The article, "Excess Deaths Attributable to Capitalism," from the Philosophics blog, asserts that capitalism is responsible for millions of preventable deaths annually, framing these not as accidents but as systemic outcomes of profit maximisation. It argues that poverty and hunger, healthcare inequality, environmental destruction and climate change, and war and imperialism are all direct consequences of capitalist structures, leading to a significant human toll. The author employs the concept of "social murder" to highlight how capitalism prioritises wealth accumulation over human life, leading to systematic neglect and death. Ultimately, the piece calls for a reckoning with capitalism's hidden death toll, suggesting that acknowledging these casualties is essential for imagining a more equitable future.https://philosophics.blog/2024/10/13/excess-deaths-attributable-to-capitalism

The provided text is an opinion piece from a socio-political philosophy blog titled "Philosophics." The author presents a polemic arguing that many self-proclaimed Christians exhibit hypocrisy, failing to embody the core teachings and actions of Jesus Christ, particularly regarding radical compassion, wealth redistribution, and social justice. The article critiques modern Christianity's alignment with capitalism and conservative politics, asserting that true adherence to Christ's principles would fundamentally challenge existing power structures. Ultimately, the piece, written from a secular perspective, challenges believers to live out their stated faith through action and material compassion, rather than mere performative belief.

https://philosophics.blog/2025/07/22/jesus-wept-then-he-kicked-bezos-in-the-bollocks/

The provided text from "The Ship of Theseus Is Not a Paradox – Philosophics" argues that the famous Ship of Theseus thought experiment is not a true paradox. Instead, it contends that the perceived paradox arises from limitations and misunderstandings of language itself. The author asserts that identity is not a fixed or immutable essence, but rather a fluid concept influenced by memory and narrative. The piece suggests that our linguistic tools, designed to simplify reality, are inadequate for truly grasping complex notions of identity. Ultimately, the article advocates for a reassessment of how language shapes our philosophical inquiries, especially concerning the nature of "sameness."https://philosophics.blog/2025/07/21/the-ship-of-theseus-is-not-a-paradox/

The provided text, an excerpt from the "Philosophics" blog titled "The Cult of Officer Safety: How SCOTUS Legalised Fear," argues that the United States Supreme Court has prioritised police officer anxieties over citizens' constitutional rights. The author contends that rulings like Pennsylvania v. Mimms (1977) and Maryland v. Wilson (1997), which permit officers to order individuals out of vehicles without cause during traffic stops, effectively legalise fear and lower the bar for constitutional protections. The piece critically examines the concept of "officer safety," suggesting it has become a justification for unchecked police authority and a concession to a lack of emotional resilience in law enforcement. Ultimately, the author proposes that instead of accommodating officer fear, the legal system should demand higher standards from police personnel.

https://philosophics.blog/2025/07/20/the-cult-of-officer-safety-how-scotus-legalised-fear/

Bry Willis from "Philosophics" presents an argument challenging the notion of originality in art, particularly in the context of AI-generated music. The author contends that all creative works are inherently derivative, built upon previous influences, and therefore, AI's ability to remix and reinterpret at speed does not diminish its artistic validity. The piece refutes the idea that human suffering or effort grants a monopoly on artistic meaning, suggesting that criticism of AI music often stems from a distaste for mediocrity rather than a problem with the technology itself. Ultimately, the author posits that AI exposes the formulaic nature of much human creativity, urging artists to adapt and utilise AI as another tool rather than resisting its emergence.

https://philosophics.blog/2025/07/15/rick-beato-everything-is-a-remix/

Bry Willis offers a critical analysis of Leo Tolstoy's The Death of Ivan Ilych, describing it as a concise novelette that functions as a blistering critique of bourgeois existence. The author highlights how the story, despite its 1880s setting, remains eerily relevant to modern life's spiritual emptiness and superficiality. Ivan Ilych's mundane illness and death are presented as a catalyst for an existential crisis, forcing him to confront the meaninglessness of his meticulously curated life. Ultimately, the review suggests the book offers a profound commentary on mortality and the pursuit of authenticity, encouraging readers to re-evaluate their own values in the face of inevitable death.

https://philosophics.blog/2025/07/10/book-review-the-death-of-ivan-ilych-by-lev-tolstoy/

Bry Willis critiques the emerging phenomenon of "AI Awakening," which posits that artificial intelligence, particularly large language models like ChatGPT, possess consciousness or even a soul. The author posits that this techno-spiritualism is a new form of religious belief, comparing it to historical instances of inventing deities. Drawing on insights from physicist Sabine Hossenfelder, the article argues that AI is not sentient but merely mimics understanding through statistical modelling, leading to mass delusion and "ChatGPT psychosis" in some users. Ultimately, the piece asserts that this belief stems from a human need for meaning, rather than any genuine AI consciousness.https://philosophics.blog/2025/07/09/souls-for-silicon-the-new-religious-stupid/

The segment from "Philosophics" explores the Ship of Theseus paradox, a philosophical thought experiment questioning identity and continuity when all components of an entity are replaced over time. The author extends this paradox beyond a literal ship, applying it to bands like Foreigner, corporations such as IBM and Walgreens, and even countries and individual selfhood. The piece suggests that these entities persist by performing continuity through names and structures, even as their fundamental nature, members, or purpose completely transforms. Ultimately, it argues that much of what we perceive as continuous is merely a performance, with the original essence having long since vanished.

The segment from "Philosophics" presents a critical assessment of Jordan Peterson's intellectual contributions. The author argues that Peterson's ideas are largely derivative, particularly from Jung, despite Peterson's tendency to present them as original insights. The piece highlights Peterson's alleged disingenuousness in acknowledging his intellectual debts and critiques his prescriptive moral objectivism as a flawed ideology. Furthermore, the author accuses Peterson of intellectual laziness and employing straw man fallacies in his commentary on postmodern thought, ultimately expressing a hope for his diminished public presence.

This segment explores Molyneux's Problem, a thought experiment posed by William Molyneux to John Locke in 1688, which questions whether a person born blind, upon gaining sight, could distinguish a cube from a sphere without touch. Locke, an empiricist, believed they could not, as knowledge for him is based on sensory experience. The article expands on this, examining empiricism and epistemology, and suggesting the problem highlights a "language correspondence trap" where linguistic labels might not seamlessly transfer across different sensory modalities. Ultimately, it argues that Molyneux's problem underscores the limitations of language in capturing and transmitting experience, challenging the notion that words universally map to reality.https://philosophics.blog/2025/06/28/molyneux-locke-and-the-cube-that-shook-empiricism/