When we misrepresent other people, is it a mistake or do we do it on purpose? Neither explanation feels right to me. Rather, I think we should consider that we often perform "semitentional" actions, which is the result of our agency being more distributed than we think. Read more (6 min, 2900 words).
If we want to sound friendly and appealing when presenting thoughts about human behavior we should avoid analytical, distancing language. But what if the value of an analytical and distancing perspective is part of what you want to communicate? Read more (11 min, 3500 words).
Part 7 of a series adapted from my 2009 Bachelor's Thesis in philosophy. This last part is a summary and some thoughts on how to deal with the problems described in the series, why a hardline attitude is counterproductive and how we want freedom and responsibility to be metaphysically real. Also criticism from present-me. Read more (15 min, 3700 words)
Part 6 of a series adapted from my 2009 Bachelor's Thesis in philosophy. The reasons why the traditional view persists when prescientific thinking on other topics often doesn’t: freedom and responsibility. Read more (9 min, 2300 words)
Part 5 of a series adapted from my 2009 Bachelor's Thesis in philosophy. I discuss some examples of people expressing a quasi-mystical view of the self online. Read more (8 min, 2100 words)
Part 3 of a series adapted from my 2009 Bachelor's Thesis in philosophy. A sketch of a naturalist view of the self, assembled from background assumptions in the physical sciences. Read more (17 min, 4300 words)
Part 2 of a series adapted from my 2009 Bachelor's Thesis in philosophy. Describes the traditional view of the self, using the philosopher C.A. Campbell as a representative. Read more (11 min, 2800 words)
