Hello,

My name is Li Zhao. The point of this blog is one where I can explore both my love of philosophy while also making strides in improving my writing ability. I'm a graduate from the University of California: San Diego with a degree in Political Science. