Step 34: Gold Plating (Culture of the New Capitalism pt. 3)
Shop for politics like products: small differences, newer is better, and packaging over research.
Step 33: The Specter of Uselessness (Culture of the New Capitalism pt. 2)
No one wants to be “useless” in a society that shuns the “dependent” in favor of “potential” instead of experience.
Step 32: The Culture of the New Capitalism (pt 1)
How to stabilize society, then for “freedom” destabilize it, and call it a “fresh page” history.
Step 31: Punisher
When police conflate the punisher with American allegiance are we witnessing a symbol run amuck?
Step 30: Pragmatism (with L)
Mister Lisa and Ryder discuss William James’ pragmatism, and how verified truth works with personal truth.
Step 29: Truth (William James)
Truth is slippery. Objective vs. Subjective? Intersubjective? Perhaps we should use Pragmatism.
Step 28: Our Malady (Lessons in Liberty)
Health is tied to freedom, and sickness opens the path for authoritarianism.
Step 27: Moral Mazes (part 2)
Blaming others and avoiding responsibility are the only way to survive.
Step 26: Moral Mazes (part 1)
What if the only way to survive in a company is to be amoral?
Step 25: Addicted to Thinking
The craving mind uses dopamine to addict us to ourselves
Step 24: Xmas Decorations and Musings about Neighbors
A lack of quality Xmas decorations makes Ryder consider the sacred and profane.
Step 23: The Dangers of Common Sense
Do tyrants arise out of the irrationality of common sense?
Step 22: Guilt, Shame & Group Think
Guilt is remorse and empathy, Shame is internal disgust, and Groupthink uses both.
Step 21: Tyranny of Merit (pt.2)
Education has created a diploma divide in our country, setting up arrogant winners and resentful losers
Step 20: Tyranny of Merit (pt.1)
You deserve what you earn… or do you? The ethic of merit is breaking our democracy.
Step 19: Breakdown of Will
Understanding self-defeating behavior might be the first, and most misunderstood, step in having will power.
Step 18: Time Travel, Fate & Will
Time travel allows you to achieve your will, but do you control your will, or just fulfill your fate?
Step 17: Stochastic arts: The Cure for Narcissism
“I think therefore I am” promotes narcissism. Can an attentive job alter your disposition?
Step 16: Madness and Oscillations
Social media promoting madness and the iterative progress of craftsmanship as alternative engagement with the world.
Step 15: Surveillance Capitalism
The expansion of behavioral extraction for capital gains and governmental control.
Step 14: The Post-Panopticon
Discipline vs controlling access to desires.
Step 13: The Panopticon
Internalizing Normalization and Self Discipline
Step 12: The Social Sphere and Communicative Action
How we kick ourselves out of the public sphere
Step 11: The Social Contract: Freedom To, Freedom From
What are you Free To do when your are not Free From danger?
Step 10: Economy or Life?
What COVID reveals about the religion of economy.
Step 9: The Passive Life
Busy contemplating the active life instead of living it.
Step 8: Vita Activa
The cognitariat and categories of activity
Step 7: Tom Sawyer & Learning
The attitude towards chores, choice, and being duped.
Step 6: Tom Sawyer & Chores
The attitude towards chores and being duped.
Step 5: Inferiority as Power
DIY self help
Step 4: Ukraine/Maidon
DIY citizenry
Step 3: Doubling
The image or the form?
Step 2: Pliers
The danger of tools
Step 1: Home Depot Orange
An intro to Ryder’s DIY philosophy