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Timeline

The Natural Philosophy Timeline

By Michael Alan Prestwood
Great thinkers, their ideas, and publications
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Philosophy TL: ALL > Big Picture > 2. Ideas > 3. Philosophers > 4. Publications

ALL Edition: Includes all entries minus descriptions for the great philosophers and their ideas and publications. This timeline focuses on the empirical, rational, and irrational as well as understanding their philosophical context. Philosophical context includes understanding the timing of discoveries and rediscoveries as well as the philosophers behind them and their publications. For the companion timeline for the book: “30 Philosophers: A New Look at Timeless Ideas,” go to Book Timeline: 30 Philosophers.

The Natural Philosophy Timeline

13.8 Billion Years Ago
Verified. Empirically supported and rationally deduced.
Big Bang Expansion
Big Bang Expansion
NASA/WMAP Science Team, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
How predetermined are our choices?
Free Will
Free Will
Free Will: two general types. Determinism says everything that happens is set in stone and can't be changed; in contrast, indeterminism says people and animals make choices.
Our true origin story.
Evolution
Evolution
Darwin identified several key categories, which are often discussed today as natural selection, sexual selection, and artificial selection.
What separates humans from animals.
Cultural Transmission
Cultural Transmission
13.7 Billion Years Ago
Verified. Empirically supported and rationally deduced.
First Atoms
Molecules or atom isolated on blue background
Molecules or atom isolated on blue background
13.6 Billion Years Ago
Verified. Empirically supported and rationally deduced.
Population III Stars: Heavier Elements
NOIRLab/NSF/AURA/J. da Silva/Spaceengine, CC BY 4.0 , via Wikimedia Commons
NOIRLab/NSF/AURA/J. da Silva/Spaceengine, CC BY 4.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0>, via Wikimedia Commons
4.6 Billion Years Ago
Verified. Empirically supported and rationally deduced.
Birth of the Sun
Epic sun surface flare prominence solar system
Epic sun surface flare prominence solar system
4.5 Billion Years Ago
Verified. Empirically supported and rationally deduced.
Earth is Born
Solar system planets set. The Sun and planets in a row on univer
Solar system planets set. The Sun and planets in a row on univer
4.48 Billion Years Ago
4.49 to 4.6 Billion Years Ago
First Atmosphere: Hydrogen & Helium
First Atmosphere: Hydrogen & Helium
3.75 Billion years ago (+/- 100 million)
DNA, Ribosomes, and ATP
LUCA: Last Universal Common Ancestor
LUCA: Last Universal Common Ancestor
LUCA's form is unknown. Imagined image of various LUCA shapes.
2.4 Billion Years Ago (+/- 300 million years)
The First True Eukaryotes
The First True Eukaryotes
Eukaryotes divided labor within single-celled life, featuring a true nucleus and membrane-bound organelles. From them branched plants, fungi, and animals.
1.65 Billion Yeas Ago (+/- 50 million)
Life that later leads to these kingdoms separates.
Plant Ancestors Split from Animal and Fungi Ancestors
Plant Ancestors Split from Animal and Fungi Ancestors
Plant cells feature chloroplasts, a cellulose cell wall, and a large central vacuole for holding water. They also have plasmodesmata, tiny channels between cells. And of course, photosynthetic chlorophyll.
18 Million Years Ago, ± 3 million years
Causal reasoning, Early prefrontal integration
Great Apes: Medicine Emerges
Great Apes: Medicine Emerges
16.5 Million Years Ago (+/- 2 Million Years)
Tool potential begins, Neocortical expansion
Emergence of the Great Apes (Great Apes LCA)
Emergence of the Great Apes (Great Apes LCA)
Imagined image: Circa 18 million years ago, the Proconsul, an inhabitant of the Miocene forests, stands as a landmark in the evolutionary journey toward self-awareness. Here a Proconsul ponders his image in a local watering hole.
7.5 Million Years Ago
Advanced coalition politics and tool precursors
Chimpanzees Branch Off (CHLCA)
Chimpanzees Branch Off (CHLCA)
"<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/23165290@N00/7283201268" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Sahelanthropus tchadensis adult male - head model - Smithsonian Museum of Natural History - 2012-05-17</a>" by <a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/23165290@N00" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Tim Evanson</a> is licensed under <a href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">CC BY-SA 2.0</a>
3.3 Million BCE (Hominins)
Prefrontal Cortex Expansion, Internal 3D modeling
Early Stone Tools
Early Stone Tools
3.3 Million Years Ago
Collective Learning Emerges
Collective Learning Emerges
Collective learning, where a parent teaches a child, started long before primates, but something like our modern approach to showing our young how to live likely started about 3 million years ago, perhaps wit a species like australopithecus in a place like Kenya, Africa.
2 Million Years Ago (Up to about 15,000 years ago)
Olduvai Gorge Site: A Glimpse into Early Organizational Behavior
Olduvai Gorge Site: A Glimpse into Early Organizational Behavior
Step back 800,000 years to the lush landscapes of Olduvai Gorge, Tanzania, where early humans pioneered the art of tool-making. This vivid scene captures a bustling workshop set among distinctive tuff cones and sedimentary pillars. Observe groups of early Homo species as they skillfully craft stone tools.
1.76 Million BCE
Hand Axe
Hand Axe
Hand axes: Humans started using them nearly 2 million years ago. These meticulously crafted tools exemplify the advanced technological skills and cognitive capabilities of early humans. Its sophisticated design and precise craftsmanship underscore a deep understanding of material properties and tool use.
790,000 BCE
Genus Homo
Fire-Altered Stone Tools
Fire-Altered Stone Tools
"<a href="https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=55942692" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">File:Flint tools, Numbers 41-64 (Top left to bottom right) (FindID 132815).jpg</a>" by The Portable Antiquities Scheme, Adam Daubney, 2006-05-17 10:54:28 is licensed under <a href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">CC BY-SA 2.0</a>
Circa 640,000 Years Ago
Homo heidelbergensis on Earth from about 640,000 to 200,000 BCE.
Homo heidelbergensis
Homo heidelbergensis
Imagined image depicting two Homo heidelbergensis individuals at different stages of their evolutionary timeline. The first individual represents what they might have looked like around 650,000 years ago, and the second shows them around 440,000 years ago, just before the transition towards Homo sapiens and Neanderthals.
440,000 Years Ago (+/- 40,000 years)
Neanderthal-Sapien LCA
Neanderthal-Sapien LCA
Imagined image: Homo sapiens (center) might be a hybrid of two extict human species: Homo heidelbergensis and Homo antecessor. Left is heidelbergensis with its protruding jaw. Right is antessor with his small brain and flatter face.
