Ian Wardell
@immaterialist.bsky.social
I like to ponder what I am, what the Universe is, what it all means -- if anything.
1st class Hons history of ideas inc credit areas history & philosophy of science, mind body problem, science & religion Blog at https://ian-wardell.blogspot.com
1st class Hons history of ideas inc credit areas history & philosophy of science, mind body problem, science & religion Blog at https://ian-wardell.blogspot.com
I much prefer McCoys crisps to Walkers, but why don't they have tomato ketchup flavour?
February 13, 2026 at 3:42 PM
I much prefer McCoys crisps to Walkers, but why don't they have tomato ketchup flavour?
The unexamined life is not worth living seems to be the precise converse of those who say philosophising is a waste of time.
February 11, 2026 at 6:46 PM
The unexamined life is not worth living seems to be the precise converse of those who say philosophising is a waste of time.
I've at last discovered how to stop Facebook from auto-refreshing when visiting another tab then going back to Facebook. Thank God for that, it was infuriating.
January 26, 2026 at 6:28 PM
I've at last discovered how to stop Facebook from auto-refreshing when visiting another tab then going back to Facebook. Thank God for that, it was infuriating.
The Universe is so utterly boring and antithetical to the yearning soul. Certainly ain't anything beautiful about it, that's for sure.
January 26, 2026 at 3:45 PM
The Universe is so utterly boring and antithetical to the yearning soul. Certainly ain't anything beautiful about it, that's for sure.
"What can be asserted without evidence can be dismissed without evidence"
Hitchens's Razor, i.e. what Christopher Hitchens allegedly said.
OK, so we can dismiss Hitchens's Razor then! 😂
Hitchens's Razor, i.e. what Christopher Hitchens allegedly said.
OK, so we can dismiss Hitchens's Razor then! 😂
November 15, 2025 at 12:18 PM
"What can be asserted without evidence can be dismissed without evidence"
Hitchens's Razor, i.e. what Christopher Hitchens allegedly said.
OK, so we can dismiss Hitchens's Razor then! 😂
Hitchens's Razor, i.e. what Christopher Hitchens allegedly said.
OK, so we can dismiss Hitchens's Razor then! 😂
The Facebook Group I started is 7 years old today! Don't forget to join if you haven't already.
www.facebook.com/groups/philt...
www.facebook.com/groups/philt...
Redirecting...
www.facebook.com
November 10, 2025 at 3:17 PM
The Facebook Group I started is 7 years old today! Don't forget to join if you haven't already.
www.facebook.com/groups/philt...
www.facebook.com/groups/philt...
I hadn't been aware of this obsession with protein until a few months ago, and never heard of Dr. Attia and Dr. Huberman nor anyone else the author mentions. Unless we're vegans we're very likely to already be getting adequate protein!
www.self.com/story/how-pr...
www.self.com/story/how-pr...
How We Lost the Plot on Protein
It’s become a dietary touchstone of America. But experts warn it shouldn’t be.
www.self.com
November 4, 2025 at 4:54 PM
I hadn't been aware of this obsession with protein until a few months ago, and never heard of Dr. Attia and Dr. Huberman nor anyone else the author mentions. Unless we're vegans we're very likely to already be getting adequate protein!
www.self.com/story/how-pr...
www.self.com/story/how-pr...
Great article by the skeptic Shermer. I don't find the arguments convincing at all, though. I put down my thoughts in one of my Facebook Groups here: www.facebook.com/groups/philt...
I might tidy it up a bit, possibly expand it and put in in a blog post too.
www.skeptic.com/article/the-...
I might tidy it up a bit, possibly expand it and put in in a blog post too.
www.skeptic.com/article/the-...
The Soul of the Gaps
Why new claims about Near Death Experiences, terminal lucidity, and other anomalous experiences are not evidence of a brain-independent mind, a soul, or an afterlife.
As the publisher of Skeptic m...
www.skeptic.com
October 29, 2025 at 3:18 PM
Great article by the skeptic Shermer. I don't find the arguments convincing at all, though. I put down my thoughts in one of my Facebook Groups here: www.facebook.com/groups/philt...
I might tidy it up a bit, possibly expand it and put in in a blog post too.
www.skeptic.com/article/the-...
I might tidy it up a bit, possibly expand it and put in in a blog post too.
www.skeptic.com/article/the-...
We live in a deeply alien reality.
September 30, 2025 at 8:29 PM
We live in a deeply alien reality.
I think people need to get away from this idea of God as a person, a kinda superhero, a thing in the world.
God is not a thing in the world. The world is within God. The unconditioned reality beyond our understanding. The ultimate reason and justification for all that exists.
God is not a thing in the world. The world is within God. The unconditioned reality beyond our understanding. The ultimate reason and justification for all that exists.
August 28, 2025 at 5:14 PM
I think people need to get away from this idea of God as a person, a kinda superhero, a thing in the world.
God is not a thing in the world. The world is within God. The unconditioned reality beyond our understanding. The ultimate reason and justification for all that exists.
God is not a thing in the world. The world is within God. The unconditioned reality beyond our understanding. The ultimate reason and justification for all that exists.
So what?? I have no idea why this is of interest to anyone whatsoever. And who the hell is Travis Kelsey anyway?
Taylor Swift announces engagement to Travis Kelce - live updates
The singer wrote,
www.bbc.co.uk
August 26, 2025 at 10:33 PM
So what?? I have no idea why this is of interest to anyone whatsoever. And who the hell is Travis Kelsey anyway?
