Matthew's Blog
Shoulditis
Years ago I climbed Mt. Rainier. It taught me the difference between what the world should be vs. what the world is. I should be in better shape. It shouldn't be this cold. I should have brought an extra pair of socks. I should be able to see 20 feet in front of me....
I Am a Morning Person
Early morning is when I am most creative. I get out of bed before 5 a.m., no alarm is needed. It’s dark and quiet (despite living in a busy downtown area), and giving me an opportunity to be distraction-free for a couple of hours. I do one of two things in this...
On Studying Philosophy
I am deeply interested in philosophy and have been studying it (both formally and informally) for years. Here are the standard branches of philosophy which I have given some attention: AestheticsEpistemologyEthicsLogicMetaphysicsPhilosophy of MindPhilosophy of Science...
Kitchen Counters, Writing, and iPads
One of my favorite writing spots within my home is my kitchen counter. It has a very comfortable swivel chair and a nice long flat granite countertop with minimal visual distractions. It's also in the central location of our condo, which makes it feel less isolating...
On Blogging: Diversity of Distribution vs. Subject Matter
I recently wrote about one of the challenges I have with my blog—a lack of focus (On Blogging: Diversity of Ideas vs. Focus). I promised myself that by the end of 2021 I would address this challenge. As we start to get into the thick of November I have reconsidered...
Blogging vs. Journaling
There is one essential difference between blogging and journaling: the act of publication. Both can be expressions of one’s self. Both can be brilliant. Both can be boring. But, when you publish something, you are putting it out there into the world. Others can read...
Why I Dislike “Scare” Quotes
Lately, I have been seeing scare quotes used frequently in both blogging and social media. Although they can impart a sense of irony, they are usually used as a clever shorthand to indicate disbelief or disdain, often in a nasty way. (I am ashamed to say I have used...
When Creative Efforts Are Boring
The black and white photograph above, which I created the other day, is called “Grey Sky.” Let’s face it: it’s a boring photograph. Now, technically it’s not too bad. It’s cropped appropriately at the corners, the sky is the intentional, dominant subject, and the...
Why I Study Philosophy
Davidson, Stebbing, Descartes, Foot, Block, Hurley, Nagel, Kripke, Churchland(s), Chalmers, Carnap, Putnam… . The list of brilliant philosophers is long. One reason I study philosophy (both formally and informally) is to engage with the thoughts of people who are an...