350,000 BCE
400,000 to 300,000 BCE
Oldest Surviving Spear
Oldest Surviving Spear
300,000 BCE
Africa; 300,000 to 500,000 years ago
Venus of Tan-Tan
Venus of Tan-Tan
"<a href="https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=72180942" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Museo de la Evolucion Humana Burgos - Tan Tan and Berekhat Ram Pebbles</a>" by Own work is licensed under <a href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">CC BY-SA 4.0</a>
Before 290,000 BCE
Hominins; 290,000 to 700,000 years ago
Bhimbetka Petroglyphs, Cupules
Bhimbetka Petroglyphs, Cupules
Cave are found in central India dated back to 290 thousand years ago has significant implications for the evolution of the human brain.
275,000 BCE
Adam: Haplogroup A
Adam: Haplogroup A
Imagined image: Homo sapien couple, circa 275,000 years ago. Even as early as this, humans all over Africa, the Middle East, Europe, and Asia essentially looked like we look now.
175,000 BCE
200,000 to 150,000 BCE
Eve: Haplogroup L
Eve: Haplogroup L
Imagined image: Homo sapien couple, circa 175,000 years ago. By this time, humans all over Africa, the Middle East, Europe, and Asia essentially looked like we look now.
125,000 BCE
125,000 to 60,000 BCE
Seasonal Settlements at Klasies River Caves
Seasonal Settlements at Klasies River Caves
76,000 BCE
Earliest Known Prepared Burial, “Mtoto”
Earliest Known Prepared Burial, “Mtoto”
75,000 BCE
Blombos Cave Engravings
Blombos Cave Engravings
"<a href="https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=110908714" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Blombo</a>" by Chris S. Henshilwood is licensed under <a href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">CC BY-SA 4.0</a>
70,000 BCE
2,800 Generations Ago
“The” Human DNA
Spiral strands of DNA on the dark background
Spiral strands of DNA on the dark background
70,000 BCE
2,880 Generations Ago
Oldest Known Bracelet
Oldest Known Bracelet
By 70,000 BCE
World Population: 1.5 Million
World Population: 1.5 Million
Before 64000 BCE
Upper Paleolithic
Neanderthal Art: Symbolic Thought
Neanderthal Art: Symbolic Thought
Neanderthal art in Spain 64k BCE, before Homo sapien arrived.
50,000 BCE
Speculative: 20 to more than 50 thousand years ago.
Cuban Underwater City: More Research Needed
Cuban Underwater City: More Research Needed
48,000 BCE (+/- 2,000 years)
Neanderthal Rope!
Neanderthal Rope!
Neanderthals made rope by 48,000 BCE indicating the raw cognitive abilities likely evolved on our common ancestor 440,000 years ago.
42,200 BCE
44,200 to 43,000 years old according to 24 radiocarbon tests
Lebombo bone: First Lunar Phase Counter
Lebombo bone: First Lunar Phase Counter
The Lebombo Bone was potentially used as a lunar phase counter or a simple tally stick. The series of notches may represent a lunar calendar, which would imply that early humans were tracking lunar phases for either ritualistic purposes or as a practical method for keeping time, possibly related to menstrual cycles or seasonal changes.
circa 41,900 BCE
Sulawesi Cave Art
Sulawesi Cave Art
"<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/40295335@N00/4409150010" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Cave painting of wild pig, Leang-Leang, South Sulawesi</a>" by <a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/40295335@N00" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Joel Abroad</a> is licensed under <a href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/2.0/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">CC BY-NC-SA 2.0</a>
circa 40,000 BCE
Spain & France
Upper Paleolithic Cave Art with Symbols
Upper Paleolithic Cave Art with Symbols
"<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/50193753@N02/5961953059" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Lascaux II - Hall of The Bulls</a>" by <a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/50193753@N02" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Adibu456</a> is licensed under <a href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/2.0/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">CC BY-NC 2.0</a>
38,000 BCE
38,000 to 33,000 BCE
Venus of Hohle Fels
Ramessos, CC BY-SA 3.0 , via Wikimedia Commons
Venus of Hohle Fels figurine (height 6 cm (2.4 in)), which may have been worn as an amulet and is the earliest known, undisputed example of a depiction of a human being in prehistoric art.
38,000 BCE
38,000 to 33,000 BCE
Bone Flute
Bone Flute
30,000 BCE
Chauvet Cave Paintings
Chauvet Cave Paintings
"<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/78953420@N00/988861704" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Chavet cave horses</a>" by <a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/78953420@N00" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">jimforest</a> is licensed under <a href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/2.0/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">CC BY-NC-ND 2.0</a>
30,000 BCE
29 to 32 thousand years ago.
Czeck: Dolní Věstonice Community
Czeck: Dolní Věstonice Community
Around 30,000 years ago, the Dolní Věstonice community in the Czech Republic thrived. They built huts from mammoth bones and animal hides, crafted ceramic figurines, and engaged in hunting and daily activities.
30,000 BCE
32,000 Years Ago
Sunghir Burial Site
Sunghir Burial Site
28,000 BCE
28,000 to 21,000 BCE
Advanced Sewing Needles
Advanced Sewing Needles
20,000 BCE
From circa 20,000 to 3,000 BCE
Seasonal Settlements at Franchthi Cave
Seasonal Settlements at Franchthi Cave
18,000 BCE
15 to 20 Thousand Years Agao
Ukraine: Mezhyrich Community
Ukraine: Mezhyrich Community
Mezhyrich archaeological site, 15 to 20 thousand years ago.
circa 14,800 BCE
Seasonal Settlements at Monte Verde
Seasonal Settlements at Monte Verde
circa 13000 BCE
The Clovis Culture
The Clovis Culture
"<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/76340031@N02/26453695844" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Edge of the Cedars State Park Museum</a>" by <a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/76340031@N02" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">BLMUtah</a> is licensed under <a href="https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">CC PDM 1.0</a>
Before 14,400 BCE
Middle East
The Invention of Bread
Assortment of baked bread
Assortment of baked bread
circa 11,500 BCE
Evidence of farming: rye seeds
Tell Abu Hureyra
Tell Abu Hureyra
9,700 BCE
Start of "our" Holocene geological epoch
Neolithic Revolution
Trevethy Quoit a Portal Dolmen in Cornwall
Trevethy Quoit a Portal Dolmen in Cornwall
Start of heyday: circa 9600 BCE
Initial construction circa 11,000 BCE (13,000 years ago)
Göbekli Tepe Culture (11000 BCE to 8000 BCE)
Göbekli Tepe Culture (11000 BCE to 8000 BCE)
Before 9000 BCE
Mexico
Corn
Glass Gem Flint Corn
Glass Gem Flint Corn
before 9000 BCE
Plaster Invented
wall, decay, plaster
Photo by <a href="https://pixabay.com/users/rikwebco-452946/?utm_source=instant-images&utm_medium=referral" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">rikwebco</a> on <a href="https://pixabay.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Pixabay</a>
9000 BCE
Jericho Founded
St Geaorge Monastery Desert
St Geaorge Monastery Desert
circa 8000 BCE
China
The Domestication of Rice
Bali Rice Fields
Bali Rice Fields
8000 BCE
Genetic Mutation from the Neolithic Era
Phenotype Variation: Blue Eyes
Photo of Woman With Blue Eyes and Black Hair
Photo by <a href="https://www.pexels.com/@valeriya?utm_source=instant-images&utm_medium=referral" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Valeria Boltneva</a> on <a href="https://pexels.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Pexels</a>
circa 8000 BCE (speculative)
Under Investigation: Yonaguni Monument
Yonaguni Monument Terraces midpart NWW
Yonaguni Monument Terraces midpart NWW
Circa 8000-7000 BCE
Fuxi (伏羲)
Fuxi (伏羲)
Fuxi, showing multiple possible portraits representing what Fuxi might have looked like. The scene includes ancient Chinese architecture, cultural elements, and symbols of his contributions, such as the creation of humanity, the invention of writing, and teaching people to fish and hunt.
