The thoughts that shape my writing
Fragments of history, reflections on memory, and glimpses of the human thread that runs through it all.
Big Ideas: Socrates
If the Buddha turned the mind inward to understand suffering, Socratesturned the mind outward — toward reason, truth, and moral integrity. He didn’t leave behind any written words only questions. Yet his way of thinking reshaped the Western world. He made philosophy not a doctrine to believe, but a method to live by.
Big Ideas: The Human Condition
There’s a thread that runs quietly through human history — from the first person who wondered why we suffer to the modern scientist asking how we think. It’s the thread of reflection: curiosity turned inward. Philosophy began as a search for truth and virtue, but it soon became a way of exploring what it means to be human — to think, to feel, to choose, to believe.
The Future Never Arrives
We spend much of our lives waiting. Waiting for the right time, the next opportunity, the moment when life will finally begin. But here’s the hard truth: the future never arrives. When it comes, it isn’t the future anymore — it’s just today.
Bertrand Russell Warned Us About Fools and Fanatics — We Should Listen Now
I’ve been interested in philosophy and the meaning of life for decades. One philosopher I admire greatly is Bertrand Russell. The more I learn about his life, the more I notice small, unexpected parallels with my own.
Wittgenstein in the Age of Social Media
Wittgenstein wrote one of the most challenging books on philosophy to read. This is a simple guide.
Orwell in the Age of Trump
In 1949 George Orwell wrote what many consider his masterpiece, 1984. What can it teach us about what’s happening in the world today?
The Age of Collective Stupidity
I lived through the first dotcom bubble — a time when hype, “expert” predictions, and collective belief drove stock prices into the stratosphere. I sold some shares early and was told I was crazy… until the bubble burst and fortunes vanished overnight.
Looking back, I realised this wasn’t just market failure — it was collective stupidity on a global scale.
Aristotle: The Art of Flourishing in a World of Extremes
Aristotle’s name turns up in every “greatest thinkers” list, usually surrounded by marble busts (like the one above) and ancient manuscripts. Which is fine — but it also means a lot of people switch off before they’ve even got to the interesting part.
The Pursuit of Purpose
Defining purpose is deeply personal. For some, it’s in learning. For others, it’s in creativity, health, service, relationships, or compassion.
Purpose doesn’t always look dramatic. It might show up in daily kindness. In gentle consistency. In noticing what others rush past.
Notes from the Garden
There are so many things to do, so many ideas and projects to explore, that I sometimes wonder how I ever found time for a career.
The Eryri Chronicles
A series of short stories on the history, life and times of this wonderful place.
The History Behind Unseen Souls
Before industrialisation, Dowlais was a quiet, scattered upland community nestled in the Brecon Beacons. That’s quickly changed forever …
Your Truth, My Truth, No Truth?
In a world drowning in half-truths and curated realities, can we still agree on what’s true—or does truth even matter anymore?
This post explores how truth has shifted from a shared foundation to a contested battleground. From ancient faith to modern politics, from Nietzsche’s “truth as illusion” to Foucault’s “truth as power,” we examine how belief, influence, and technology have turned truth into a moving target.
If we want to stay grounded in an age of spin, outrage, and viral manipulation, we need to stop asking only “Is this true?”—and start asking “Who benefits if I believe it?”
Freedom in a World of Algorithms
Are you really making free choices — or just following invisible nudges? This piece explores how modern power doesn’t restrict us but subtly shapes us through algorithms, feeds, and endless distractions. Drawing on Rousseau, Berlin, Foucault, and Sartre, it asks: in a world designed to predict and guide our behaviour, is freedom still possible?
Stay curious. Question the feed. Real freedom begins when we choose to think beyond what’s handed to us.
Gaza Lan Nunsa — لن نُنسى (We Will Not Be Forgotten)
Through the eyes of a twelve-year-old boy, this short story bears witness to the unspeakable horrors unfolding in Gaza — and the fragile, defiant hope that survives them. As Wahib clings to a handmade book filled with memories of his lost family, he begins to write his own testament: “We were here. We will not be forgotten.”
In a world that looks away, this story refuses to be silent. Read it — and remember.
A Philosophical Journey of Self-Discovery
University wasn’t just about textbooks and lectures for me. It was a portal to a whole new world.
J.M.W. Turner: A Trailblazer in Art
Joseph Mallord William Turner (23 April 1775–19 December 1851), the English artist, is one of my favourite artists and a huge inspiration. His work was ground breaking and unique. He changed the ‘rules’ and painted light and colour rather than objects and scenes.
The Coffee Shop Conundrum
In the rush of everyday life, how often do we truly pause and just be? On a long, slow drive home from Oxford, a chance encounter with a Buddhist nun at a motorway service station became an unexpected lesson in presence. Amid the chaos of busy roads and distracted drivers, she shared a simple piece of wisdom passed to her by the Dalai Lama: “Be Here Now.”
This isn’t a story about road trips — it’s a reminder that peace isn’t found in getting somewhere faster, but in being fully present where you are.