Essays
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Living in the face of death
It is an inescapable reality, a timeless law of nature. From the moment we are born, one thing is certain: one day we will die. It happens to all of us, the ancient…
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The solo mindset and living authentically
I recently stumbled on the book Solo, by behavioral scientist Peter McGraw. In his book, McGraw explores various ways people can relate to being either single or in a relationship, other than riding…
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Why existentialists are atheists
Just Google the words ‘existentialism’ and ‘religion’ and you’ll notice there is quite some debate whether existentialism should be equated with atheism or not. To me, the answer is ‘yes.’ Existentialists are atheists…
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Loneliness is not being alone. It’s the feeling that nobody cares
In our modern societies having a ‘rich social life’ is widely seen and promoted as an essential part of a successful and happy life. At the same time there is a growing awareness…
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Is autonomy a myth? (Spoiler: No it is not.)
Are humans autonomous beings or is autonomy a myth? In the debate on this question, two views are often diametrically opposed: on the one hand there are people who believe that everyone is…
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Why you should always keep asking ‘why?’
You may have noticed that I refer to myself as a “critical thinker” on the homepage of my website. That is not without reason. In my opinion critical thinking is one of the…
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Perfection is an illusion. Pursuing it is a recipe for unhappiness
There are many ways in which people can make life hard on themselves. One of the best ways to do so, is without a doubt the pursuit of perfection. Perfectionism is a recipe…
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Individuality, conformity and our need for social acceptance
One of the most paradoxical aspects of human behavior, if you ask me, is the universally felt need for freedom to be yourself and the simultaneous tendency to conform to your environment. Between…
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Hope is not enough
Where there is life is hope, they say. But where there is life, there is also hopelessness. And despair. And cynicism. And wishful thinking, that meaningless hope that will never come true. I…
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Why we need to be angry sometimes (regardless what the Stoics say)
I don’t know about you, but I can get quite angry sometimes. It doesn’t happen often, but things like injustice, cheating and disrespectful behavior can really piss me off. It is a trait…
