the fisherman of halicarnassus

rabbi abraham twerski talks about the difference between selfish love and true love, which must be a love of giving and not of receiving.

transcript:

"'young man. why are you eating that fish?' the young mans says, 'because i love fish.' he says, 'oh. you love the fish. that's why you took it out of the water and killed it and boiled it.' he says, 'don't tell me you love the fish. you love yourself, and because the fish tastes good to you; therefore, you took it out of the water and killed it and boiled it.'

"so much of what is love is fish love. young couple falls in love. young man and young woman fall in love. what does that mean? that means that he saw in this woman someone who he felt could provide him with all of his physical and emotional needs, and she felt in this man somebody she feels that she can write, that was love, but each one is looking out for their own needs. it's not love for the other. the other person becomes a vehicle for my gratification.

"too much of what is called love is fish love. an external love is not on what i'm going to get but i'm going to give. we had an ethicist rabbi dessler, who said, 'people make a serious mistake in thinking that you give to those whom you love, and the real answer is you love those to whom you give.'

his point is if i give something to you, i've invested myself in you. since self-love is a given, everybody loves themselves, now that part of me has become in you, there's part of me in you that i love. true love is a love of giving, not a love of receiving.'

a 14 year old australian boy who wanted to explore the world, so he snuck to a plane wheel well, it opened in mid-air and the boy fell out. the photographer was just testing his new lenses and was shocked after developing those images. image
wheel-well stowaway

founder of chatgpt.

his sister (see: annie altman) claimed in a tweet that despite her brother being a billionaire, she is homeless and broke, resorting to prostitution to survive. she also accused him of sexually abusing her when they were children.

he is vegan and gay but also described as someone who schemes behind others' backs. because of this, elon musk allegedly kicked him out and severed ties.

now, he says he wants to advance artificial intelligence, but the western world lacks the financial resources to build the computers powerful enough to manage this ai. who does have that power? china.

life in ancient greece varied greatly depending on a person's status, occupation, and location, but there were some common elements that characterized daily life for the majority of the population.

for most ancient greeks, the day began with a simple breakfast of bread, cheese, and perhaps a cup of wine. afterward, they would set off to work, whether that meant farming, crafting, or trading. the workday would typically last from sunrise to sunset.

after work, ancient greeks would return home to their families. dinner, the main meal of the day, was typically a communal affair, with the family eating together at a table. dinner might include a variety of foods such as vegetables, fruits, grains, and legumes, as well as fish, meat, and dairy products.

after dinner, ancient greeks might engage in leisure activities such as playing games, visiting with friends and neighbors, or attending cultural events such as plays or athletic competitions. some people also spent their evenings studying or engaging in religious rituals.

it's important to note that ancient greek society was highly stratified, with a small elite class of wealthy landowners and politicians at the top, and a large class of poor peasants and slaves at the bottom. daily life would have been very different for these two groups, with the wealthy enjoying a much higher standard of living and more leisure time, while the poor were burdened with hard manual labor and had little time for leisure.

racism is the belief that certain races are superior to others, and that the superior races are entitled to dominate and oppress the inferior ones. racism is often based on the idea that certain physical characteristics, such as skin color or facial features, determine a person's worth and capabilities. racism can manifest itself in many ways, including discrimination, prejudice, violence, and oppression. it is a pervasive problem that has been present throughout history and continues to affect people around the world today.

while the actions and behaviors associated with racism can be harmful and destructive, they do not necessarily indicate a mental health condition. racism is a complex social and cultural issue that is rooted in historical and systemic inequalities and power imbalances. it is important to address and combat racism through education, awareness, and social and political action.

a russian dictator. his invasion unified and empowered nato. he used to be a kgb agent, and all the russian oligarchs/billionaires are friends of his.

probably one of the most misunderstood political ideas in america.

social democracy does not necessarily mean abolishing capitalism. modern social democrats generally accept private property and markets, but want capitalism surrounded by a strong welfare state, organized labor, public services, regulation, and redistribution. basically, capitalism stays, but it operates under more rules and with a larger safety net.

the interesting part is what happens when you bring that idea into american politics.

say “universal healthcare, stronger unions, paid family leave, cheaper college, and higher taxes on the wealthy” and plenty of americans will discuss each policy separately.

say “socialism” and suddenly the conversation becomes about venezuela, government control, or whether capitalism itself should exist.

gallup found in 2025 that 54 percent of americans viewed capitalism positively while 39 percent viewed socialism positively. when gallup later asked people what they actually associated with socialism, supporters mostly mentioned economic security, healthcare, education, and equality. critics mostly mentioned government overreach, inefficiency, weaker incentives to work, and loss of individual freedom.

even the label “democratic socialist” remains much more controversial than many of the ideas associated with it. in 2026, pew found that only 17 percent of americans said they liked politicians who identify that way, although that rose to 52 percent among liberal democrats.