Circa 8000-7000 BCE
Nüwa (女娲)
Nüwa (女娲)
Nüwa, showing multiple possible portraits representing what Nüwa might have looked like. The scene includes ancient Chinese architecture, cultural elements, and symbols of her contributions, such as the creation of mankind and repairing the pillar of heaven.
circa 7200 BCE
Jordan
Ain Ghazal Statues: Early Plaster Art
Ain Ghazal Statues: Early Plaster Art
7,100 BCE
7,100 to 5,700 BCE
City of Catalhoyuk
City of Catalhoyuk
circa 7000 BCE
9,000 Years Ago
Beer, Ale, Wine
glass of beer, sausages and bread on the table
glass of beer, sausages and bread on the table
7000 BCE
7000-6001 BCE
Neolithic Symbols: China
Neolithic Symbols: China
Potential earliest writing in Asian zone: the Oracle Bone Script is oldest confirmed symbols. Scientists are still going through a process to verify whether they are proto-writing or a writing system. If we can discover some intermediate links, we can firm up these symbols as early writing. 
Before 5500 BCE
Poland
Cheese
Delicious Cheese board. Assortment of cheese, camembert, brie, Gorgonzola, parmesan, olives
Delicious Cheese board. Assortment of cheese, camembert, brie, Gorgonzola, parmesan, olives
circa 5,260 BCE
7,260 Years Ago
Dispilio Tablet: European Proto-Writing
Dispilio Tablet: European Proto-Writing
This ancient wooden tablet, etched with intricate symbols, dates back over 7,000 years, making it one of the oldest examples of proto-writing ever found.
4900 BCE
Up to 7,900 Years Ago (Neolithic)
Vinor Circular Building: a roundel
Vinor Circular Building: a roundel
Roundel, the Vinor Circular Building, featuring a modest height typical of Neolithic construction, a thatched roof, and entrances appropriate for the time. The image includes a cutaway to reveal the interior details.
3500 BCE
Man Made Glass
blue green and red heart shaped stone
3400 BCE
3400 BCE to 100 CE (end of use for scholarly work)
Cuneiform Writing
Cuneiform Writing
3000 BCE
South America: 5,000 Years Ago
Fuente Magna Bowl: Forgery or Real?
Fuente Magna Bowl: Forgery or Real?
"<a href="https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=77550391" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Bed965fdf8aa813b97735ea21a0e3cfc(1)</a>" by none is licensed under <a href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">CC BY-SA 4.0</a>
circa 2800 BCE
The Divine Farmer
Shennong (神农)
Shennong (神农)
Shennong showing multiple possible portraits representing what Shennong might have looked like. The scene includes ancient Chinese architecture, cultural elements, and symbols of his contributions, such as teaching agriculture and herbal medicine, set against a harmonious landscape with fields, crops, medicinal plants, and early farming practices.
King of Uruk
Gilgamesh, circa 2700 BCE
Gilgamesh, circa 2700 BCE
circa 2650 BCE (+/- 50 years)
The Yellow Emperor (Huangdi)
The Yellow Emperor (Huangdi)
Ancient China during the time of the Yellow Emperor, featuring various possible portraits of what he might have looked like, along with symbolic representations of Yin and Yang, traditional architecture, and a harmonious landscape.
circa 2600 BCE
The Wise King
King Shuruppak
King Shuruppak
No images of King Shuruppak exist. The best we can do is reimagine known aspects of Sumerian culture. This is a ziggurat typical of the time: one per each of the 30+ cities.
circa 2600 BCE
Indus Valley Script: Northwest India
Indus Valley Script: Northwest India
"<a href="https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=5243844" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">File:Indus seal impression.jpg</a>" by <a href="https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:IndusValleySeals.JPG" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">PHGCOM IndusValleySeals.JPG</a> is licensed under <a href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">CC BY-SA 3.0</a>
A network of ideas.
New Look
Knowledge Framework
Knowledge Framework
Knowledge frameworks are the mind’s filing system. They do not just store information—they shape how we sort ideas, test claims, and decide what deserves belief.
The what, why, and how of life.
Philosophy
Philosophy
Before 1900 BCE
Mesoamerica
Chocolate
Cocoa powder and cocoa beans
Cocoa powder and cocoa beans
1755 BCE
Code of Hammurabi
Code of Hammurabi
1,700 BCE
148 Generations Ago
Rigveda Samhita, Veda Book 1 of 4
Rigveda Samhita, Veda Book 1 of 4
By 1600 BCE
Dragons: Early Dinosaur Fossils
Dragons: Early Dinosaur Fossils
Mythical Creatures and Fossil Discoveries: The Roots of Ancient Legends. Many various ancient mythical creatures were likely inspired by fossil discoveries including Chinese dragons, Greco-Roman giants, griffins, cyclopes, and other mythical beasts.
1344 BCE
circa 1340 to 1320 BCE
Oldest Known Monotheistic Religion: Atenism
Oldest Known Monotheistic Religion: Atenism
In the ninth year of the reign of Akhenaten, he declared the traditional supreme God Aten to be the only God of Egypt with himself as the sole communicator to Aten. About the image: Akhenaton and Nefertiti seated, holding 3 of their daughters.
1100 BCE (+/- 300 years)
125 Generations Ago
Major Religion: Hinduism
Major Religion: Hinduism
Hinduism, one of the world's oldest religions, emerged around 1100 BCE, several centuries after the Indus Valley Civilization collapsed. Hinduism has no known roots in the IVC, but it's a topic to follow as we uncover clues.
circa 800 BCE
Gargi Vachaknavi
Hindu god Ganesha on white wooden table. Candles on background
Hindu god Ganesha on white wooden table. Candles on background
The Nature of Being.
