Beyond Colonial Myths
A few days ago, I proposed using the anthropological definition of civilization: understanding it as a broad, interconnected body of customs, together with the supporting institutions and tools required to…
Criminalizing Therapy
Mengele’s Heirs Tighten the Screws. Last week, the Netherlands approved a law under which psychiatrists and therapists may face up to two years in prison if they engage in what…
Civilisation and power
In earlier reflections, I argued that civilization is essentially nothing more than a set of customs—most of them governing the ordinary routines of everyday life—along with the practical means that…
The first question
Can the ultimate aim of all my inquiry be summarized in some way? I discussed this with an AI that has a fairly good grasp of what I read and…
The Boundaries of Consent
Czech Senator Daniela Kovářová (who was not yet a senator at the time) warned many years ago against the fanatical campaign against the harassment of women and against the growing…
The Meaning of Decline
The decline of a civilization is, at its core, nothing more than a change in the customs that define everyday life. That may not sound especially alarming at first. But…