Category Archives: Philosophy

Death, Grief, and Disappointment

Posted on February 25, 2019 by jackpelham

This article is in honor of the anniversary (yesterday) of the death of our daughter, Virginia Grace Pelham, born with Trisomy-18 on February 3, 2006.  She died 21 days later, having lived out the time that her malformed body was … Continue reading →

Posted in Character, Philosophy, Religion | Leave a comment

The Allure of Compromise and Its Failure To Keep Its Promises

Posted on September 21, 2016 by jackpelham

One friend’s teenage son complains that there ought to be some “middle ground” between the uber-healthy foods his mom provides, and the convenient, tasty, and unhealthy snacks he finds at his friends’ houses.  This idea of a “middle ground” has … Continue reading →

Posted in Character, Philosophy | Leave a comment

On The Need For Language

Posted on March 27, 2015 by jackpelham

The more use one has for communicating ideas and comparisons and contrasts, the more use one has for language.  Those who do not learn their own languages to a high degree are those who have no use for it at … Continue reading →

Posted in Activism, Character, Philosophy | Leave a comment

Impossibility

Posted on March 27, 2015 by jackpelham

In the entire history of the Planet Earth, not once has any person done an impossible thing. The truth of that statement should be self evident. The real trick is in figuring out what it should mean for us. For … Continue reading →

Posted in Philosophy, Religion, Science | Leave a comment

All-Or-Nothing Judgments About Ourselves and Others Are a Bad Idea

Posted on March 26, 2015 by jackpelham

Everybody knows that Joseph Stalin was infamous as “the Butcher” who directed the slaughter of 25 million people during his reign, but who knows that he would regularly and lovingly spend hour after hour with his daughter, Svetlana, listening to … Continue reading →

Posted in Character, Philosophy, Politics, Religion | Leave a comment

Voices of Reason Doing More Harm than Good

Posted on January 8, 2015 by jackpelham

It does very little good to attempt to be a voice of reason in a society that is not given to sound reasoning.  In fact, in an irrational culture such as ours, reasonable commentary on particular points of religious or … Continue reading →

Posted in Activism, Character, Philosophy, Politics, Religion | Leave a comment

You Are Only Half Right About Bias

Posted on July 19, 2013 by jackpelham

bi’·as noun an inclination of temperament or outlook; especially : a personal and sometimes unreasoned judgment : prejudice ——————————— I observe that you are only half right about bias, friend.  You are spot on with what you think already, but … Continue reading →

Posted in Character, Dysrationalia, Philosophy | Leave a comment

What is My “World View”?

Posted on July 6, 2013 by jackpelham

Every once in a while, someone inquires about my “world view”.   Here it is: There is nothing unreal in the entire known Universe, with the one exception of what happens in the imaginations of humans. Humans often get trapped in … Continue reading →

Posted in Activism, Character, Consumerism, Dysrationalia, Economy, Ethics, Fallacy, History, Logic, Paradigms, Pelham's Laws, Philosophy, Politics, Religion, Science | 1 Comment

Where Lies the Bulk of Human Evils

Posted on June 30, 2013 by jackpelham

It is my observation that the bulk of human evils lies in the taking of that which does not really belong to the taker.  Let me count the ways: Taking conclusions, opinions, or beliefs that are not fairly derived from … Continue reading →

Posted in Character, Dysrationalia, Logic, Paradigms, Philosophy, Religion | Leave a comment

How I Beat Advanced Spider Solitaire a Bajillion Times and What It Means for the Rest of My Life

Posted on June 22, 2013 by jackpelham

Whooda thunkit, but I learned some invaluable life lessons from a solitaire card game that came preloaded on my computer! The game is Spider Solitaire (advanced 4-suit version) and if you don’t know it, don’t worry; I won’t bore you … Continue reading →

Posted in Character, Dysrationalia, Paradigms, Philosophy, Politics, Religion | 1 Comment