We are more than self-aware.
Ontology
Ontology
Who you are is partly given, but who you become is always unfolding.
Nature is the master plan.
Holism
Holism
624 BCE
Circa 624-546 BCE
The Birth of Logic
The Birth of Logic
Early or "First" Science
The Grandfather of Western Philosophy
Thales of Miletus (624 – 546 BCE)
Thales of Miletus (624 – 546 BCE)
Built circa 700 BCE, destroyed 612 BCE.
Library of Ashurbanipal
Library of Ashurbanipal
A conservative recreation of the exterior of the Library of Ashurbanipal, illustrating the architectural style of ancient Assyrian buildings. The image depicts a grand structure on a raised platform, adorned with carvings and motifs characteristic of Assyrian art. While the depiction includes speculative elements, such as the building's size and detailed adornments, it aims to capture the historical significance and imposing presence of this legendary library in the heart of Nineveh.
b. circa 604 BCE
By tradition, 604-517 BCE
Laozi
Laozi
Laozi or Lou Tzu (604-517 BCE). Founder of Daoism, aka Taoism. The life of Laozi is shrouded in mystery, but he is the first philosopher in “30 Philosophers” that attempts to construct a precise biography.
600 BCE
Spherical Earth
Realistic Earth Planet against the the star sky
Realistic Earth Planet against the the star sky
600 BCE
New Look
New Look: The Flood Stories
New Look: The Flood Stories
The Great Flood myths: Sumerian and the biblical story of Noah's Ark.
Go with the flow of nature.
Wu-wei or “non-action”
Wu-wei or “non-action”
Let life unfold organically.
Ziran, Authenticity, or Authentic Self
Ziran, Authenticity, or Authentic Self
A good life is a balanced life.
Yin and Yang
Yin and Yang
We can only describe nature.
Unknowable Dao
Unknowable Dao
The Unknowable Dao reminds us that when we define something too tightly, we risk mistaking our description for the thing itself.
Pythagoreanism
Father of Mathematics
Pythagoras (570-495 BCE)
Pythagoras (570-495 BCE)
b. 551 BCE
551 to 479 BCE, aged 72
Confucius
Confucius
Normal is our current experiences.
New Look
Normalcy, Normal, and Abnormal
Normalcy, Normal, and Abnormal
Normalcy is a pattern-based idea formed from repeated experience and reinforced by social expectations.
The abstractions of life.
Schemas
Schemas
b. circa 563
circa 563 to 486 BCE
Gautama Buddha
Gautama Buddha
Subhrajyoti07, CC BY-SA 4.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0>, via Wikimedia Commons
Your idea of "self" does not exist.
Non-Self or Anatman and Self or Atman
Non-Self or Anatman and Self or Atman
Imagined image: The concept of non-self, emphasizing the idea that nothing lasts forever and the notion that the "self" does not exist. It captures the transient nature of existence and the dissolution of the perceived self into the natural world.
The separation of mind and body is an illusion.
Nondualism and Dualism
Nondualism and Dualism
Imagined image: The concepts of nondualism and dualism. The philosophical exploration of the mind, body, and reality, the distinctions and connections between them.
born circa 535 BCE
circa 535 to 475 BCE, likely aged about 60 years old
Heraclitus
Heraclitus
RoyFokker, CC BY-SA 4.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0>, via Wikimedia Commons
Change is the only constant.
Impermanence and Flux
Impermanence and Flux
Your sub-culture and choices.
Worldview
Worldview
You do not see the world raw. You see it through a worldview. That worldview grows from the frameworks you inherit and adopt, and it continues to change as your experience changes.
Existence before essence.
Crafting yourself from your given traits.
Identity
Identity
Identity is the personal mosaic that makes you you. It includes what you were born into, what you have chosen, and what has changed along the way. It is not fixed at birth. It is shaped over time through living, learning, belonging, and becoming.
500 BCE
circa 450 BCE
Anaxagoras (circa 500-428 BCE)
Anaxagoras (circa 500-428 BCE)
Socratic Questioning
Father of Western Ethics
Socrates (469 – 399 BCE)
Socrates (469 – 399 BCE)
Portrait of Socrates. Marble, Roman artwork (1st century), perhaps a copy of a lost bronze statue made by Lysippos
Atomist
The Laughing Philosopher
Democritus (460 BCE – circa 370 BCE)
Democritus (460 BCE – circa 370 BCE)
Two and a half millennia ago, Democritus imagined atoms in the void — long before microscopes, equations, or particle accelerators confirmed the intuition.
451 BCE
Law of the Twelve Tables
451 BCE.
451 BCE. Law of the Twelve Tables. Think well by remembering that law is not just rules. It is one of society’s great methods for forcing claims into the open.
b. 428 BCE
428 to 347 BCE
Plato
Plato
A constant state of self-assessment.
Reflective Inquiry
Reflective Inquiry
Strategic ignorance.
Ignorance is Bliss
Ignorance is Bliss
New Look
Plato and Aristotle’s Relationship
Plato and Aristotle’s Relationship
b. 384 BCE
384 to 322 BCE
Aristotle
Aristotle
Portrait of Aristoteles. Copy of the Imperial era (1st or 2nd century) of a lost bronze sculpture made by Lysippos
Logically connect things.
Syllogisms
Syllogisms
Prioritize your ideas over reality.
Rationalism
Rationalism
Prioritize reality over your ideas.
Empiricism
Empiricism
Reality is organized and mathematical.
Logic
Logic
Flaws in reasoning.
Logical Fallacies
Logical Fallacies
Flourish now and into the future.
Eudaimonia
Eudaimonia
Daoism
Chuang Tzu (369-286 BCE)
Chuang Tzu (369-286 BCE)
b. 360 BCE
360 to 270 BCE
Pyrrho of Elis
Pyrrho of Elis
Question your beliefs and avoid dogmatism.
Skepticism
Skepticism
Shared, not natural agreements.
Social Constructs 101
Social Constructs 101
Social constructs are the human-made concepts shaping our reality.
New Look
Epicurean Happiness Toolkit: A 4-Step Structure
Epicurean Happiness Toolkit: A 4-Step Structure
Epicurean Agnosticism is the indifference to unknowable mysteries that are likely to lead to unhappiness.
b. 341 BCE
341 to 270 BCE
Epicurus
Epicurus
Roman marble copy of a 3rd-century BCE Greek original, likely created before 1st century CE.
Don't waste time on the unknowable.
Live in the present.
Agnosticism
Agnosticism
The essence of agnosticism is the uncertainty and indifference toward the unknowable.
Prefer long term pleasures over short.
