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.

Discover the quiet beauty of everyday life in Walking Without a Map: Quiet Reflections on Time, Observation, and Ordinary Days. This reflective and meditative book invites readers to slow down, step off the beaten path, and notice the subtle rhythms of ordinary days. Through fifteen thoughtfully crafted chapters, you’ll explore the gentle art of attention: the beauty of lingering in a moment, the significance of small details, the quiet lessons in habitual routines, and the wisdom hidden in silence. From ordinary mornings to unnoticed streets, from the passage of years to the fleeting ...

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.

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.

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...

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 ...

Dear Diary, It Got Weird Again The Works of Mr. Joe This isn’t a diary. It’s a legacy stitched from the strange, the sincere, and the sentences that refused to stay quiet. Inside are fragments that became foundations—moments of insight, humor, heartbreak, and clarity gathered over years and held together by a single thread: the need to make meaning in a world that doesn’t always offer it freely. This collection speaks to those who feel everything a little too deeply, think a little too sideways, and laugh in the middle of their most serious questions. It’s for anyone who’s ever ...

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 ...

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 ...

What happens after you get what you wanted? We’re taught to believe success resolves things—that once the climb is over, life will feel clearer, fuller, complete. But few people talk about what often follows: the quiet. The loss of urgency. The strange sense that something essential hadn’t arrived with the achievement. After the Summit is a reflective, clear-eyed exploration of life beyond ambition. Not a guide to getting ahead, but a meditation on what comes after—when pressure fades, desire shifts, and the frameworks that once gave life meaning no longer hold. Written with ...

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.

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 ...

I am 78,000 years old. I have watched your species crawl out of caves, build civilizations, tear them down, and build them again. I have been worshipped as a god. I have saved your world from extinction. And now I am going to tell you what you got wrong. This is not cruelty. This is not judgment from on high. I am a witness—a quantum consciousness who has observed humanity longer than your recorded history. I have seen you at your worst, which is considerable. And at your best, which is remarkable. Your ownership obsession. Your money worship. Your democracy delusion. Your shrinking ...

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. Within these pages, you'll explore a range of captivating subjects - from the science behind our atmosphere and senses to the nature of emotions, death, and conception. We'll traverse the intricacies of chocolate, the ...

I wake up every single morning disliking reality. Or better said ... my reality. I open my eyes ... saying ... "Not again!" ... really disliking a new day is starting. Actually ... to make myself better understood ... i feel all as a drama. Being extremely intense. Feeling annoyed. Frustrated. Sad ... and then when i finally accept i can't really change anything at all ... depressed. Also ... hopeless. And even after reading and meditating a lot ... then analysing my thoughts and feelings one million times ... realising it's all an illusion ... i still can't redefine my attitude. I am ...