Rather unintentionally, there has been a lot of talk about holiday traditions and comforts here at Philosophy Matters. It began with a discussion of Black Friday shopping, and was recently followed by discussions on comfort food and comfort TV. Talking to LKAwesome, we realized that these comforts, while comforting and certainly interesting to think about, all focused… Continue reading 6 Healthy Holiday Comforts and Traditions
Author: JJ Sylvia IV
J.J. Sylvia IV attended Mississippi State University where he received B.A. degrees in philosophy and communications. He later received a philosophy M.A. from the University of Southern Mississippi.
Turning 30: My 20s Were Just A Warmup for My 30s
Although we all know that one year isn’t really all that different from any other, it is important to spend time every now and then reflecting on our lives, including where we’ve been and where we still want to go. Milestones such as turning 30 can provide a good time to do this. One of… Continue reading Turning 30: My 20s Were Just A Warmup for My 30s
Guest Post: Does Religion Influence Our Decisions?
This post is the first in a series that was written by students in my introduction to philosophy course as an extra credit assignment. Today’s guest author is James Purvis. Everyday millions and millions of people interact with each other, socially, physically, and mentally. To some extent, the choices and decisions we make on a day-to-day basis… Continue reading Guest Post: Does Religion Influence Our Decisions?
The Emotional Impact of Simplifying: Hitting the Wall
Moving Motivation Philosophy Matters recently made a big move – shifting its home base from Mississippi to Raleigh, NC! This move has been a large part of the motivation to continue simplifying things – as part of the process is moving from two separate houses totaling somewhere just under 4,000 sq. feet, to an apartment of about… Continue reading The Emotional Impact of Simplifying: Hitting the Wall
How I Got Fat Living With a Vegan
Spoiler Alert: This post actually has much less to do with veganism and much more to do with how good my own brain is at tricking itself. Veganism itself is something I’m still learning a lot about. From an ethical point of view I fully support it. From a nutritional point of view I’ve learned… Continue reading How I Got Fat Living With a Vegan
4 Quick Tips To Simplify Your Life
What you’re looking at above is an actual photograph of the storage room I rented earlier this summer. Under all of those boxes, there’s also several pieces of furniture, including desks, a dresser, a bar, and more. This picture is a messier than normal, because I’d recently been going through many of the boxes –… Continue reading 4 Quick Tips To Simplify Your Life
The Epicurean Problem with YOLO: Short Term vs. Long Term Happiness
You’re 16 years old, your hormones are raging, and you’re finally making out with that hot girl from 4th period, hoping to push things to the next level. The last thing on your mind is the possible long-term consequences of that next level. Instead of pausing to think about sexually transmitted infections or the responsibilities… Continue reading The Epicurean Problem with YOLO: Short Term vs. Long Term Happiness
Black Friday and Overconsumption
I recently mentioned that I’m getting rid of a lot of book in the process of trying to simplify things in my life. One of the realizations I’ve had from this process is that I don’t find I have the need to go shopping nearly as much. When I am more consciously reflecting on the… Continue reading Black Friday and Overconsumption
Unreal Candy – Health, Sustainability, and Fair Trade
I had heard of a couple of months back, but assumed it wasn’t going to be available anywhere near where I live, however, I was pleasantly surprised to see them on the shelf at my local CVS! I happily picked up a package to try them out. The claim to fame is that they are… Continue reading Unreal Candy – Health, Sustainability, and Fair Trade
Kickstarter Project Live!
Our Kickstarter project for an interactive book on philosophy and the good life has launched! Please share this share this post and then support our project! http://kck.st/ZTK4OX An interactive book exploring the philosophic ideas of the good life in simple, clear language that’s easy to understand. The Good Life My name is J.J., and my… Continue reading Kickstarter Project Live!