Author | Lightnews

Anthony Curtis @anthonycurtis.bsky.social · 4d

Not familiar enough, thank you for sharing the resource!

Anthony Curtis @anthonycurtis.bsky.social · 4d

I 100% agree with the idea that veganism is the moral high ground when compared to its alternatives.

But yet… I am not a vegan. Today’s post wrestles with the morality of that choice within a morally compromised system.

#Vegan #Climate #Labor #Ethics #RadicalKindness

I’m Not a Vegan but I Should Be

But I’m doing the best I can in a system not designed for optimal moral choices

anthonyscurtis.com

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Anthony Curtis @anthonycurtis.bsky.social · 8d

We have handled "justice" for centuries as officially sanctioned revenge and retribution.

How do we prevent crime?

How do we restore the victims?

How do we treat those who’ve done harm?

What is restoration, and how is it different from retribution?

#justice #moralphilosophy

Revenge Isn’t Justice, Even When We Cover It with the Sheen of Law

True Justice is Restoration, Not Retribution

anthonyscurtis.com

Anthony Curtis @anthonycurtis.bsky.social · 12d

I don’t post a lot of memes here, but I came across this and damn if it doesn’t sum up the Sisyphean task I’ve assigned myself.

Who knew that asking people to show basic human kindness would be so hard?

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Anthony Curtis @anthonycurtis.bsky.social · 21d

Net worth ≠ Self worth

This is true for you. This is true for me.

But how often does the bottom line get factored into our judgement of others?

What happens if we take money off the scales?

A better world? Probably.

Start changing how we see ourselves, and each other.

#peopleoverprofit

Anthony Curtis @anthonycurtis.bsky.social · 21d

New essay on the boundaries between self and other. Where we draw them. Why hierarchies feel necessary. And a wager about what kind of world each choice creates.

Not about being better. About better design for a survivable world.

#philosophy #ethics

The Boundaries We Choose

We cast others as villains, NPCs, or scenery in our hero's journey. But where we draw the line between 'us' and 'them' isn't natural—it's chosen. Here's why that matters.

anthonyscurtis.com

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Anthony Curtis @anthonycurtis.bsky.social · 21d

What I found instead: the stories we tell ourselves—where we're the hero and others are villains, NPCs, or scenery—aren't just comforting fictions.

They're moral architectures. They determine who deserves care and who we can ignore.

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Anthony Curtis @anthonycurtis.bsky.social · 21d

🧵 25 years ago my twin sister survived an abusive childhood, graduated high school, found love, started a career.

Then an aneurysm killed her at 19 while she drove home from work.

People said "everything happens for a reason."

I looked for the reason. I found none.

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Anthony Curtis @anthonycurtis.bsky.social · Oct 3

Chronic pain made the real world feel unplayable. So I hid in a Dwarf Fortress.

But then I had to ask myself, in hiding from the world was I committing an evil of indifference?

Refuge, not residence. #DwarfFortress #ChronicPain #Philosophy #Gaming

Taking Refuge in a Dwarf Fortress

Dealing with chronic pain, a world on fire, and werebeasts

anthonyscurtis.com

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Anthony Curtis @anthonycurtis.bsky.social · Oct 2

When we are compromised, what we can do beats what we think we “should” do. An essay about chronic pain, self-kindness, and goblins. #chronicpain #selfkindness

Taking Refuge in a Dwarf Fortress

Dealing with chronic pain, a world on fire, and werebeasts

anthonyscurtis.com

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Anthony Curtis @anthonycurtis.bsky.social · Sep 28

There are no good people. There are no bad people.
There are good choices, good thoughts, and good acts. There are evil choices, evil thoughts, and evil acts.

And there are people. Anyone can be better tomorrow.

No halos, no horns.

#Ethics #Empathy #MoralPhilosophy

Donald Trump is Not a Bad Person

And I am Not a Good Person. The Trap of Moral Labeling.

anthonyscurtis.com

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Anthony Curtis @anthonycurtis.bsky.social · Sep 19

In a world quick to punish 'wrong' speech, Simone de Beauvoir reminds us: Freedom isn't an individual trophy, it's collective, fragile. "Freedom isn’t mine to keep if it’s denied to you."

#Philosophy #RadicalKindness #Freedom

Freedom Isn't Yours to Keep

The discourse this week around a certain “free speech advocate” and simply quoting, ya know, their speech has me ruminating on the nature of freedom.

anthonyscurtis.substack.com

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Anthony Curtis @anthonycurtis.bsky.social · Sep 16

7/7 And what’s an existential crisis if I can’t try to “grow my brand”? Yay capitalism. Like and subscribe. anthonyscurtis.com

Radical Kindness: Empathy as Rebellion | Anthony Curtis | Substack

Practical philosophy for everyday ethical decisions, without the academic jargon. Anthony Curtis develops moral frameworks through lived experience of grief, trauma, and the search for meaning not cla...

anthonyscurtis.com

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Anthony Curtis @anthonycurtis.bsky.social · Sep 16

6/7 Am I doing moral harm because I cannot empathize with myself? #RadicalKindness #LedgerEthics #ArchitecturalHumanism #MentalHealth #writingcommunity

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Anthony Curtis @anthonycurtis.bsky.social · Sep 16

5/7 But the abused little boy at the core of my psyche cannot understand the idea that anyone would truly care. Despite my emphasis on empathy that would tell anyone else that they are wrong for thinking that. #TraumaSurvivor

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Anthony Curtis @anthonycurtis.bsky.social · Sep 16

4/7 But am I doing more harm not being honest with those people? I honestly can’t tell, even though I have created and use a framework for understanding moral decisions. #MoralDilemma #Ethics #WhatIsHarm

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Anthony Curtis @anthonycurtis.bsky.social · Sep 16

3/7 I don’t want to tell them because I believe they can’t help, because it’s just messed up brain chemistry. It’ll pass, and I’ll be fine. Why make them worry for no purpose? #Vulnerability #BrainChemistry

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Anthony Curtis @anthonycurtis.bsky.social · Sep 16

2/7 Here’s my current conundrum. I’m hella depressed. I know the people who care about me would want to know, and want to help. #Depression #MentalHealthMatters

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Anthony Curtis @anthonycurtis.bsky.social · Sep 16

1/7 What’s the point of writing about moral philosophy if you can’t wrestle with moral questions in public? #Philosophy #MoralPhilosophy

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Anthony Curtis @anthonycurtis.bsky.social · Sep 15

10/10 What are you doing to be better tomorrow ? #BeBetter #Philosophy anthonyscurtis.com

Anthony Curtis @anthonycurtis.bsky.social · Sep 15

9/10 I am choosing to see myself for what I am. And making the choices that help me, and hopefully the world I can influence, be more good. #PersonalGrowth #LedgerEthics

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Anthony Curtis @anthonycurtis.bsky.social · Sep 15

8/10 Do we see ourselves for what we are, and try to build systems that help us do more good? #CollectiveAction #SocialChange

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Anthony Curtis @anthonycurtis.bsky.social · Sep 15

7/10 Where things matter is when we have a chance to influence or even change the systems that govern our circumstances. #SystemsThinking #Sociology

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Anthony Curtis @anthonycurtis.bsky.social · Sep 15

6/10 And that’s what’s amazing about people. I don’t believe there are good people. Or bad people. Just people, and the choices we make. #Humanism #VirtueEthics

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Anthony Curtis @anthonycurtis.bsky.social · Sep 15

5/10 It’s not absolute, I can truly be only as good as my circumstances will allow. But yet, I still have choice. #Existentialism #PersonalResponsibility

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