Dichotomy of Pleasure
Dichotomy of Pleasure
Dichotomy of Pleasure: Epicureanism highlights the difference between short-term and long-term pleasures. They assert you can live a better life by focusing on long-term pleasures like exercise and reading over short-term pleasures like overeating and getting drunk.
Stoicism
Father of Stoicism
Zeno of Citium (334-262 BCE)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Paolo_Monti_-_Servizio_fotografico_(Napoli,_1969)_-_BEIC_6353768.jpg
106 BCE
84 Generations Ago
Cicero (106-43 BCE)
Cicero (106-43 BCE)
b. circa 20 BCE
circa 20 BCE to circa 55 CE
Philo of Alexandria
Philo of Alexandria
Stories have complex meanings.
Allegorical Interpretation
Allegorical Interpretation
Imagined Image: Philo of Alexandria reinterpreting the story of Noah through allegorical interpretation. It captures the essence of his scholarly reinterpretation with symbolic elements.
Stoic Tradition
Roman Stoic Statesman
Seneca the Younger (4 BCE – 65 CE)
Seneca the Younger (4 BCE – 65 CE)
65 CE
Earliest Known Magnification
crystal lens ball in a woman’s hand, with a refracted view of a misty country lane
crystal lens ball in a woman’s hand, with a refracted view of a misty country lane
circa 100 CE
78 Generations Ago
Epictetus (50-135 CE)
Epictetus (50-135 CE)
New Look
Marcus Aurelius: An Explorative Agnostic
Marcus Aurelius: An Explorative Agnostic
New Look
Stoic Virtue Framework: A 4-Step Structure
Stoic Virtue Framework: A 4-Step Structure
born 121
121 to 180 CE
Marcus Aurelius
Marcus Aurelius
Emotions are judgements.
Cognitive Reframing
Cognitive Reframing
Contemplate the future.
Negative Visualization
Negative Visualization
Step outside your reality.
Cognitive Distancing
Cognitive Distancing
Cognitive Distancing and the Stoic View from Above: Gain clarity and objectivity by mentally elevating yourself to see the broader perspective, reducing the emotional impact of transient thoughts.
circa 300 BCE to 200 CE
Badarayana
sand sculpture of Ganesha in Hinduism, the god of wisdom and well-being with the head of an elephant
sand sculpture of Ganesha in Hinduism, the god of wisdom and well-being with the head of an elephant
Karma
Cause and Effect
Cause and Effect
Cause and effect, the idea that every action has a reaction and ethical implications of personal responsibility and the acceptance of consequences.
Maya, Illusion.
Cognitive Biases
Cognitive Biases
Cognitive bias: the mind’s attempt to simplify complexity can quietly distort perception. Without discipline, shortcuts become traps — shaping decisions, inflating certainty, and steering judgment away from reality.
New Look
The “Dark” Middle Ages
The “Dark” Middle Ages
The Middle Ages, from the end of the classical era to the Renaissance, is traditionally seen as intellectually dark due to the dominance of a single narrative over the unknown. It is characterized by the rise of belief systems.
New Look
Holistic Eudaimonia
Holistic Eudaimonia
The psychology of Holistic Eudaimonia surfaces with the various stages of life, acts of kindness, and elements symbolizing legacy and future impact. It blends natural life with the abstract concept of time and space, highlighting the continuity of actions and their lasting effects.
born 354
354 to 430 CE
Augustine of Hippo
Augustine of Hippo
Spacetime
Chronoception
Chronoception
Chronoception: remembering past events, experiencing the present, and anticipating the future.
Block Theory of the Universe
New Look
Eternity
Eternity
Augustine's concept of eternity as 'all time at once,' positioned as a precursor to the modern block universe theory. Time existing simultaneously.
born 872
872 to 950
Al-Farabi
Al-Farabi
Blank slate filled with impressions
Intellect
Intellect
The Journey of Intellect: From the potential of a blank canvas, through the exploration of creating, to the mastery of refining a masterpiece. This triptych captures the evolution of human thought and creativity.
You exist, then you mold your essence.
Essence and Existence
Essence and Existence
Existence precedes essence: we are born into biological structure, but identity forms over time. No prewritten metaphysical script — only structured reality, evolving memory, and the eventual fading of each life into history’s shadow.
New Look
The Floating Man Thought Experiment
The Floating Man Thought Experiment
Floating Man thought experiment, Deprivation Chamber edition. Imagine you are floating in a dimly lit, minimalist room with a futuristic-looking tub filled with dense saltwater. The separation of the mind from the physical body, conveying a sense of isolation and introspection.
born 965
965 to 1040
Alhazen
Alhazen
Circa 1020
New Look
The Five Senses of Humans
Olfaction or Sense of Smell Study.
Olfaction or Sense of Smell Study.
Interpretation
Touchstone: Perception
Touchstone: Perception
Perception, how the brain interprets sensory information and transforms it into understanding.
Mike's Spacetime Game
New Look
Time Trail Game: Mindful Time Travel
Time Trail Game: Mindful Time Travel
Time Trail Raw is you in two distinct but connected locations, pondering the raw, prelinguistic nature of thought and perception. Your prelinguistic thoughts creating a sense of mindfulness and introspection.
Neoplatonist
French Philosopher
Bernard of Chartres (circa 1070 – 1130)
Bernard of Chartres (circa 1070 – 1130)
There are no surviving images of Bernard of Chartres. As a scholastic, the best we can do is an artistic representation of scholasticism.
born 1079
1079 to 1141
Peter Abelard
Peter Abelard
Good Intent vs Good Results
Intent
The concept of intent, the contrast between good and bad intentions.
Abstraction brings understanding and illusion
New Look
Object-Oriented Nature
Object-Oriented Nature
Humans perceive a bicycle as a simple, efficient tool for movement, travel, and carrying things. However, each bike is an intricate assembly of parts like handlebars, frames, and wheels, made from materials such as aluminum, steel, and rubber. These materials themselves break down into fundamental elements like iron, carbon, and manganese. This image captures the layers of abstraction in our perception, from the complete bike to its atomic structure, showcasing the complexity behind everyday objects we use to move through the world.
Patterns in Nature
Pattern Recognition
Pattern Recognition
Humans possess a remarkable ability to hierarchically organize the patterns they perceive, known as pattern ranking. From simple shapes and natural forms to complex abstract symbols, our minds categorize and rank these patterns, creating a structured understanding of the world. This image illustrates the cognitive process of organizing and interacting with patterns, highlighting the depth and complexity of human perception.
New Look
The Problem of Universals
The Problem of Universals
New Look
The Idea of Ideas
The Idea of Ideas
A personal spiritual experience may be real as an experience, meaningful as a belief, and still fall short of public proof about the material world.
