Thought for the Day—January 3, 2010

“After 20 years, I’m still getting paid to learn how to read, write, teach, and do philosophy.”

—RDG

Why New Year Resolutions May Be a Bad Idea

Are you thinking about New Year resolutions yet? If not, you’re running out of time. Tomorrow is Day 1 of the New Year.

Before you pull out that Moleskine and start scribbling out your list, consider the possibility that you should forgo making New Year resolutions. Here are some reasons why New Year resolutions may be a bad idea:

1. You set yourself up for feeling defeated. This happens more quickly if your resolutions impale you with the spear of a repeating event—something you have to do every day or once a month to accomplish what you’ve resolved to do.

What would I be if not a Philosopher?

Bill Valicella:

Philosophy for me is the unum necessarium. I cannot imagine who I would be were I not a philosopher.

Ad amussum (same here). Can there be any other way to be a philosopher than to be some person who cannot imagine who that person would be if that person were not a philosopher?