thinking

Ethics

The word ethics has fallen into disuse: we don't hear it anymore. And it's often confused with morality: in my opinion, it's much more. Living ethically doesn't just mean following moral precepts, but adopting a set of norms, values, and customs that govern behavior in a given...See more

Studying

Studying is essential; without it, in my opinion, life is meaningless. The concept of studying is often associated with the image of a person hunched over books, but in my opinion the concept is much broader. It's about creating a "critical conscience," not accepting everything...See more

Love

There are many interpretations of love, and the most common image is the feeling that unites two people. Love encompasses many different meanings: loving oneself, loving one's neighbor, loving a particular object, loving an animal, loving nature, loving God (for those who...See more

Stupidity

There's a famous Tom Hanks movie, "Forrest Gump," with the quote "Stupid is as stupid as it gets." Then there's the real "stupid" person: proud of their ignorance (whereas once people were ashamed and studied) and they make foolish pronouncements. Both "versions" are evidence...See more

Coherence

The first thing that comes to mind is the lack of consistency among politicians: they change their minds and their affiliations only for their own benefit. But changing one's mind (within the bounds of decency!) is a sign of intelligence, and in life there are many opportunities...See more

History

I'm writing a post about history because I see enormous gaps in knowledge. A few days ago, I argued with a reader who claimed that the Nazi Bücherverbrennungen burned books that violated common morality: appalling. Books were burned: Works by Jewish, Marxist, socialist, liberal,...See more

Respect

Talking about respect in our times is very important: it goes hand in hand with responsibility. Respect involves every aspect of our existence: for ourselves, for others, for animals, for things. In my opinion, it's a "state of mind": if it's not "automatic," you have to practice it to learn it.

Responsibility

The concept of "responsibility" is often discussed, but I see very little of it. Responsibility exists in many areas: - towards oneself (to one's body, one's mind, one's life) - towards others (e.g., one's family, social community) - of speech (often the words used on social media are "irresponsible": the person who utters them wouldn't have the courage to say the same things in the "real world") We must live responsibly to respect the person we see in the mirror every morning

Friendship

Friendship is a deep, emotional relationship that unites two or more people based on trust, respect, sincerity, and mutual sharing. It is not a hierarchical or contractual relationship, but a free, spontaneous, and authentic bond that allows each person to be themselves without...See more

Pity vs Compassion

I see a lot of confusion between the feeling of pity and compassion. The former remains an "end in itself," the latter is genuine participation in the suffering of others. Pity Pity is a feeling of sadness or displeasure. It derives from the Latin poena, meaning "punishment" or...See more

Rudeness

I see aggressive language and writing, a behavior most evident on social media. It's an escalation of "rudeness": the more "bad" you are, the more you write bad things, the more you choose the most hurtful insults, the more you "win." You lose as a human being, but you win in...See more

Judgement

The ability to judge is useful in many areas of life if you don't want to live a slave to other opinions. In my opinion, it's a combination of "things": personal culture, analytical ability, and a desire to delve deeper into topics. Today, more than ever, I see a greater...See more