Zac Alstin

Despite enjoying his four years of philosophical education, Zac Alstin emerged from the post-modern wilderness to discover with surprise and delight the actual existence of such things as truth, goodness, and reality. He now works part time in Aged Care Research, where he may, despite his philosophical education, actually contribute to the well-being of someone, somewhere. So as not to become excessively practical, he has recently pledged himself to the significant undertaking of a PhD in Philosophy of Religion.

In the meantime, he continues to draw inspiration from ancient Chinese philosophers, and look for excuses to quote them. “I am not one who was born in the possession of knowledge; I am one who is fond of antiquity, and earnest in seeking it there.” - Confucius, The Analects. VII.19”

Falling in love with love

3 Sep 2011 |

tags: divorce, love, philosophy

“We just drifted apart” is the most common reason for contemporary divorce. Is that a good enough reason?

Britain’s deadbeatest Dad

19 Aug 2011 |

tags: families, fatherhood, London riots, UK

He’s 34 years old, has 15 children, 13 lovers and no job. What Jamie Cumming’s serial polygamy tells us about the state of the family in Britain.

The religious atheist

30 Jun 2011 |

tags: new atheists, politics, religion

The anti-religious atheist is the inspired prophet of a new religious movement.

Asylum seekers: a considered proposal

24 Jun 2011 |

tags: Australia, boat people, refugees

Australia must find a compassionate and reasonable way to respond to boat people.

Was bin Laden a criminal, a soldier or a pirate?

7 Jun 2011 |

tags: Afghanistan, terrorism

Was it really necessary to wage war on the Taliban to rid the world of al-Qaeda's leader?

I plank, therefore I am

25 May 2011 |

tags: crazes, Facebook, planking

A philosopher reflects on the craze for “planking” in the strangest places.

Have we evolved to argue?

17 May 2011 |

tags: evolution, philosophy, reason

Forget about truth. The reason we can reason is to win arguments, say evolutionary psychologists.

A streetcar named moral confusion

10 May 2011 |

tags: ethics, philosophy

Don't be taken in by a hypothetical problem meant to impress beginners.

Crazy for Osama

3 May 2011 |

tags: media, Osama bin Laden, war on terror

Take 1: You've got to have rocks in your head not to rejoice in the death of an unrepentant mass murderer.

Was the tsunami the revenge of Gaia?

14 Mar 2011 |

tags: Japan, natural disasters, tsunami

When scientists wonder whether global warming was responsible for the devastation in Japan, something is wrong.

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