New blog post:
"The fact we don't know everything, or indeed anything, about the most important questions leaves the door open to infinite possibilities. Possibilities that may intrigue and beguile those who recognise our complete ignorance".
"The fact we don't know everything, or indeed anything, about the most important questions leaves the door open to infinite possibilities. Possibilities that may intrigue and beguile those who recognise our complete ignorance".
True Wisdom
Issues related to consciousness, the self, an afterlife, free will, what the Universe is, what is reality and other broadly philosophical issues.
ian-wardell.blogspot.com
August 20, 2025 at 11:00 AM
New blog post:
"The fact we don't know everything, or indeed anything, about the most important questions leaves the door open to infinite possibilities. Possibilities that may intrigue and beguile those who recognise our complete ignorance".
"The fact we don't know everything, or indeed anything, about the most important questions leaves the door open to infinite possibilities. Possibilities that may intrigue and beguile those who recognise our complete ignorance".
I scarcely ever watch anything on YouTube, certainly not via my TV as I don't know how to block the ads! (unlike on my PC) 2 years since seen Netflix or Prime and never any other streaming service. I just watch the 5 broadcast channels— BBC, ITV, ch4, ch5.
www.theguardian.com/technology/2...
www.theguardian.com/technology/2...
YouTube most popular first TV destination for children, Ofcom finds
One in five young viewers go to platform first when they turn on TV, as older people also watch more of its content
www.theguardian.com
July 31, 2025 at 7:49 AM
I scarcely ever watch anything on YouTube, certainly not via my TV as I don't know how to block the ads! (unlike on my PC) 2 years since seen Netflix or Prime and never any other streaming service. I just watch the 5 broadcast channels— BBC, ITV, ch4, ch5.
www.theguardian.com/technology/2...
www.theguardian.com/technology/2...
"Age Assurance
The laws in your location require you to verify you're an adult before accessing certain features on Bluesky, like adult content and direct messaging".
What is this complete crap?? Piss off bluesky!
The laws in your location require you to verify you're an adult before accessing certain features on Bluesky, like adult content and direct messaging".
What is this complete crap?? Piss off bluesky!
July 27, 2025 at 3:50 PM
"Age Assurance
The laws in your location require you to verify you're an adult before accessing certain features on Bluesky, like adult content and direct messaging".
What is this complete crap?? Piss off bluesky!
The laws in your location require you to verify you're an adult before accessing certain features on Bluesky, like adult content and direct messaging".
What is this complete crap?? Piss off bluesky!
I wonder what the world would be like if I travelled forward in time 10,000 years to 12,025 AD? If, in the meantime, humans have been extinct would England be covered in forests? Could I survive?
July 23, 2025 at 11:37 AM
I wonder what the world would be like if I travelled forward in time 10,000 years to 12,025 AD? If, in the meantime, humans have been extinct would England be covered in forests? Could I survive?
I've said before that I don't really like new computer games. But I have to confess resident evil 2 remake is vastly better than the original resident evil 2. Playing the remake now.
I'd love to play resident evil 4 remake too, but my computer is almost 13 years old and won't run it.
I'd love to play resident evil 4 remake too, but my computer is almost 13 years old and won't run it.
July 21, 2025 at 7:50 PM
I've said before that I don't really like new computer games. But I have to confess resident evil 2 remake is vastly better than the original resident evil 2. Playing the remake now.
I'd love to play resident evil 4 remake too, but my computer is almost 13 years old and won't run it.
I'd love to play resident evil 4 remake too, but my computer is almost 13 years old and won't run it.
We live on this ball suspended in the midst of an eternal black inhospitable nothingness with only a very thin sliver of air surrounding the globe enabling us to breathe and live. It is a highly peculiar alien reality we find ourselves in. Inimical to the yearning soul.
July 20, 2025 at 9:20 AM
We live on this ball suspended in the midst of an eternal black inhospitable nothingness with only a very thin sliver of air surrounding the globe enabling us to breathe and live. It is a highly peculiar alien reality we find ourselves in. Inimical to the yearning soul.
How do we attain happiness? Fulfilment?
The answer is to attain a tranquil state of mind and accept the vicissitudes of life for what they are, to elevate oneself above all the pettiness and trivialities that consume so much of our lives. To become one with all things.
The answer is to attain a tranquil state of mind and accept the vicissitudes of life for what they are, to elevate oneself above all the pettiness and trivialities that consume so much of our lives. To become one with all things.
July 20, 2025 at 9:18 AM
How do we attain happiness? Fulfilment?
The answer is to attain a tranquil state of mind and accept the vicissitudes of life for what they are, to elevate oneself above all the pettiness and trivialities that consume so much of our lives. To become one with all things.
The answer is to attain a tranquil state of mind and accept the vicissitudes of life for what they are, to elevate oneself above all the pettiness and trivialities that consume so much of our lives. To become one with all things.
Just thinking. In 2 billion years time, the Earth will be completely devoid of all life. A hot, barren husk. All signs that human beings ever existed will be completely erased.. well, perhaps apart from those 2 voyager spacecraft.
It seems all very unsatisfactory.
It seems all very unsatisfactory.
July 20, 2025 at 9:06 AM
Just thinking. In 2 billion years time, the Earth will be completely devoid of all life. A hot, barren husk. All signs that human beings ever existed will be completely erased.. well, perhaps apart from those 2 voyager spacecraft.
It seems all very unsatisfactory.
It seems all very unsatisfactory.