New Look
Grand Rational Framework
Grand Rational Framework
The Grand Rational Framework is comprised of rational frameworks in which validated empirical elements form a solid foundation. There are logically consistent interconnected relationships between empirical claims which create a stable and ever-evolving understanding of the material world. This knowledge expands and is limited by the vast expanse of the universe.
1215
Magna Carta
Magna Carta
12 Nov 1216
The First Great Charter of King Henry III
The First Great Charter of King Henry III
1400
Hourglass
Hourglass on the Beach
Hourglass on the Beach
1440
Germany
Printing Press Invented
Printing Press Invented
The printing press gave journalism reach, making public scrutiny possible at a larger scale.
born 1469
1469 to 1539
Guru Nanak
Guru Nanak
born 1473
Lived 1473 to 1543, aged 70.
Nicolas Copernicus
Nicolas Copernicus
No confirmed likeness survives. These portraits are later artistic interpretations.
5 ethical guideposts
The Five Thieves
The Five Thieves
The Sikh concept of The Five Thieves: Lust, Anger, Greed, Attachment, and Ego.
28 Feb 1533
Michel de Montaigne (1533-1592)
Michel de Montaigne (1533-1592)
born 1561
1561 to 1626
Francis Bacon
Francis Bacon
born 1564.
Lived from 1564 to 1642, aged 77.
Galileo Galilei
Galileo Galilei
Portrait of Galileo at about 74. He included a copy in his 1638 Two New Sciences book.
1590 to 1640 CE
Microscope Invented = Microworld Discovered!
Various bacteria cells in microscope. Streptococcus pneumonia, p
Various bacteria cells in microscope. Streptococcus pneumonia, p
1596-1649
Rene Descartes
Rene Descartes
How new ideas become.
New Look
Idea Modeling
Idea Modeling
Idea Modeling is a fresh new look at the process of creating new ideas. It is the dynamic interplay of various cognitive functions, but especially pattern recognition and conceptual blending. For this discussion let’s add in curiosity, gap-filling, and information bias. The whole thing is guided by apathetic agnosticism, our defense against bad ideas. It is in line with modern neurobiology, but to be clear, it’s just a general philosophical lens, another view of how ideas are forged.
3 Types: Empirical, Rational, & Irrational
New Look
Pragmatism
Pragmatism
The Rational Pragmatist embraces common knowledge and accommodates their Christian faith while rejecting most other supernatural ideas. The Irrational Pragmatist does not believe in common knowledge.
born circa 1602
circa 1602 to Mar 1683
Roger Williams
Roger Williams
Detail of Roger Williams Landing Place monument in Slate Rock Park aka Roger Williams Square, Providence Rhode Island.
1748 with Montesquieu
Evolved from 1640 through 1748
Separation of Church and State
Separation of Church and State
Everyone is equal.
Liberalism
Liberalism
Liberalism emphasizes personal freedom, individual rights, equality before the law, and limited government intervention. It is political freedom and civil liberties.
1608
Modern Cosmology
Modern Cosmology
"<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/11304375@N07/2818891443" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">01 The Solar System PIA10231, mod02</a>" by <a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/11304375@N07" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Image Editor</a> is licensed under <a href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">CC BY 2.0</a>
1610
Galileo: Observation Corrects the Map
Galileo: Observation Corrects the Map
Portrait of Galileo at about 74. He included a copy in his 1638 Two New Sciences book.
The Idea of the Unknowable Dao
New Look
Absolute Truth
Absolute Truth
Processes that uncover truth.
New Look
Truth Hammers
Truth Hammers
A disciplined thinker does not hand confidence to a claim just because it is common. First ask whether it lives by habit, tribe, and repetition, or by testing, evidence, and open challenge.
1629
Modern science started in the 1600s.
The Scientific Method
The Scientific Method
New Look
Idea Theory Framework
Idea Theory Framework
The transformative process of ideas through the Idea Theory Framework. Panel One: whimsical and imaginative birth of speculative ideas. Panel Two: rigorous testing of hypotheses in the scientific laboratory. Panel Three: established theories are taught and shared in the classroom. The cyclical nature of this process, including the possibility of demotion for disproven ideas, underscores the dynamic and evolving pursuit of knowledge.
born 1632
1632 to 1704
John Locke
John Locke
Jul 1632
Relativity Principle
Relativity Principle
Law protects.
Modern law emerges after the Middle Ages.
Law
Law
Public belief may accuse, praise, or panic. Law slows that down and asks: what can actually be shown?
Life, Liberty, & Property Rights
Natural Rights
Natural Rights
Protection against authority.
Emerged in the 1600s.
Due Process
Due Process
born 1632
1632-1677, aged 44
Baruch Spinoza
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Spinoza_(cropped).jpg
1638
Infinitesimal
Infinitesimal
1641 - Two Substances: Body & Soul
Cartesian Dualism
Mind-Body Dualism
Mind-Body Dualism
New Look
Descartes Thought Experiment
Descartes Thought Experiment
Descartes' thought experiment: Descartes questioned the reliability of his senses, contemplated rational ideas with things like the influence of an evil demon. He eventually came to the realization "I think, therefore I am." This allowed him to emerge from an existential void. His cosmic and interconnected thought journey from doubt to certainty helped establish modern philosophy.
7 Sep 1643
Book: A Key Into the Language of America
Book: A Key Into the Language of America
1644
Book: The Bloudy Tenent of Persecution
Book: The Bloudy Tenent of Persecution
14 Mar 1644
Patent for Providence Plantations, Roger Williams
Patent for Providence Plantations, Roger Williams
Jul 1663
Founder, Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations
Founder, Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations
State House, Providence, Rhode Island.
God is nature, nature is everything.
Western monism emerged with Spinoza in the 1600s.
Monism
Monism
Imagined image emphasizing the idea of Monism with a focus on the concept of one substance and no spirit world. It highlights the continuous flow of energy and material substance, illustrating the interconnectedness of all things without any separate realms.
Spirituality is exploration.
New Look
Material-Spiritual Framework
Material-Spiritual Framework
The Material-Spiritual Framework's division of spirituality into agnostic, nontheistic, and theistic.
New Look
Open Viewpoint Method (OVM)
Open Viewpoint Method (OVM)
Open Viewpoint Method (OVM) is a bridge between worldviews — spirituality on one side, empiricism on the other — built on disciplined listening and calibrated confidence. It does not erase disagreement; it structures it. Debate becomes harmonic dialogue when ideas are separated from identity and claims are evaluated without tribal reflex.
1674
Protozoa Discovered: Microbiology Founded
Protozoa Discovered: Microbiology Founded
About 2 billion years ago, eukaryotic cells are defined by a membrane-bound nucleus and internal organelles. Their emergence created the structural foundation for complex life.
