Prosperity Promised, Dependency Delivered
In my last note note, I remarked that much of the criticism directed at various tyrannies is not, in truth, born of compassion for the peoples who suffer under them.…
Queer and Communism: Choice or Destiny?
At this year’s Prague Pride one could spot a banner declaring: “Being queer is not a choice, being a communist unfortunately is.” Clever enough, at first glance. But why should…
1968 and the New Czech Mythology
The misfortune of the Palestinians did not begin on October 7, 2023. It began in the mid-1960s, when a deliberate project was launched to cultivate a particular type of Arab…
Tyranny of feelings
In our age, emotions are often praised as the antidote to cold rationality. We are told that feelings bring warmth, authenticity, and a more human quality into our choices. And…
Dawn of Brain-Friendly AI?
A few days ago, I asked: Who’s working on “good” artificial intelligences—tools that actually benefit the brain? When I said there were none, I was exaggerating. They do exist. There…