The Monday Mix (27/09/2021)
Hi friends,
After being back for over a week now since my trip to Spain, it’s been difficult to readjust to life here in the UK. That might seem odd considering I only went away for a week and it is in a way.
I’ve spent years away from home previously and yet I feel strangely similar now to when I came back after such a long period of time, despite only spending a week away.
This is probably due to how much of a good time I had, and it also hints at an underlying reason too. If you enjoy your time away from home much more than your time at home, maybe that’s not where you should be.
I’m grappling with this issue right now and it’s likely I’ll move on from here next year. But it’s incredible what a simple week away can reveal.
Race To The Bottom
I’ve shared articles previously in this newsletter about ongoing attempts to mine the deep sea and here’s another one regarding the issue. We probably know more about outer space than we do the depths of the ocean. So the race to extract resources from the ocean is maddening and terrifying. We have no idea what the damage could be. What strikes me in all of this is how much, as humans, we have the capacity to disregard the wellbeing of the planet for immediate profit.
Considering it’s the only place we call home in the universe, it’s a baffling set of circumstances.
Trump and Neoliberalism
An interesting essay by the economist Branko Milanovic on Trump being the ultimate triumph of neoliberalism. It might seem like an odd premise to begin with, as you make your way through the essay, Milanovic’s viewpoint begins to make sense.
Would Plato Tweet?
A fascinating article about Ancient Greek philosophy and social media. It’s often said that Greek philosophy represents the building blocks of western civilisation, so what would the think of society today and social media. Would the great philosophers of the time be prolific tweeters?
We’ll never know for sure, but we do know they’d have plenty to say so maybe they would. But the intriguing takeaway is more around how we can use the philosophy of Ancient Greece to better engage with a space that is becoming more toxic and divisive.
Book I’m reading - A Confederacy of Dunces by John Kennedy Toole
I can’t believe it’s taken me this long to read a classic of literature, but this novel is a fantastic and funny read. I can’t remember the last time a book made me laugh and smile as much as this one. A must-read for any literary lovers.
Quote I’m pondering: “You are allowed to let go of all those that do not set you free anymore.” – Dhiman
That’s all for this week.
Until next time,
Tom