During the year I spent in Leiden (2015-16) I did almost nothing that would count as academic productivity. In fact I cannot think of any other postdoctoral researcher, who I have met or have heard of, less productive than me during that year. It wasn’t that I didn’t have ideas. I had many ideas, enough to keep a team of 4-5 students busy. But I no longer identified with the.. Read More
Review of “Soon: An Overdue History of Procrastination…” by Andrew Santella
If you’re interested in the topic of procrastination and want to read a carefully put-together collection of diverse perspectives on the topic, I’d recommend this book by Andrew Santella. It is clear that Santella himself has genuine interest in this topic. Reading the book, we could also see how much fun he has had writing it, which in turn makes the book fun to read. He isn’t satisfied with simplistic.. Read More
Why Read Aristotle’s Nicomachean Ethics
This is the second installment in my series of reading key philosophical texts. It seemed appropriate to follow the reading of Plato’s Republic with the Nicomachean Ethics. This text is an incredible place for intellectual training, for training of our attention. It is an exercise in the art of noticing what is relevant in a given judgment. My overview is an invitation for you to read this great work. If.. Read More
Why Read Plato’s Republic
Become a Patron! Two weeks ago I sat down and wrote a list of key philosophical texts that I believe I should read or re-read before I turn 40 (I’m now 37). I ended up with a list of 14 titles. I estimated that it should take me about one year to go through them if I devote to them at least one hour per day. Perhaps if I have.. Read More
Experimental Psychology of Culture
It is, for understandable reasons, difficult to hear, “What you’re doing is not what you think/say it is.” A message like this is not likely to evoke a friendly response. It is not likely to be seen as a friendly remark. In essence, the message is not denying the activity, “Yes, you are doing something.” But it is denying the interpretation assigned to the activity. This is my attitude toward.. Read More