Hello, I’m your host, Michael Alan Prestwood and this is the October 8, 2025 Edition of the Weekly Wisdom Builder. Our goal is to cultivate your inner wisdom, empowering your inner voice, your inner coach – your philosopher guide, as Socrates would say.
To frame this week, let’s start with our “Quote of the Week.”
Epictetus: “People are disturbed not by the things that happen, but by their opinions about the things that happen.”
Now onto this week’s 4 1-minute Hot Topics.
1. Philosophy
First up, a question rooted in the minds of our great philosophers…
What is a realistic timeframe for humanity to terraform Mars?
The project is scheduled to start on June 1, 3825, just kidding. But realistically, I do think that by 3825, humanity will have started in earnest transforming Mars from red to green. Could it happen much sooner? Yes, but sometime within 1800 years we’ll make significant progress. This monumental endeavor hinges on advancements in robotics, artificial intelligence, biotechnology, and possibly nanotechnology.
We’d start by introducing genetically engineered microorganisms to convert Martian soil into fertile land, and build advanced machinery to thicken the atmosphere and create a breathable environment. Autonomous robots might first release greenhouse gases to warm the planet, followed by the deployment of atmospheric processors. As Mars becomes more hospitable, human settlers will arrive, bringing further innovations like climate engineering and geoengineering to continually adjust and enhance the Martian environment. At that point, evolution will take over and we’ll have two planets on divergent evolutionary paths.
This transformation is envisioned as a multi-century effort, not a quick fix. It will require ongoing adjustments and monitoring to ensure Mars evolves into a stable, self-sustaining ecosystem. Think of it as a profound commitment to extending human civilization beyond Earth, transforming an entire planet to sustain life.
For more future predictions and a deeper exploration of what might lie ahead, take the deep dive: explore The Future Timeline.
2. Science
Our second of four topics this week takes us into the empirical, into science…
Trivia: Did Einstein or Galileo discover the Relativity Principle?
Galileo did! But, it was kind of a trick question, but Galileo does deserve more credit than he gets. Galileo came up with the Relativity Principle, and Einstein centuries later extended it. In the 17th century, Galileo conducted experiments that showed the laws of physics are the same regardless of an object’s constant motion. This is the essence of the Relativity Principle. For example, if you’re on a smoothly sailing ship , as long as the motion is constant, you won’t be able to tell if you’re moving or not. This is a great trivia question because even textbooks frequently credit Einstein with it. To great shame, many books ignore this nuance.
Einstein built upon it and, in 1905, published his groundbreaking work on his special theory of relativity. It incorporated the concept of constant motion from Galileo’s work but also introduced revolutionary ideas about the speed of light and the relationship between space and time. This is when Einstein introduced the world to is his famous E=mc2 formula, which simply says:
“energy equals matter, and matter equals energy.”
After another decade, he published his general theory of relativity which added gravity to the mix. His work helped pave the way to understanding how the universe expands. To learn more about the motion of the universe, take the 9-minute deep dive: The Expanding Universe Explained.
3. Critical Thinking
Our third topic this week takes us into the area of thinking well…
Perhaps at the core of philosophy is the idea of skeptical thinking. Remember, one of the few things you have control over in your life is what you allow into your mind. This week’s question is…
Thinking: Why we only remember the good parts of vacations and forget the bad?
Ever look back on a vacation and think it was all perfect sunshine and smooth sailing? That’s Rosy Retrospection at work! It’s a cognitive bias—a common mental pitfall that can impede critical thinking and decision-making.
To make sense of a complicated world, our brains simplify things. We tend to focus on the highlights, like breathtaking views or delicious meals, and forget the minor annoyances—lost luggage, sunburn, or long lines. This is also partly due to how memories are stored: positive emotions are linked to stronger memories, making happy moments more likely to stick.
This phenomenon applies to relationships as well, such as “the one that got away.” Often, we reminisce about these relationships by focusing only on the peak moments, forgetting the reasons why they ended, which can color our memories more positively than reality. Just remember, real life isn’t all sunshine and rainbows.
However, Rosy Retrospection isn’t always bad. Reminiscing for fun and enjoyment can leave you with a positive outlook and enjoyable memories. Just be mindful of this bias when planning to repeat an experience, whether it’s a relationship, job, or idealizing “the good old days.”
Rosy retrospection is a cognitive bias. Mastering it and making it a conscious part of your thinking abilities only requires awareness. Cognitive biases are one of the Four Mind Traps covered in the TST Framework. To explore more pitfalls of the mind, take the 10-minute deep dive into The Four Mind Traps: Logical Fallacies, Cognitive Bias, Heuristics, and Stereotypes.
4. History
Our final topic this week brings historical context to our lives. Knowing the past helps you navigate the future…
In the area of history, this week’s question is…
Who is the father of numerology?
Pythagoras is often called the “father of numerology” because he saw numbers as the foundation of reality. His work in mathematics—especially in discovering numerical relationships in nature, music, and geometry—laid the groundwork for what we now call numerology.
But here’s the key distinction: the part of his work that identified mathematical patterns in nature stood the test of time and became the foundation of science and mathematics. The part where he assigned deeper, mystical meanings to numbers evolved into numerology, which scientists today classify as pseudoscience, while believers see it as a spiritual framework.
In my book, 30 Philosophers, I focus on what we know—the provable stepping stones of human thought. Pythagoras’ contributions to mathematics are undeniable, but his numerology? That falls into the realm of personal belief. And in the grand history of philosophy, we all have the right to believe whatever we choose.
That’s it for this week!
Join us again next week. A new set of ideas lands every Wednesday at 3PM, and is emailed on Thursdays at noon. If you don’t subscribe, please visit TouchstoneTruth.com and click the Join Now button at the top of the page.
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Until next time, live your days in a way that sends virtuous ripples into an unseen tomorrow you will never witness. Be authentic, and may you always:
“Enjoy the journey, with truth and honor, causing no harm.”
— The End. —