Michael W. Austin's Blog, page 5

Achieving Happiness: Advice from Bertrand Russell

According to Bertrand Russell, the key to happiness is to turn one's focus outward, eschewing self-absorption and engaging both others and the world around us.

What Kind of Sports Parent Am I?

Parents need to ask themselves some hard questions about their role in the good and bad of youth sports.

Ethics and Abortion

Understanding opposing arguments on the morality of abortion.

A Counterargument to "Virtue and Guns"

Based on his years of participation in and observation of Gun Culture 2.0, an expert offers a three-part counterargument to my claims in "Virtue and Guns."

Problems with "A God Problem"

There is no incoherence in the notion of a perfect God. When understood with sufficient precision and detail, "the idea of God that most Westerners accept" is coherent.

Empathy in Health Care

True healing begins when physicians allow patients to move them emotionally.

Virtue and Guns

There is a neglected question in the gun debates. It is, however, of vast importance: How do guns impact our character?

CS Lewis on Morality

A morality that only considers potential harm to others is sparse.

Meditation and Moral Development

We often think of meditation as something that can help us feel better. It may also help us to be better.

The Lost Practice of Self-Examination

If we make becoming a better person one of our goals in life, we must see that the practice of self-examination can help us make progress.