Ghostless Machine
Overcoming polarization with philosophy
I’m Ariel Pontes and I think political polarization is one of the biggest problems of our time. That’s why I started a series of dialogues where I have friendly disagreements over controversial topics with a variety of guests. These conversations are guided by three core principles: scout mindset, non-violent communication, and radical honesty. When I’m not discussing with guests, I write about philosophy, science, rationality, and sociopolitical issues. I have a bachelor’s in computer engineering, a master’s in analytic philosophy, and I am a co-founder at Humanists Brazil and Effective Altruism Romania, where I do community building. Read more →
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Latest
Atheism is becoming politically incorrect and we have to stop it
The atheist movement has seen a somewhat recent boom. Some say it was triggered by the 9/11 attacks and call it the “New Atheism” movement. There are many great things…
Intellectuality in Brazil
Intellectual. Is this a positive or a negative attribute? Asked in such a direct manner, I thought it would be difficult to ever get a negative answer. But surprisingly, most…
Proud of being a straight, white man
Many people complain that black people can talk about “black pride” but that white people can’t. That a band called “Black City” is cool but one named “White City” with…
Reason, emotion and motivation
Imagine you’re in a restaurant, reading the menu and trying to decide what you’re gonna eat when magically, all of a sudden, you loose all your emotions and become a…
Determinism and free will
John Wayne Gacy (1942 – 1994), also known as “the killer clown”, was an American serial killer sentenced and executed for the rape and murder of 33 boys and young…
Moralism and Religious Intolerance
Atheists are often accused of arrogance and prejudice against religions. Sentences like “Each to their own”, “What is the problem with believing in God?”, “Religion is personal” are always used…
Why Ghostless Machine?
Many people wonder where the name of the blog comes from. The terms “ghost” and “machine” were taken from a metaphor that Descartes used to symbolize the dualism (body/ “soul”) which he…