1679
Roger’s Last Known Essay
Roger’s Last Known Essay
5 Jul 1687
The Invention of Calculus
geometry, mathematics, volume
Photo by <a href="https://pixabay.com/users/geralt-9301/?utm_source=instant-images&utm_medium=referral" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">geralt</a> on <a href="https://pixabay.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Pixabay</a>
1689
English Bill of Rights
Citizens consent to be governed.
Emerged about 1689.
The Social Contract
The Social Contract
The force of public opinion.
The fourth emerged in the 18th & 19th centuries.
Fourth Estate
Fourth Estate
The Fourth Estate emphasizes freedom of the press and has a role in challenging authority.
Storytelling for the people.
Modern journalism started in the early 1700s.
Journalism
Journalism
Journalism tests public claims by gathering facts, checking sources, and bringing events into the open.
born 1694
1694-1778
Voltaire
Voltaire
The transformation of François-Marie Arouet into Voltaire: From a budding scholar in Paris, to a prisoner of ideas in the Bastille, to a celebrated playwright whose words ignited the Enlightenment.
born 1711
1711-1776
David Hume
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:David_Hume.jpg
The Scottish Enlightenment philosopher and historian Hume was a leading exponent of empiricism. The belief that all human knowledge derives solely from experience.
Our Ideas are Not Reality
The Eastern unknowable Dao emerged in the West in the late 1700s.
Transcendental Idealism
Transcendental Idealism
Live by universal values.
Emerged in late 1700s.
Categorical Imperative
Categorical Imperative
born 1724
1724-1804
Immanuel Kant
Immanuel Kant
Knowledge is experience.
Skeptical Empiricism
Skeptical Empiricism
Skeptical Empiricism is the idea that all knowledge stems from experiences and challenges the concept of innate knowledge.
Patterns might mislead.
The Problem of Induction
The Problem of Induction
The Problem of Induction illustrates the circular nature of inductive logic and the intellectual puzzle it presents.
Life is definitions & observations.
New Look
Hume’s Fork
Hume’s Fork
Instincts and Impressions
New Look
Modern Innate Knowledge
Modern Innate Knowledge
Modern Innate Knowledge is Hume's idea of impressions and its interplay with our instincts, our innate knowledge. We can breakdown our instincts into three interconnected categories: basic instincts with primal elements, developmental instincts showing growth and learning, and situational instincts such as adaptive responses.
New Look
Fear-Based Ethics
Fear-Based Ethics
Fear-Based Ethics within Consequentialism is a dark, oppressive ethical system. Morality based on things like Karma and Divine Command Theory, are faulty. They evoke fear and anxiety because right and wrong are no longer a thing, only fear exists. The fix is easy, even within fear-based ethical systems, the solution is to emphasize the intrinsic value of moral acts. This allows you to transition at a fundamental level from fear-based ethics to understanding the intrinsic value of morality.
New Look
Ethical Roadmap
Ethical Roadmap
An Ethical Roadmap is a winding path through different philosophical landscapes from Aristotle's virtue ethics to Mill's utilitarianism. For many, the modern path is a holistic approach to ethics, avoiding fear-based systems and embracing good intent and good results. Along the path, people reflect on their actions, evaluate their motivations, and measure their results to guide future acts as one journeys through moral decisions.
Separation of Powers
Matured about 1748.
Checks and Balances
Checks and Balances
4 Jul 1776
Declaration of Independence
Declaration of Independence
stone.tif
Oct 1776
Common Sense by Thomas Paine
Common Sense by Thomas Paine
Nov 1783
Black Holes Proposed
Black Holes Proposed
From Speculation to Science: From the 18th-century conjectures of John Michell and Pierre-Simon Laplace, who envisioned "dark stars" with gravitational forces so intense that not even light could escape, to the 20th century when Albert Einstein solidified the concept through his General Theory of Relativity. Image juxtaposes the early theoretical diagrams of black holes with Einstein’s detailed mathematical portrayal of spacetime curvature.
17 Sep 1787
The Constitution of the United States
The Constitution of the United States
born 1788.
Lived from 1788 to 1860, aged 72.
Arthur Schopenhauer
Arthur Schopenhauer
Arthur Schopenhauer gave one of philosophy’s bleakest answers to the human condition: beneath our thoughts and ambitions lies a blind Will, endlessly driving desire, struggle, and dissatisfaction.
3 Dec 1791
Bill of Rights
Constitution, Gavel and handcuffs
The Bill of Rights protects personal liberty by limiting government power.
born 1806
1806-1873
John Stuart Mill
John Stuart Mill
British Naturalist
Charles Darwin (1809-1882)
Charles Darwin (1809-1882)
b. 1813
1813 to 1855, aged 42
Søren Aabye Kierkegaard
Søren Aabye Kierkegaard
Unfinished sketch of Kierkegaard by his cousin Niels Christian Kierkegaard, Royal Library, Copenhagen, c. 1840
British Naturalist and Explorer
Father of Biogeography
Alfred Russel Wallace (1823-1913)
Alfred Russel Wallace (1823-1913)
1824
The Birth of Paleontology
Fossils: From Myth to Science
Fossils: From Myth to Science
From Myth to Science: Humanity's Journey to Understanding Fossils. The journey of humanity's acceptance of fossils as extinct animals started with Robert Plot examining a large bone in the 17th century as well as Mary Anning discovering fossils along the coast, and Gideon Mantell studying Iguanodon teeth. Finally, William Buckland describes a Megalosaurus in 1824.
1842
Doppler Effect for Sound and Light
Doppler Effect for Sound and Light
Use angst to guide your life.
1843: “Fear and Trembling” by Kierkegaard.
Anxiety “Angst”
Anxiety “Angst”
Imagined image: Soren Kierkegaard at his famous desk feeling profound existential angst.
New Look
Leap of Faith
Leap of Faith
Kierkegaard's Leap of Faith redefined for all. When faced with the vast unknown, you sometimes need to take a leap of faith whether that leap is rooted in religious beliefs or not. The using of angst and uncertainty to guide your life gave rise to both modern psychology and existentialism.
born 1844
1844-1900
Friedrich Nietzsche
Friedrich Nietzsche
Chapter 30 in "30 Philosophers" explores Nietzsche's story and philosophy.
1848
Doppler Effect Observed for Stars
Doppler Effect Observed for Stars
In 1848, French physicist Hippolyte Fizeau confirmed Doppler's 1842 theory with light. The doppler effect with sound was confirmed three years earlier.
1853
Discovery: The Sumerian Flood Story
Discovery: The Sumerian Flood Story
1858
Lived from 1858 to 1947, aged 89.
Max Planck
Max Planck
Cause no harm.
In "On Liberty," pub. 1859.
