The Dictionary of Relations created by Tsai Hsin-yun is a philosophical work of art, and more specifically, a phenomenological work of art, since indeed its aim is to mirror the necessary structure of subjective experience. In this way, it belongs in the same category as Sartre’s Nausea or Koltès’ In the Solitude of Cotton Fields. Yet, there is one crucial difference: it does not practice…
by Pierrick Simon (1 766 words) Willem van de Velde II (1633-1707) - Ships in a Storm “All-Divine have mercy! All-Divine have mercy!” frantically the two men prayed, swaying back and forth in their hiding spot. “ You two! Stop praying! It’s bad for morale!” yelled the Captain at the top of her lungs. No easy feat to be heard in the middle of the tempest rocking her ship. “ But… But… It’s a True…
Introducing new words into our vocabulary allows us to describe certain patterns of behaviour more effectively, but also to notice these patterns in the first place. Think, for example, of the effectiveness of the neologisms “mansplaining” or “sonder”. Words are so powerful that it is worthwhile to not limit ourselves to what is already in the dictionary. Instead we should dare to coin new terms…
In April 2026, I turned to Mengzi for wisdom. He was a Chinese Confucian philosopher who believed that human nature is fundamentally good. Like all Confucians, he believed that the observance of ritual was necessary to develop virtues, but he distinguished himself by stating explicitly and encouragingly that the cultivation of virtue was the realization of our kind-hearted human nature. For this…
This is a small tribute I wrote on Bluesky and copied here. If it reads like a "thread" that's why; but I wanted to save it somewhere. Ilsetraut Hadot died recently. She was a key, yet often-forgotten, figure in Philosophy as a Way of Life (PWL) studies. Her PhD thesis on Seneca and Spiritual Guidance anticipated the work of her husband Pierre Hadot, whom she greatly influenced. It seems that the…
In March 2026, I practiced a form of contemplative meditation called “the Cloud of Unknowing”, described in a work of the same name, which was penned by an anonymous author in the 14 th century. The book and the meditation is an exercise in Christian mysticism. The strong Christian flavour of this activity made it challenging for me to get into it. At the same time, I think I should credit this…
By nature, I am a very anxious person. By training, I am pretty chill. I credit mindfulness meditation for giving me the option to live a different life. A life that is not completely consumed by my fears. I write this blog post with the same urgency I felt when I wrote “Fighting anxiety like my life depends on it” or my mindfulness-related 2025 New Year’s resolutions : the sense that I ought to…
by Pierrick Simon (1 255 words) Napoleon's Death Mask (black and white) A hound startled by its own prey. This was Hamlet’s countenance upon passing through the secret doorway. In stupor, he forgot where he was off to and, in that place, what he was meaning to do. There was no discretion in the way he stumbled into the chamber; with a long noble sword by his side and shaky hands. So, looking at…
In February 2026, I did my best to learn the True Names of all manner of things. With this admittedly strange phrase, I am referring to an exercise inspired by Ursula K. Le Guin’s A Wizard of Earthsea. In this story, a master wizard shows the main character a humble little plant and says: “ When you know the fourfoil in all its seasons root and leaf and flower, by sight and scent and seed, then…
For a while now, but especially in January 2026, I have been indulging in the pleasures of bird-watching. It is simply amazing. It’s been a constant and easily accessible source of awe & wonder. Many people have described the philosophical and spiritual relevance of this activity, and I would like to add my voice to this chorus. In my opinion, bird-watching is an exercise in the dynamic nature of…
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