Thomas

The things we call intelligence have transformed us from small, slow, physically weak apes to the solar system’s most lethal apex predators. However, when we ask whether other animals are intelligent, we’re not usually asking what capacities or kinds of bodies were advantageous in their evolutionary past. We’re really asking whether they do things... See more

Whereas “goal” has become a tired and bloodless descriptor for the (supposed) intention to do something great, the word quest instills the right mentality for achieving a real-life personal victory:

A quest is an adventure, and you expect it to be one.

A few years ago, I was chatting about panpsychism with a friend. I mentioned that I don’t know if the theory is true, but I hope it is. When my friend asked why, I said simply, “So many little buddies everywhere!”

To me, panpsychism offered an enchanted view of the world. I suspected that if it were the prevailing view, people might be less likely... See more

Digital platforms are largely devoted to making users consume more, faster—think of TikTok’s frenetic “For You” feed or Spotify’s automated playlists. Curators slow down the unending scroll and provide their followers with a way of savoring culture, rather than just inhaling it, developing a sense of appreciation.

Slow Is Smooth And Smooth Is Fast