No genuine choice is ever simply a matter of the arbitrary exercise of will. Take your choice of lunch today. You can't decide to want anything, but what you want will at least in part be a result of a series of other choices and judgments you've made in your life to date. Julian Baggini arbitrarychoicedate share on social
The modern believer is not suspicious enough, which is perhaps why, when they try to construct arguments in their defence, the convictions are left doing all the work and reason, debilitated by neglect, weakly fails to prop them up. Julian Baggini argumentbelieverconstruct share on social
Progress is more of a challenge for the cynic but also more important and urgent, since for the optimist things aren't that bad and are bound to get better anyway. Julian Baggini badbindchallenge Change image and share on social
As a teenager, I increasingly had questions about religion to which I found no good answers. Julian Baggini answerfindgood Change image and share on social
The border between the natural and the supernatural, religion and philosophy, may not always be clear. But there are lines, and we should know and accept which side of it we are on. Julian Baggini acceptborderclear Change image and share on social
We can't control whether we are rewarded for our endeavours, with cash or recognition. It is not up to us how much cash or time we get on Earth, but it is down to us how we spend it. Julian Baggini cashcontrolearth Change image and share on social
Indeed, without emotion it seems unlikely we can even have morality. Julian Baggini emotionmorality Change image and share on social
Love is indeed, at root, the product of the firings of neurons and release of hormones. Julian Baggini firinghormonelove Change image and share on social
Stress means something different if it is the result of rewarding work rather than struggling to keep the family out of debt. Julian Baggini debtfamilymean Change image and share on social
It may not have the virtuous ring of the golden rule, but the maxim 'never say never' is one of the most important in ethics. Julian Baggini ethicgoldenimportant Change image and share on social