Category Archives: Philosophy

Ramanujan and Me

Posted on April 25, 2020 by N.S. Palmer

Tomorrow, April 26, is notable for two reasons. First, it’s my birthday. I’ll be 39. Again. That’s my story and I’m sticking to it. Second, it’s 100 years since the death of Srinivasa Ramanujan, one of the greatest mathematical geniuses … Continue reading →

Posted in Philosophy, Science | Tagged 1729, Cambridge, Continued fractions, G.H. Hardy, Number theory, Ramanujan | Leave a comment

The Wisdom of James Bond

Posted on April 15, 2020 by N.S. Palmer

“You only live twice: Once when you are born, And once when you look death in the face.” — James Bond “James Bond” is now a movie franchise, just like “Star Wars” was. But it started out as a … Continue reading →

Posted in Life, Philosophy, Psychology, Society | Tagged Fiction, Haiku, Ian Fleming, James Bond, Risk, Safety, Tradeoffs | 1 Comment

Why Evil Exists

Posted on April 12, 2020 by N.S. Palmer

Today is Easter 2020, when Christians in Western countries celebrate (where permitted by law) the resurrection of Jesus. Eastern Orthodox Christians in Greece, Turkey, Russia and thereabouts celebrate it next week. Today is also the middle of Passover, when we … Continue reading →

Posted in Bible, Christianity, Jewish Philosophy, Judaism, Philosophy, Science | Tagged Ethics, Ethics of Belief, Evil, God, Good and Evil, Metaphysics, Morality, Ontology, Problem of Evil, Theodicy | Leave a comment

The Hidden Cause of Our Disagreement

Posted on April 4, 2020 by N.S. Palmer

Note: This blog post explains one cause of society’s basic disagreements. It is not intended to denigrate anyone on either side of the argument. It’s obvious which side I favor, but I’ve done my best to be fair. There’s a … Continue reading →

Posted in Human Relations, Philosophy, Political Science, Psychology, Science | Tagged Common sense, Different worldviews, Hierarchy of needs, Human history, Human Nature, Psychology, Social Conflict, Wisdom | Leave a comment

Einstein Agrees with the Lone Ranger

Posted on March 24, 2020 by N.S. Palmer

Albert Einstein and the Lone Ranger agree: Get over yourself. Albert Einstein was one of the smartest people of the 20th century. His ideas revolutionized our understanding of space and time. They also contributed to the development of quantum mechanics. … Continue reading →

Posted in Life, Philosophy | Tagged Courage, Einstein, Life, Morality, The Lone Ranger, Wisdom | Leave a comment

Language Does Not Equal Reality

Posted on February 15, 2020 by N.S. Palmer

Every Saturday, my friend Jim Grey publishes a “recommended reading” list of interesting blogs from the previous week. Today’s list linked to an article about the benefits of speaking multiple languages. Jim explained: “I used to speak German very well. … Continue reading →

Posted in Epistemology, Philosophy, Psychology | Tagged Chinese, English language, Language, Multilingual, Newspeak, Objective reality, Postmodernism | 4 Comments

Why Is This A Banana?

Posted on January 5, 2020 by N.S. Palmer

In today’s media landscape, you can throw a rock in any direction and hit something that’s partisan and biased. Whether you believe that “Trump Is Literally Hitler,” or you call him “the god-emperor,” or you’re somewhere in between, there’s a … Continue reading →

Posted in Life, Philosophy, Political Science, Psychology | Tagged Cognitive evolution, Concepts, Conceptual evolution, Linguistic pragmatism, Universals | 2 Comments

Find Your Life’s Meaning

Posted on November 26, 2019 by N.S. Palmer

Does your life have meaning? If so, how? The answer helps you appreciate your blessings and seize your opportunities. Having a clear idea of the answer is in itself a blessing. Most people have no idea. They trudge through life, … Continue reading →

Posted in Life, Philosophy, Psychology | Tagged Being part of something bigger, Community, Connection, Goals, Happiness, Limited time, Meaning, Meaning of life, Mortality, Worthwhile goals | Leave a comment

Eavesdropping on God and the Devil

Posted on October 14, 2019 by N.S. Palmer

Eavesdropping isn’t exactly a sin, but it’s certainly impolite. And yet I couldn’t help it. Much. I was getting some coffee in the break room. Outside, in the hallway, God was having an argument with the Devil. I tried not … Continue reading →

Posted in Bible, Christianity, Jewish Philosophy, Philosophy | Tagged Excusivity, Free choice, Free Will, Inclusion, Inclusivity, John Milton, Moral Choice, Moral order, Moral universe, Paradise Lost, Problem of Evil, Theodicy | Leave a comment

Who Gets Veto Power?

Posted on October 2, 2019 by N.S. Palmer

A while back, I worked for a tech company where I reported to the company’s CEO. The main thing I learned was never to take a job at a company founded and run by a business-school professor. The other thing … Continue reading →