Ruminations on our relationship with technology
Retro review of Midnight in Paris Summary: The film ‘Midnight in Paris’ is much more than a romantic comedy. It’s a reminder that, in our digital age of accelerated innovation, spendthrift consumerism, and occasional lack of appreciation for older art and historic artifacts, sometimes playing with antiquated tech and old media—from jazz records to classic … Read more
The philosophy of modern minimalism: A new name for an old way of thinking Summary: Contrary to popular misunderstanding, modern minimalism doesn’t mean getting rid of all your belongings and living like an ascetic. Rather, it means asking a simple question about what we own and how we spend our time, energy, or resources. Namely, … Read more
Stoic virtue for social media Summary: If some folks find themselves constantly feeling angry or outraged, one reason may be because they’re perpetually distracted. At least, that was an observation the Stoic philosopher Seneca made two millennia ago. His advice: Remove unnecessary distractions to cultivate a calm (as opposed to agitated) state of mind. That … Read more
Buddha on ‘attachment’ and its discontents My interest in Buddhism began when I was a teenager. Buddha’s philosophy of attachment and mindfulness (which I’ll recap below) always resonated with me, although applying it remains challenging in today’s busy, high-tech world. I’ve often asked myself: Were Buddha alive today, would he buy a smartphone? Would he … Read more