so social democracy has an unusual problem in the united states.

americans often debate its policies one by one.

then completely change the argument once somebody gives those policies a name.

driving down a road shaded by trees.

trump played it small, if you ask me. instead of belgium, he could've thrown israel into the tournament at this stage and turned the quarterfinal into something like an israel-usa friendly.

the welfare society that was humanity's shared dream never arrived, but one person's net worth bar overflowed off the map. becoming a dollar trillionaire is, as much as it is a feat of entrepreneurship, also a billboard for who the current order grants unlimited growth to. calling him rich falls short now, the guy has officially become the final boss of capitalism. on one side people waiting for a raise, on the other a man whose fortune overtakes the gdp of some countries; the picture is pretty instructive.

whiplash, directed by damien chazelle, explores deep philosophical themes related to ambition, perfectionism, the nature of greatness, and the moral costs of success. the film follows andrew neiman, a young jazz drummer, and his intense relationship with his abusive music instructor, terence fletcher. the philosophical undertones of the film resonate with various philosophical ideas on ethics, existentialism, the pursuit of excellence, and the role of suffering in personal growth. let's explore "whiplash" through the lens of key philosophers and their theories:

1. nietzsche and the will to power

friedrich nietzsche argued that life's driving force is the will to power, which is the desire to grow, dominate, and transcend oneself.

andrew's relentless pursuit of drumming excellence reflects nietzsche's concept of the übermensch (overman), who seeks to surpass human limitations through sheer strength of will and self-overcoming. fletcher represents the harsh force of nature or society that tests andrew's strength and pushes him toward this higher state of existence.

nietzsche believed that suffering and struggle are necessary for greatness:
"that which does not kill us makes us stronger."

andrew's suffering under fletcher's brutal teaching methods becomes a crucible for his transformation into a musical virtuoso. he embraces the pain and struggle as a means of transcending mediocrity, embodying nietzsche's idea that greatness comes through suffering and overcoming.

2. aristotle and the doctrine of the mean

aristotle proposed the idea of the golden mean, which means that virtue lies in finding a balance between extremes.

fletcher's teaching style represents an extreme, pushing andrew to his psychological and physical limits. aristotle would argue that fletcher's methods are excessive and harmful, as they violate the principle of moderation.

andrew, on the other hand, eventually adopts a similarly extreme work ethic, rejecting balance in favor of total dedication to drumming. aristotle would likely critique fletcher's methods as lacking virtue since they involve excess rather than balance. true greatness, in aristotle's view, would require both skill and emotional well-being, which andrew sacrifices in his obsessive pursuit of perfection.

3. kant and the categorical imperative

immanuel kant proposed that moral actions must follow a categorical imperative, meaning that an action is morally right only if it could be universally applied without contradiction.

fletcher's abusive teaching methods would violate kant's moral principle because they involve manipulation, deceit, and harm. kant would likely argue that fletcher's ends (creating a great musician) do not justify his means (psychological abuse).

andrew's eventual acceptance of fletcher's methods suggests that he internalizes a consequentialist mindset, valuing the outcome (musical greatness) more than the moral process. kant would argue that true moral greatness cannot arise from unethical means, even if the artistic result is remarkable.

4. sartre and existentialism

jean-paul sartre believed that human beings define themselves through their actions and choices. life has no inherent meaning except what we create for ourselves.

andrew's decision to endure suffering and push himself toward greatness reflects existentialist freedom. he chooses his own meaning through his devotion to music.

fletcher represents a figure of existential challenge. he creates an environment where andrew is forced to confront his limitations and choose who he wants to become. andrew's climactic drum solo represents a moment of existential authenticity, where he asserts his artistic identity and finds freedom through creative expression.

sartre would see andrew's journey as an example of "existential authenticity," where andrew confronts the absurdity of his suffering and creates his own artistic purpose.

5. hegel and the master-slave dialectic

georg wilhelm friedrich hegel introduced the concept of the master-slave dialectic, a dynamic where self-consciousness arises through the struggle between dominance and submission.

fletcher embodies the role of the "master" who seeks to create greatness through dominance and fear. andrew begins as the "slave," responding to fletcher's demands and expectations.

the climax of the film, where andrew delivers a transcendent performance on his own terms, symbolizes the reversal of this dynamic. andrew asserts his artistic independence and "masters" the relationship.

hegel would view andrew's final performance as a synthesis. andrew absorbs fletcher's brutal methods but transcends them to assert his own creative identity.

6. john stuart mill and utilitarianism

john stuart mill proposed that moral actions are those that maximize happiness and minimize suffering for the greatest number of people.

fletcher's abusive teaching style would fail the utilitarian test because it produces intense suffering for andrew and others. however, fletcher might argue that the long-term happiness (creating a musical legend) justifies the short-term pain.

mill's principle of higher pleasures might complicate the analysis. does the artistic greatness that andrew achieves justify the pain it took to get there? mill would likely reject fletcher's methods because the suffering outweighs the positive outcome for most students. however, the exceptional result of andrew's greatness might create a moral gray area.

