“Crito, we owe a rooster to Asclepius. Please don’t forget to pay the debt,” were the last words spoken by Socrates. He said this shortly after ingesting poison hemlock in 399 BC, fulfilling the sentence handed down for allegedly corrupting the youth.
Asclepius was revered as the Greek deity of healing. One interpretation of Socrates’ final words suggests that he viewed death as a cure—or liberation—of the soul from its physical vessel. Another perspective is that he considered his demise as a remedy for the many afflictions facing Athens, including its decline following the Peloponnesian War defeat by Sparta.
Following Socrates’ execution, his followers found themselves at a loss. While Plato endeavored to explore and expand upon Socrates’ philosophies, leaving a significant mark on intellectual history, many of his other disciples fragmented into various sects, relegated to obscurity.
The Cynics, for instance, took Socrates’ teachings on the merits of a simple existence to extremes. Notably, Diogenes of Sinope made a name for himself by roaming the streets with a lantern in broad daylight, claiming to be searching for an honest man. Continue reading
Despite the innovations of technology like tablet phones and microwave kettle corn, fundamental evolutionary instincts remain entrenched in human nature. In moments of crisis, these instincts often overshadow rational thought. How else can we explain the seemingly irrational behaviors of modern individuals?
These primal responses may have been advantageous in eras when survival depended on quick reflexes. In desperate situations, a mere moment of indecision could mean the difference between life and death.
In today’s context, however, these outdated tendencies can become burdensome. For instance, instead of decelerating to prevent a bus from plunging off a cliff, a driver might mistakenly accelerate.
Recently, the European Central Bank (ECB) launched a mass monetary debasement initiative, committing to purchasing €60 billion ($66 billion) in European government bonds monthly, under the pretense that such measures would stimulate the economy. Continue reading
“I’m observing what seems to be a widespread case of arrested development in the American Dream,” wrote Hunter S. Thompson from San Francisco to a New York editor in the mid-1960s.
Fifty years later, the impact of this societal affliction is palpable across the American landscape. It’s nearly impossible to look around without noticing signs of decline—be it the prevalence of rudeness or individuals whose physique strains the limits of their sweatpants.
While it’s challenging to combat these trends, you can choose not to partake. Furthermore, there are strategies to make the best out of the situation.
This discussion is aimed at those who are patient and astute. If you identify as one of these rare individuals, you will find value—and potentially wealth—in what follows. Even if you struggle to hold onto a dollar, fearing it may slip through your fingers, you might still discover a clever opportunity to exploit.
Life is brief. Why not dare to engage in something enjoyable, profitable, and slightly unconventional? Continue reading
Financial markets can be bewildering. Anyone who has ever speculated on stock movements can attest to this. While predicting market directions is already challenging, pinpointing the exact timing of those movements is nearly impossible.
Retrospectively assigning causation and forecasting future trends rarely proves effective. Neither do attempts to analyze wave patterns and draw trend lines; eventually, those lines get broken. Then what?
The reality is that stocks fluctuate. They rise and fall, and sometimes they plunge further after an initial decline. The optimal time to buy can shift dramatically depending on the circumstances, rendering it wrong during other instances.
Take Southwest Airlines, for example. It was the leading performer in the S&P 500 last year with an incredible return of 124.63 percent. Yet as of May 14 of this year, it had dropped by 0.47 percent.
Interpret this information as you wish. However, based solely on wise judgment, it’s unlikely many investors bought shares of Southwest Airlines on January 1 and sold them on December 31, 2014. Such success would require not only savvy but also a generous stroke of luck. Continue reading
