — and then Destroy You
Recently, Candace Owens, host of the popular YouTube channel Red Pill Black, and communications director for the conservative think-tank Turning Point USA, made headlines when she was endorsed by Kanye…
What We’re Reading #9 — May 7th, 2018
What We’re Reading is an exclusive fortnightly recap for our supporters at the Affiliate Publisher level and above. This is where we highlight articles, books, and blogs we’ve been reading,…
The Philosophy of Nonviolence: The Lost Legacy of Martin Luther King
The 50th anniversary of the death of Martin Luther King, Jr. has come and gone. MLK Day is behind us. Yet there is no reason for us to stop talking…
Rhextortion: Misinterpretation by Proxy
The other day a friend linked me to a tweet from one journalist to another: “i think you want to be really careful,” it said, “about using language that sounds…
