Trust in one another and in traditional institutions has eroded significantly—if it exists at all—and on this point, we must all agree. The challenge lies in the fact that, as philosopher and historian Yuval Noah Harari maintains, trust is a key element in the existence of human civilization. If t…
I recently overheard a woman recounting how, after talking for several hours with two other women she barely knew, the three of them became friends. The reason, she said, is surprisingly simple: each listened to the others without interruption or changing the subject.
During the conversation, the…
If we're honest, we must admit that in daily life we face challenges, problems, and situations to which we cannot respond because we cannot see them, both literally and figuratively. When that happens, what we see and what exists no longer align. The choices are to accept confusion or to activate cr…
The abundance of new laws, decrees, and ordinances at every level of government is a clear demonstration that the legal and judicial system is constantly playing catch-up in its effort to keep pace with the profound technological, social, and cultural changes of our time. At the same time, that …
For some time now, I have begun to feel that I experience and live time differently than I used to. This shift, however, is not related to my age, habits, or country of residence. My hypothesis (which I cannot yet fully prove) is that algorithms have altered our perception of time.
For countl…
Recently, I had the privilege of coordinating a community project that lasted several weeks. During the final gathering, we opened a space for participants to share their opinions and experiences regarding the project. An older woman immediately began to speak and, for the next 20 minutes, recou…
In the present context of endless conflicts at every level, the dissolution of social order, a crisis of meaning, and uncontrollable artificial intelligence, there can be little doubt that we humans are no longer who we once were and that we can no longer anticipate what we are becoming. Hence t…
Recently, I read a story (probably fictional) about the CEO of a company who keeps an empty chair beside his desk because his late brother was the company’s cofounder. Beyond this story, the empty chair appears independently in numerous cultures, religions, therapeutic practices, organizations, …
Our lives seem to oscillate between what we do every day because we cannot find a way to stop doing it and that which, although distant and poorly understood, appears as something both mysterious and transformative. Yet, as I see it, everyday life overwhelms us to such an extent that we often fail…
Human beings celebrate births, birthdays, and weddings, as well as graduations, promotions, and even championships. Countries also celebrate their independence days and their heroes. Some celebrations are repeated once a year, and others never occur. But what are we celebrating when we celebrate…
Recently, I decided to purchase a new version of a software program that I have been using on my computer for years. After completing the payment, I downloaded the new version, but when I tried to install it, I received a warning message informing me that the program contained a virus. I co…
In this time of transition from one historical era to another, when truth no longer seems to matter and, at the same time, nothing appears to carry enough gravity, in both senses of the word, and almost everything becomes superficial, I cannot help thinking about Metamorphoses (or The Golden Ass),…
Recently, on one of those afternoons when I wander aimlessly through the radio dial looking for something interesting to listen to in the car on my way home, I came across a conversation about The Name of the Rose, the well-known book by Italian philosopher and novelist Umberto Eco. Once I got h…
Recently, I ran into a problem that, I assumed, would be resolved quickly and easily within a few minutes. But it soon became clear that this would not be the case. After several unsuccessful attempts to solve the issue, I finally realized that I was trying to fix a problem that did not actually…
I still remember a time (actually, not that long ago) when these weekly commentaries were mostly based on topics that emerged from everyday events and experiences, such as a funny misunderstanding between two people because their cars looked almost identical, or a serious neighborhood mobilizati…
Recently, on my way to work, I passed by a neighbor’s house and noticed that, out front that morning, there was a huge waste container where two or three men were throwing away furniture, tools, decorations, electronic equipment, and many other items—all in good condition. The destination was ob…
A recently published paper in Cell Reports explored a question that sounds almost like science fiction, but it is not: Can the human brain begin to treat virtual wings as if they were part of the body? If so, is this experiment an anticipation of humanity moving into a virtual world?
In the e…
Dinosaurs ruled the Earth for hundreds of millions of years, and, according to one scientist, that reign still affects all human beings today in an incredible and almost unimaginable way: one of the direct consequences of the existence of dinosaurs is that humans have shorter lifespans than we o…
The request was clear and direct: “Please don’t talk about philosophy!” Then, as if to emphasize the urgency and importance of what she was asking, she added, “Philosophy is bad for my son!” And just in case I hadn’t understood, this mother continued, “Ever since my son started reading philosoph…
Last week, two people (a young man and an older woman) told me separately that they had lived for a long time inside “a bubble.” Life circumstances (an unexpected and positive trip for the young man, a tragic loss for the woman) led them to leave that “bubble.” Many others, however, never do.
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