Optimistic Nihilism Explained
The German animation studio Kurzgesagt offers a succinct explanation of the philosophy of optimistic nihilism.
Zeitgeist
The Placebo Magick Podcast on the Metaphorical Afterlife
“Placebo Magick” is Garrison Benson’s podcast series explaining his concept of “magick” from a strictly non-supernatural, psychological point of view; as he says, “magick is a metaphor, and metaphors are magickal”. In this episode he considers the advantages of imaginary afterlives and also the practical legacy lessons to be drawn from this perspective on death … Read moreThe Placebo Magick Podcast on the Metaphorical Afterlife
The Willing Suspension of Disbelief: Poetic Faith and Nontheistic Spirituality
Nontheistic spirituality and spiritual naturalism are umbrella terms for spiritual disciplines that require no faith in the literally supernatural. Examples include Humanism, numerous forms of atheistic/secular Paganism, Humanistic Judaism, Secular Buddhism, The Satanic Temple’s approach to Satanism and so-on, as well as present-day revivals of ancient philosophies such as Stoicism and Epicureanism. My Way of … Read moreThe Willing Suspension of Disbelief: Poetic Faith and Nontheistic Spirituality
Perspectives on Death: Crash Course Philosophy
Philosophical approaches to mortality from Socrates, Epicurus, and Zhuangzi, considering whether it’s logical to fear your own death or the deaths of your loved ones, with sidebars on Thomas Nagel and the Fear of Missing Out.
The Death Land Series
Leah Green, a reporter for The Guardian, offers this seven-part series of short videos exploring responses to death. Throughout, Green – who suffers from death-related anxiety – maintains a healthy balance of rational skepticism and curiosity in her encounters with immortalists attempting to prolong their lives indefinitely, survivors of near-death experiences, organizers of death café … Read moreThe Death Land Series
“Opponents” by Jenny Jinya
You can see more of artist Jenny Jinya’s “Loving Reaper” cartoons here – though be aware that few of them end quite this happily.
Lindsay Ellis on Death, Personified
Critic, author and video essayist Lindsay Ellis offers a survey of the many personifications of Death in Western art and culture.
The Oscar Wilde Temple
Artist Peter McGough explains the Oscar Wilde Temple, a secular “celebration of the creative process through which experience is transformed into art and reality abstracted into revelation.” For more information on this project, please see the Oscar Wilde Temple website.
Midwinter Solstice and the Notion of Genius Loci
My Midwinter altar – I think “locus” is actually more apt in this context – is a literal illumination of the vanitas theme, a union of wunderkammer and kamidana (wunderkamidana?) It’s an assemblage of objects whose symbolic meanings are both amplified and made more subtle by their interrelationships. I try my clumsy best to make … Read moreMidwinter Solstice and the Notion of Genius Loci