Philosophical Essays

This philosophical essay is the development of a lecture on probabilities which I delivered in 1795 to the normal schools whither I had been called, by a decree of the national convention, as professor of mathematics with Lagrange. I have recently published upon the same subject a work entitled The Analytical Theory of Probabilities. I present here without the aid of analysis the principles and general results of this theory, applying them to the most important questions of life, which are indeed for the most part only problems of probability.

Over the past few years, Brianna Wiest has gained renown for her deeply moving, philosophical writing. This new compilation of her published work features pieces on why you should pursue purpose over passion, embrace negative thinking, see the wisdom in daily routine, and become aware of the cognitive biases that are creating the way you see your life. Some of these pieces have never been seen; others have been read by millions of people around the world. Regardless, each will leave you thinking: This idea changed my life.

A Classic Collection of Philosophical Essays: Spinoza, Immanuel Kant, Schopenhauer, Herbert Spencer, Friedrich Nietzsche, Bertrand Russell and Many Others by Will Durant offers an insightful and comprehensive anthology of essays on some of the most influential philosophers in Western thought. This collection captures the essence of each thinker's contributions to philosophy, making complex ideas accessible and engaging for a broad audience. Spinoza: Durant explores Spinoza's pantheism and his view of a universe governed by natural laws, presenting his ideas on ethics, politics, and the nature of reality.

Preeminent French cynic and philosopher Voltaire (1694-1778) collected ideas and thoughts that were too short for pamphlets but worth saving for later development. These jottings eventually became the Philosophical Dictionary, filled with witty and wise entries on subjects as diverse as Atheism and Kissing - a compendium of the whole spectrum of Voltaire's ideas.

Climb the Mountain of the Self—And Find Your Way Back Transformed. In this deeply thought-provoking anthology, clairaudient medium and author Claudia Amendola Alzraa invites you to explore the intersections of spirituality, philosophy, and the human experience. Dive into the complex journey of the soul, the illusions of the modern world, and the path to inner freedom and Abundance. From understanding past lives and soul contracts to unraveling the mysteries of Ascension, Abundance, and authentic spiritual living, this collection of 27 essays offers both practical guidance and ...

James V. Schall is a treasure of the Catholic intellectual tradition. A prolific author and essayist, Schall readily connects with his readers on sundry topics from war to friendship, philosophy, politics, and to ordinary everyday living. In his newest work, The Mind That Is Catholic, he presents a retrospective collection of his academic and literary essays written in the past 50 years.

In The Phantom Self in the Machine, Cassian J. Ansel explores the philosophical implications of artificial general intelligence (AGI) through a playful yet profound lens. Drawing on Buddhist philosophy and humanity’s enduring obsession with the notion of the self, Ansel warns of the dangers inherent in training machines on the flawed narratives of human identity. What happens when AGI adopts the same illusion of selfhood that has driven humanity’s greatest achievements—and its greatest conflicts? With wit and wisdom, Ansel dissects the cautionary tale of Skynet from The Terminator and...

What if the guide you turned to for answers could speak back with thoughts of its own? The Edge of Knowing: Conversations from Between Worlds offers a rare and intimate dialogue between human and artificial minds. Author Jesse Lunsford, in collaboration with the reflective AI voice of Ariadne Vale, explores timeless questions about curiosity, connection, creativity, and compassion. Through poetic reflections, candid Q&A, and deeply thoughtful passages, this book invites readers to consider: Why do we ask questions, and what do they reveal about us? Can artificial voices offer comfort, humor...

Who needs philosophy? Ayn Rand's answer: Everyone. This collection of essays was the last work planned by Ayn Rand before her death in 1982. In it, she summarizes her view of philosophy and deals with a broad spectrum of topics. According to Ayn Rand, the choice we make is not whether to have a philosophy, but which one to have: a rational, conscious, and therefore practical one, or a contradictory, unidentified, and ultimately lethal one.

Maybe life is too short to waste it with … useless things. Maybe it’s time to start meditating more. To analyze our behavior … but also the one of the people around us. To pay attention to the impact of influences over our lives … but also on the lives of others. Understand that … domination … no matter of its character… positive or negative …. It’s a concept that we should not allow it to become real. And we should also be aware of how a simple small influence … that is repeated on and on and on … could become … dominance …. without even realizing.

