Radical PHI101

An Introduction to Philosophy (RLL style) Week 15 – Meaning of Life – Part 4: Did you make your bed?

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What if you only had a limited number of days left? Would you make them count? Every day, we live with death in the room, but instead of fearing it, we can use it to sharpen our lives. Making your bed existentially means living fully today—choosing presence, boldness, and engagement over procrastination and hesitation. Carpe diem isn’t about recklessness; it’s about living with courage. If today were your last clean page, would you have written something worth rereading?

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An Introduction to Philosophy (RLL style) Week 15 – Meaning of Life – Part 3: Who’s your hero?

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Sometimes, the most meaningful lives don’t look meaningful at all. It’s not about grand achievements or leaving a name etched in history—it’s about the impact we have on others. A kind word, a listening ear, a small act of care—it all adds up. What if the meaning of life isn’t about greatness, but about connection? George Bailey didn’t build an empire, but he changed lives just by being there. We all do, too, whether we notice it or not. So ask yourself: who will you help tomorrow—just by being you?

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An Introduction to Philosophy (RLL style) Week 15 – Meaning of Life – Part 2: Do you have any regrets?

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When we look back at our lives, what do we regret? It’s rarely what we’ve done—it’s what we haven’t. The chances we let slip away because we were waiting for a better time, more certainty, or permission. But the truth is, life doesn’t wait for us to catch up. It asks us to step through the doors it opens, even if we’re unsure. Would you recognize a “fast-pass” moment if it showed up today? Or would you let it pass, hoping for another one? It’s not about rushing—it’s about showing up.

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An Introduction to Philosophy (RLL style) Week 15 – Meaning of Life – Part 1: Introduction – How long do you want to live?

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We all know we’re going to die. It’s the one certainty in life. But what if we could live forever, like the immortal jellyfish? Would we want that? Would the urgency of living fade if time no longer had a limit? The real question isn’t how long we live, but how we live. Time is the one resource we can’t replace, and it’s up to us to make it count. What makes a life feel full? And if you knew your time was short, would you feel like you’d shown up for it?

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An Introduction to Philosophy (RLL style) Week 14 – Society 2 (Power) – Part 6: Brother, can you spare a dime?

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Wealth is never truly “self-made.” It’s built on collective effort, with thousands of workers – from the miners and builders to the teachers and drivers – creating the foundation for success. Elon Musk, or anyone at the top, owes their wealth to a system supported by the many, not just their personal genius. Wealth becomes structural when it grows beyond individual success, and as inequality grows, stability erodes. The real question isn’t about whether anyone deserves to be wealthy but about what responsibility comes with that wealth. When wealth is concentrated in outcome, how can we define ethical wealth as partnership, not charity? What happens when the permission for power is withdrawn?

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An Introduction to Philosophy (RLL style) Week 14 – Society 2 (Power) – Part 5: Would a woman wage war?

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The question “Would a woman wage war?” isn’t just about gender – it’s a reflection on the systems of power built by men who equate strength with dominance and leadership with conquest. Sexism and misogyny don’t just harm women; they limit the imagination of leadership itself. Empathy, nurturing, relational awareness – qualities devalued as “feminine” – are the traits needed to prevent conflict and sustain societies. When we exclude those voices from power, the results are predictable. The real question isn’t about whether women wage war, but what kind of leadership emerges when we stop confusing masculinity with authority?

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An Introduction to Philosophy (RLL style) Week 14 – Society 2 (Power) – Part 4: What color was Jesus?

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Racism is a divide and conquer strategy that keeps people fighting each other while the true power structures remain unchallenged. The question “What color was Jesus?” isn’t about historical facts—it’s about how we’ve used symbols and narratives to justify exclusion and dominance. Racism poisons solidarity, fractures trust, and distracts from who benefits from the chaos. It teaches us to fear one another while obscuring the real sources of power. And, in doing so, it leaves everyone more vulnerable to manipulation. So we ask, who benefits when we’re divided? What happens when we stop fighting each other and begin questioning the real holders of power?

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An Introduction to Philosophy (RLL style) Week 14 – Society 2 (Power) – Part 3: Did Dahmer deserve death?

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When a crime is monstrous, something deep inside us demands that justice be served. Retributive justice says the punishment should fit the crime, and for many, the death penalty feels like the only fitting response. But what happens when we cross that line? When we grant the state the authority to take life? Justice, after all, is not just about punishment—it’s about distribution. Who gets to decide? The same system that punishes often distributes suffering unevenly. The death penalty and incarceration disproportionately affect the poor and disenfranchised. This isn’t an accident. It’s a feature of who has power. As we reflect on justice, we must ask: Do we trust the deciders? Do we trust the system to get it right every time, especially when the stakes are irreversible?

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