Our problem is that we are pretty good at dealing with our state-of-the-world anxieties, but bad at dealing with their root causes. Perhaps the growth of positive psychology has unintentionally exacerbated this by making us all more aware of what we can do to worry less, rather than what we can do to make the source of our worries go away. It is, after all, easier to conquer our fears than to vanquish the things we are afraid of.
ReadVideo of a discussion I took part in at How The Light Gets In 2014 on humour and philosophy.
ReadSome meditators may have powerful, perhaps even life-changing experiences. But that does not imply they have uncovered any profound truth which is beyond description.
ReadWhen we cannot say what would count as a denial of our beliefs, then we are in denial about our own rationality.
ReadWe should practise taking the role of the attentive listener and be prepared to talk back to ourselves, and be our own best critical friend.
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