Harm Principle
Harm Principle
The Harm Principle: on left, solitary acts; on right, group acts.
1862: Ivan Turgenev novel "Fathers and Sons"
New Look
Nihilism
Nihilism
Nihilism is the idea that life lacks objective meaning, purpose, and intrinsic value.
1864
Electromagnetic Radiation Theory
Electromagnetic Radiation Theory
Born 1864.
Lived from 1864 to 1920, aged 56 years.
Max Weber (1864–1920)
Max Weber (1864–1920)
Max Weber’s work explains why authority feels legitimate, and why judgment can quietly disappear inside systems.
6 Dec 1865
13th Amendment
Ancient fetters or legcuffs on the ground close-up
Abolished slavery in the United States. Lincoln's Emancipation Proclamation nearly three years earlier and the Civil War which started nearly five years earlier paved the path forward on this issue.
Born 1879.
Lived from 1879 to 1950, aged 70
Alfred Korzybski
Alfred Korzybski
Live Your Authentic Self
1883, 1885: From "Thus Spoke Zarathustra"
Übermensch
Übermensch
The Übermensch, or superman, is the ideal person who transcends societal norms and self-imposed limitations.
Live in the now.
1882/3/5: Refined in "Thus Spoke Zarathustra"
Eternal Recurrence
Eternal Recurrence
New Look
Authentic Recipe: Nietzsche’s Five-step Approach
Authentic Recipe: Nietzsche’s Five-step Approach
The Nietzsche Five-step Authentic Recipe is the casting of his ideas into five steps. The journey towards an authentic self, the transformation and empowerment of your true self.
Nietzsche Mustache
Nietzsche Mustache
b. 1899
1899 to 1990, aged 90
Peter Zapffe
Peter Zapffe
1903 to 1950, aged 46.
Orwellian Thought
George Orwell
George Orwell
George Orwell wrote about how corruption starts when language is twisted, facts are manipulated, and authority demands loyalty over reality.
born 1905
1905-1980
Jean-Paul Sartre
Jean-Paul Sartre
Jun 1905
Special Relativity
Special Relativity
The experience of living.
New Look
Consciousness
Consciousness
Experiencing life through the lens of consciousness.
1905 CE
Radiometric Dating
Iodine 131(I-131)Radioactive isotopes used for hyperthyroidism treatment are stored in Lead boxes
Iodine 131(I-131)Radioactive isotopes used for hyperthyroidism treatment are stored in Lead boxes
24 Dec 1906
First Analog Radio Transmission
First Analog Radio Transmission
b. 1913
1913 to 1960, aged 46
Albert Camus
Albert Camus
Nov 1915
General Relativity
General Relativity
Confront life head on.
1927: "Being and Time"
Heidegger’s Existentialism
Heidegger’s Existentialism
Heidegger's existentialism centers on the concept of "being-there" (Dasein), which refers to the unique way humans exist and relate to the world. Heidegger explores the nature of being and emphasizes the importance of understanding one's own existence within the context of time and space. His philosophy delves into the idea of being authentic by confronting the inherent uncertainties and anxieties of life, and seeking a deeper understanding of one's place in the world through introspection and connection to nature.
1929
Galaxies Discovered! Doppler Effect used to measure distance!!
Galaxies Discovered! Doppler Effect used to measure distance!!
1931
Electron Microscope = Nanoworld Discovered!
pathogen virus background
pathogen virus background
1932
Oort Cloud
Oort Cloud
Rationally predicted, unconfirmed: The Oort Cloud is a theoretical vast sphere of icy objects believed to surround our solar system at distances ranging from about 2,000 to 100,000 astronomical units from the Sun.
Don't live in bad-faith, be authentic.
1943: "Being and Nothingness" by Sartre.
Bad Faith
Bad Faith
The concept of "bad faith," is the contrast between living a lie and embracing one's true self.
Existence precedes essence.
1943: "Being and Nothingness"
Sartre’s Existentialism
Sartre’s Existentialism
Sartre's existentialism emphasizes individual freedom, choice, and responsibility. It posits that existence precedes essence, meaning that individuals are not defined by any preexisting essence but instead create their own essence through actions and decisions. Sartre's philosophy focuses on the concept of "bad faith," where people deny their freedom by conforming to societal expectations, and encourages living authentically by embracing one's freedom and making deliberate, conscious choices.
1946 CE
Radiocarbon Dating
We all need a little CAFFEINE
We all need a little CAFFEINE
1958
Rediscovery: City of Catalhoyuk, circa 7100 BCE
Rediscovery: City of Catalhoyuk, circa 7100 BCE
1960
Hand Axes 1.7 Million Years Ago
Hand Axes 1.7 Million Years Ago
Hand axes: Humans started using them nearly 2 million years ago. These meticulously crafted tools exemplify the advanced technological skills and cognitive capabilities of early humans. Its sophisticated design and precise craftsmanship underscore a deep understanding of material properties and tool use.
20 May 1965
Cosmic Microwave Background (CMB)
Cosmic Microwave Background (CMB)
1975
Rediscovery of the Library of Ebla: circa 2350 BCE
Rediscovery of the Library of Ebla: circa 2350 BCE
"<a href="https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=57854047" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><div class='fn'> Proto-Cuneiform tablet: administrative account of barley distribution with cylinder seal impression of a male figure, hunting dogs, and boars. Probably from the city of Uruk.</div></a>" by null is licensed under <a href="https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/deed.en/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">CC CC0 1.0</a>
Chapter 1 Quote Attribution Clarification
big bang, black hole, supermassive star, galaxy, cosmos, physical, science fiction wallpaper.
big bang, black hole, supermassive star, galaxy, cosmos, physical, science fiction wallpaper.
1994
Ancient Spears 350,000 Years Ago
Ancient Spears 350,000 Years Ago
2018
Discovery: Neanderthal Symbolic Thought
Discovery: Neanderthal Symbolic Thought
Neanderthal art in Spain 64k BCE, before Homo sapien arrived.
2018
Bread Making Pushed Back
Various bread with grain in a bowl on the table.
Various bread with grain in a bowl on the table.
Apr 2019
Black Holes Confirmed
Black Holes Confirmed
"<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/28634332@N05/52070907639" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Sagittarius A*: NASA Telescopes Support Event Horizon Telescope in Studying Milky Way's Black Hole</a>" by <a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/28634332@N05" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center</a> is licensed under <a href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/2.0/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">CC BY-NC 2.0</a>
Featuring Mike's mantra.
Final Word
Final Word
Holistic Eudaimonia represents our lives within our Milky Way galaxy, on a tiny blue planet. We are but a figure gazing at the universe in wonder. It is the journey of life, the Butterfly Effect, and the ripples of actions extending into the vastness of space. It includes kindness, integrity, and authenticity.

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