7. kierkegaard and the leap of faith

soren kierkegaard argued that true meaning and greatness require a leap of faith, which is a radical commitment to an uncertain outcome.

andrew's choice to stay on stage and deliver a flawless performance despite fletcher's sabotage reflects this leap of faith. he trusts his inner artistic vision and steps into uncertainty, embodying kierkegaard's concept of authentic self-realization.

kierkegaard would likely see andrew's final performance as a moment of existential courage and self-transcendence.

ancient greek philosophers had a range of views on revenge. here are a few examples:

socrates: socrates believed that seeking revenge was a sign of weakness and immaturity, and that it was more important to focus on living a virtuous life and cultivating wisdom.

plato: plato argued that seeking revenge was not a legitimate way to address wrongs or injuries, and that true justice required a more rational and dispassionate approach.

aristotle: aristotle believed that seeking revenge could be justified in certain circumstances, but only as a way to restore balance and proportionality to a situation. he argued that the desire for revenge should be guided by reason, and not by emotion.

epicurus: epicurus argued that seeking revenge was not a productive or healthy way to deal with conflicts or wrongdoings, and that it was better to focus on cultivating inner peace and happiness.

zeno: zeno, the founder of stoicism, argued that it was important to control one's emotions and not let anger or resentment dictate one's actions. he believed that seeking revenge was a sign of weakness and that it was more important to focus on living a virtuous and fulfilling life.

freedom of speech, or the ability to freely express one's thoughts and opinions, was a concept that was explored by several ancient greek philosophers.

one of the earliest philosophers to discuss freedom of speech was socrates, who believed in the importance of questioning and challenging established beliefs and ideas. socrates believed that the pursuit of truth and knowledge was more important than the fear of offending others, and he famously stood by his beliefs even in the face of persecution and death.

other ancient greek philosophers, such as plato and aristotle, also recognized the value of free expression and the importance of allowing individuals to engage in open and honest dialogue. plato, in particular, argued that the ability to freely express one's thoughts was essential for the functioning of a just society.

however, it's worth noting that the concept of freedom of speech as we understand it today was not fully developed in ancient greece. in fact, many ancient greek philosophers believed that certain forms of speech, such as blasphemy or treason, should be restricted. nonetheless, the ideas of socrates and other ancient greek philosophers laid the foundation for modern ideas about the importance of freedom of speech and the value of open and honest dialogue.

game theory is a branch of economics and mathematics that studies strategic decision-making. it is based on the idea that people and organizations often make decisions by considering how their actions will affect the actions of others.

in game theory, a "game" is a situation in which two or more individuals or groups (called "players") make decisions that simultaneously affect each other's outcomes. these decisions are often modeled as "strategies," and the outcomes of the game are determined by the combination of strategies chosen by the players.

an example of a game in game theory is the "prisoner's dilemma." in this game, two suspects are arrested by the police and held in separate cells. each suspect is given the option to confess or remain silent. if both suspects remain silent, they will each receive a small punishment. if one suspect confesses and the other remains silent, the confessing suspect will go free while the silent suspect will receive a severe punishment. if both suspects confess, they will both receive a moderate punishment.

in this game, each suspect must decide whether to confess or remain silent, without knowing what the other suspect will do. the outcome for each suspect depends on the combination of strategies chosen by both suspects. if both suspects remain silent, it is the best outcome for both of them. however, if one suspect confesses and the other remains silent, the confessing suspect will go free while the silent suspect will receive a severe punishment. therefore, each suspect has an incentive to confess, even though confessing is not the best outcome for either of them.

this game illustrates how individuals may make decisions that are not in their own best interests when they are interacting with others and trying to anticipate the actions of their opponents. game theory is used to analyze and understand situations like these, and to make predictions about how people and organizations will behave in strategic situations.

ghosting is a term that is used to describe the act of abruptly ending a relationship or friendship without any explanation or communication. ghosting is often associated with dating, but it can also happen in other types of relationships, such as friendships or professional connections. ghosting typically involves one person simply disappearing from the other person's life without any warning or explanation, and it can leave the person who has been ghosted feeling confused, hurt, and rejected.

in psychological terms, ghosting can be seen as a form of avoidance behavior. by ghosting someone, the person who is doing the ghosting is able to avoid dealing with difficult emotions or situations, such as having to break up with someone or confront a problem in the relationship. ghosting can also be a way for the person who is doing the ghosting to avoid taking responsibility for their actions and to avoid facing the consequences of their behavior. ghosting can be damaging to the person who has been ghosted, as it can leave them feeling rejected and uncertain about what went wrong in the relationship.