Bravo! THIS is what the world needs right now to be freed of victim hood and empowered by the notion we control our own destiny. We wake every day with the power to make a difference in our own lives that will hopefully inspire others. Nothing worth getting was gained without pursuit. Thank you, Mr. Shermer. Your sound advice was life affirming and life changing.
It’s perhaps a glib summary, but i interpret much of this as validation of my strategy of being individual but also interacting with people. There are many forces out there discouraging me from that strategy; these tips suggest to me that I’m giving those forces too much of my attention. They also suggest that the people pressuring me to be less like me (tribalists who insist that others adopt their orthodoxies, people seduced by the victim habit, etc) aren’t making the healthiest choices.
These lessons, although previously learned throughout my life, i have like many others lost my way . This Final lecture is what I view as a final solution to my personal trials and tribulations which I , like so many, have played victim. Thank you for your guidance .
Nicely put, Michael. But almost all of these lessons and values are only sensible for people who want to be individuals, to embrace personal responsibility, and to rely on their own initiatives and efforts. Perhaps much of the tension in our society comes from frictions between individuality and rising collectives and tribes, with increasing calls for adherence to doctrine and submission to ideology.
I suppose this is nothing new, but IMO it does challenge the unique human experiment embodied in the Enlightenment. And it grates to see former champions of individualistic and critical thinking, like academia and certain political factions, become opponents of Enlightenment values.
Bravo! THIS is what the world needs right now to be freed of victim hood and empowered by the notion we control our own destiny. We wake every day with the power to make a difference in our own lives that will hopefully inspire others. Nothing worth getting was gained without pursuit. Thank you, Mr. Shermer. Your sound advice was life affirming and life changing.
Words of wisdom, from Michael Shermer! Thanks for sharing.
Outstanding piece, Michael. Thank you!
Fantastic!
Great summary of your positions expressed over the years with strong influences from classical liberalism and ancient stoicism.
Reminds me of my Creed: https://open.substack.com/pub/bijonbo/p/meaning?r=7wy32&utm_medium=ios&utm_campaign=post
Very helpful and wise. Big supporter here of Skeptic and your work.
It’s perhaps a glib summary, but i interpret much of this as validation of my strategy of being individual but also interacting with people. There are many forces out there discouraging me from that strategy; these tips suggest to me that I’m giving those forces too much of my attention. They also suggest that the people pressuring me to be less like me (tribalists who insist that others adopt their orthodoxies, people seduced by the victim habit, etc) aren’t making the healthiest choices.
These lessons, although previously learned throughout my life, i have like many others lost my way . This Final lecture is what I view as a final solution to my personal trials and tribulations which I , like so many, have played victim. Thank you for your guidance .
Clear & clean. Thank you Michael Shermer.
Well done, Michael. Good advice for anyone. I follow most of those guidelines.
Nicely put, Michael. But almost all of these lessons and values are only sensible for people who want to be individuals, to embrace personal responsibility, and to rely on their own initiatives and efforts. Perhaps much of the tension in our society comes from frictions between individuality and rising collectives and tribes, with increasing calls for adherence to doctrine and submission to ideology.
I suppose this is nothing new, but IMO it does challenge the unique human experiment embodied in the Enlightenment. And it grates to see former champions of individualistic and critical thinking, like academia and certain political factions, become opponents of Enlightenment values.
Incredible! Thank you so very much for putting your Ten Lessons out there...and get cracking on that book!