Category Archives: Philosophy
National Pride
As Arthur Schopenhauer wrote in Parerga und Paralipomena: On the other hand, the cheapest form of pride is national pride; for the man affected therewith betrays a want of individual qualities of which he might be proud, since he would not … Continue reading
Where God takes Cash
Hier könnt Ihr diesen Artikel auf Deutsch lesen. Whenever material things, money, worldliness, become the center of our lives, they take hold of us, they possess us; we lose our very identity as human beings. Pope Francis, 29 September 2013 … Continue reading
Sea Surveillance
Even on a boat in the middle of the Atlantic, you are being watched.
Monkeys are Humans too
Zur deutschen Fassung dieses Artikels. Recently there has been a renewed discussion about the nature of monkeys and apes and how we should view and treat them. I was reminded of this when I was at Machía Park in Villa Tunari … Continue reading
Not happy? Change!
Realizing that you have been doing something wrong in your life is not bad. Realizing that you have wasted another year is not bad. Realizing that you are missing out on something is not bad. But, not changing your life is … Continue reading
Who gets to travel?
At the hostel La Casona in Potosí, Bolivia, there was this world map in the reception office, indicating where many of the visitors had come from. (Click to enlarge.) It’s obvious that many Bolivians would travel within their own country, … Continue reading
A Bird on top of the Bird
The big one is the Andean condor from the Bolivian coat of arms. The small bird is thinking: “You may be big and strong and famous, but I am free to fly wherever I want.” (Photographed at Plaza 14 de Septiembre … Continue reading
Bolivia: Constitutional Law on Drugs
The hotel at which I stayed in San José de Chiquitos (I didn’t find any Couchsurfing host there) banned not only the indoor use of dogs, cats and cigarettes, but also of coca leaves. This prohibition surprised me because coca leaves … Continue reading
The Referendum in Bolivia is actually not important
In less than two hours, the polls will close in Bolivia. Soon thereafter, the result of the constitutional referendum will be announced. Half of the country will be happy, half of the country will be sad. Some people will dance, … Continue reading
The Happy Hermit 