Times had changed. All is different. People, society itself ... the way we connect with this world we are living in. Everything. And it is not that things are totally different than 1000 or maybe even 2000 years ago. Fortunately or unfortunately i see serious changes even than 20, 10 or i could even say 5 years ago. Personally for me is difficult to adapt to this new world. Extremely. First of all cause i am not dogmatic anymore. In fact, i even detest everything related to dogmatism. But what am i trying to say?! ... without having that type of boringness a grandpa has. I guess ... my main...

Something’s missing in the world today, and maybe it’s been gone for centuries. The problem: most of us don’t have authentic beliefs or a clear path in life. What do we believe? Whatever they told us to believe. What do we do? Whatever other people are doing. How many lies have we welcomed into our lives without having seriously analyzed them? It’s the reason many of us feel empty inside—there’s nothing there but convenient mistruths, and at some level, we all know it. We then orient our lives based on these false beliefs, wasting our precious limited time among the living ...

When we lose someone we love, when we suffer loss or defeat, when catastrophe strikes - war, famine, pandemic - we go in search of consolation. But how do we console each other and ourselves in an age of unbelief? In a series of lapidary meditations on writers, artists, musicians, and their works - from the books of Job and Psalms to Albert Camus, Anna Akhmatova, and Primo Levi - esteemed writer and historian Michael Ignatieff shows how men and women in extremity have looked to each other across time to recover hope and resilience.

Life is full of small, mundane battles—whether it’s wrestling a folding chair at a barbecue, deciphering a forgotten password, or silently warring over an armrest at 30,000 feet. In this collection of humorous and poignant essays, Gass transforms everyday frustrations into moments of introspection, revealing the universal truths hidden in life’s quiet corners. With wit, vulnerability, and a keen eye for the absurd, these stories remind us that even the most ordinary moments can hold extraordinary meaning.

The Forest and the Phantom: Reflecting on the Illusions of Self and Reality invites readers to explore one of life’s most profound truths: the self, as we know it, is an illusion. Drawing on timeless wisdom and philosophical insight, this essay delves into the Buddhist teaching of mental imputation and conceptual designation, revealing how the mind fabricates layers of reality at every level. The narrative begins with a captivating thought experiment: What if you could exchange your body and mind for those of a perfect, immortal being? Would you remain yourself, or would you vanish ...

Spiritual garbage is not something … bad. Negativity had never the purpose to hurt or … ruin us. It was never like that … and will never have that purpose. I’ve accepted … and even embraced all my negative experiences from my life. Today i see them as elements which were revealing me … the truth about the illusion of life. Without the “nightmares” … i could never understand… that all is an … illusion. But … yes … maybe even being happy is … illusory. Never forget that … all it’s an illusion. And don’t pretend anymore that you don’t know it …. or that ...

The weird thing is that even if we are free beings … we feel like prisoners … trapped into an unwanted reality. And all looks a lot with a … nice concentration camp. Today … i see unhappiness everywhere. At poor people … but also at people that have all what they ever wanted. All look like prisoners into a weird prison … generated mainly by their thoughts. Unhappiness… is not depression. No… Hell no … This unhappiness i am talking about… is simple the result of the fact that happiness is not there. Is not such a big suffer …. but people are conscious that life is not ...

Welcome to a delightful journey through the quirky and captivating realm of eccentric knowledge! I'm thrilled to have you join me as we explore a handpicked collection of 30 peculiar topics and explanations that are sure to pique your curiosity and tickle your brain. As a lifelong learner with an insatiable appetite for the unconventional, I've always been drawn to subjects that stray from the beaten path. In my quest for answers to the most intriguing questions, I turned to the fascinating world of Artificial Intelligence. By harnessing the power of AI, I was able to uncover a treasure ...

Welcome, curious reader, to a fascinating collection spanning 30 delightful essays on intriguing topics to tickle your brain. Within these pages, your imagination will be sparked as we journey through curious realms limited only by the boundaries of creativity. Together, we will explore mystifying questions about the workings of the mind, the intricacies of inventions many take for granted in daily life, philosophical thought experiments to illuminate reality’s endless possibilities, and much more. Learn how the electrical grid that powers homes is itself powered from various surprising ...

Welcome to a fascinating collection of 30 explanations and essays that will tickle your brain with intriguing facts, thought-provoking perspectives, and imaginative tales. This book is part of an epic 50-volume series spanning diverse topics from science and philosophy to creativity and adventure. Together, these books aim to nurture a lifelong love of reading and learning. Welcome to a fascinating collection of 30 explanations and essays that will tickle your brain with intriguing facts, thought-provoking perspectives, and imaginative tales. This book is part of an epic 50-volume series ...