Gil Gildner

kosmopolitês

Diogenes, the famous Greek philosopher, was once asked where he was from. He replied “I am a citizen of the world”. The Greek word for this is kosmopolitês. Later on, the Stoic crowd further developed Diogenes’ thought into an entire framework called cosmopolitanism. Essentially, the circle model of identity puts yourself in the middle of expanding concentric circles of importance: immediate family, extended family, friends, neighbors, humanity. This was underscored by an emphasis of the importance of a shared affinity for humanity. I like cosmopolitanism. It seems like a healthy way to view the world. Hierocles outlined how humans can extend their oikeiôsis towards other human beings in widening circles, such as our ethnos and eventually the entire human race. The… 

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Waterbirth

If you’re like me, sometimes you wonder about people.

Everybody does. Sometimes it’s buried deep within, but nary a soul on the planet hasn’t looked at someone and wondered what on earth?

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Stranded In India

I flew into New Delhi early one morning and it was the first and only place I’ve ever been where I was unsure if the sun had risen or not. I stood looking at the client in a mixture of fear, loathing, and utter disbelief. It was a crucial point in my professional life: after around a year of starting my own company, I’d landed my first international gig, and it was going horribly. I was finding out a lot about naivete, humanity, planning, schedules, clients, and the benefits of growing a backbone. Upon landing in New Delhi, the client found out her credit cards weren’t working. So, since I wanted to be able to sleep & eat, I offered to… 

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Blood Meridian

The kid spat into the fire and bent to his work.I aint heard no voice, he said.When it stops, said Tobin, you’ll know you’ve heard it all your life.  – Blood Meridian, Cormac McCarthy

Crazy eyes

You know people with crazy eyes? You know what I’m talking about. They can be a completely trim and presentable person, but the instant you look into their eyes you know that they’re completely 100% off their rocker. It’s the way they don’t blink, or the way they protrude like they’ve got some sort of thyroid disorder. Except it’s not thyroids.

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