Philosophy on Daniel Lyons

What is The Neverending Story?

Thu, 09 Oct 2025 00:00:00 +0000

I had the pleasure of rewatching the movie The Neverending Story recently. I barely remember seeing portions of it as a very young child. Basically the only thing I remembered was the title and that there was a big flying dog-dragon thing. Obviously, with a title like that it begs the question Is it really a never-ending story? The surprising answer is actually yes, in a way it really is a never-ending story.

Reject Schadenfreude

Tue, 23 Sep 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Reject Schadenfreude. Despise it for the cancer that it is.

Oh trust me, I understand its allure. I’ve felt that ecstasy that can only be found in the swift vengeance of karma. I know that pleasant, tingling smile that I feel when I see a jerk on the road get pulled over. I’ve tasted that drug and delighted in its high. But I say no more. Withdrawal be damned.

Schadenfreude is a plague and deep down, you know it. It causes you to feel smug and better than the world, entitled, judgmental. Schadenfreude is destructive. It doesn’t bless, it doesn’t create, it doesn’t give. All it does is take. It is selfish. Schadenfreude is rot for the soul.

The Marxist, The Capitalist, and The Jealous

Fri, 15 Aug 2025 00:00:00 +0000

The Marxist looks at another who has what he envies
and says “What an injustice!
We workers of the world must unite.
We must seize the means of production
and distribute
from each according to his ability
and to each according to his needs.
And all will be right in the world
when the party rules
and everyone’s income is equal, (especially the party leaders).”

The Capitalist looks at another who has what he envies
and says “What an injustice!
We innovators of the world must compete.
We must acquire the means of profit
and capture
from each according to his exploitable value
and to each according to his discretionary income.
And all will be right in the world
when the rule is to party
and everyone’s belly is full, (especially the shareholders).”

On the Ambuguities of Sorry

Thu, 15 May 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Introduction

In the modern cultural landscape, few phrases are as scrutinized, debated, and often dismissed as the public apology. When a public figure faces backlash, warranted or not, the inevitable “sorry” statement often follows. Yet, these pronouncements frequently ring hollow, sounding more like carefully crafted PR than genuine contrition. This pervasive sense of inauthenticity highlights a deeper issue: the inherent ambiguity embedded within the word “sorry” itself. This ambiguity transforms apologies into a societal Rorschach test, fueling division and tribalism, and underscores a critical need for greater clarity in our language and interactions.