Tag: way it’s been

“That’s an Appeal to Authority!” No. It Isn’t.

Name a fallacy, win the argument. That is the ritual, and it is nonsense. This essay takes apart the most abused phrase in modern discourse: the reflexive charge of "appeal to authority." It traces what Locke actually meant by argumentum ad verecundiam, lays out the narrow and specific conditions under which the fallacy is real, and explains why citing Einstein on physics is not one of them. It also gives the skeptics their due, because institutional authority has earned suspicion. But the answer to unreliable experts is getting better at evaluating them, not declaring all expertise fallacious. Featuring the fallacy fallacy, Schopenhauer being characteristically ruthless, and a direct answer to the most common objection to "Not All Opinions Are Created Equal."

13 Things You Should Give Up If You Want To Be Successful, And What Each One Actually Costs You

Originally appearing on Medium.com, '13 Things You Should Give Up If You Want To Be Successful' by Zdravko Bato Cvijetic is a MUST READ and now it is proudly part of my #requiredreading list. Below is the pithy list but trust me, not only should you read the entire essay, you should soak it up and make it a part of who you are.

You Can’t Steal an Idea. So Why Can You Own One?

If I steal your car, you no longer have a car. If I steal your idea, you still have it, which means theft and copying were never the same act, no matter what patent law assumes. This essay traces that distinction into the price of medicine, gives the honest incentive argument for patents its full due, and shows where it stops holding up, using publicly funded research, generic drug pricing, and entire industries that already innovate just fine without any legal monopoly at all.

You Are the Rich Person in This Argument

We treat "tax the rich" as self-evident. It is not. This essay states the honest case for progressive taxation before taking it apart, traces just how recent and contested the modern income tax actually is, and lands on a simpler argument: if you believe the wealthy should give more, you already know one, by any honest global standard. Featuring a citation-backed nod to the strongest form of the opposing case, instead of a strawman.

Compete Against Yourself Today. Tomorrow, You Will Defeat A Lesser Foe

Max Ehrmann warned us in 1927. If you compare yourself with others, you may become vain and bitter. He was right. The only competition that has ever made sense is you versus yourself from yesterday.

History Is a Theory. Start Treating It Like One.

History is presented as fact. It is not. It is a collection of theories, interpretations, and narratives shaped by the same flawed, self-interested humans who run the world today. If we can watch governments manipulate the record in real time in 2026, it is naive to think it was any different a thousand or five thousand years ago. This essay argues that dead languages cannot be definitively translated, that archaeological certainty is constantly being revised, and that even events captured on video remain disputed. Intellectual honesty about the past is not cynicism. It is simply the truth.

Not All Opinions Are Created Equal

We live in a world that treats all opinions as equal. They are not. This essay makes the case that expertise matters, that direct experience outweighs uninformed confidence, and that the willingness to ask 'what does this person actually know, and why?' is one of the most underrated habits in modern life. Featuring a hard look at how we evaluate polarizing public figures, and a simple framework for thinking more honestly about whose opinion deserves your attention.

You Think Gas Cars Are Better Than Electric. You Are Wrong.

I have been a Tesla owner since 2021 and investor since 2013, and here I argue against common objections to electric vehicles (EVs) based on a decade of experience. I emphasize the safety and efficiency of Teslas over gas vehicles, refuting claims about battery issues and charging times. I invite readers to engage with my AI agent for more insights!

Marriage Advice: Three Dates Per Month

Discussing the importance of intentionally scheduling time with your spouse to strengthen your marriage, introducing the concept of Three Dates Per Month. By designating one breakfast, one lunch, and one dinner date each month, couples can ensure they prioritize their relationship amidst life's demands, fostering connection and anticipation.

Three Poems That Keep Me Sane: What’s Hanging on My Office Wall (And Why) Part 1

Three poems hang on the wall of my office: If by Rudyard Kipling, Desiderata by Max Ehrmann, and Invictus by William Ernest Henley. I have read each of them hundreds of times and I will read each of them hundreds more. Below them on the couch sit my kids' Squishmallows, which somehow makes the whole thing better. This essay is about why these three poems are on my wall, what each one means to me, and why I think you should put them on yours too.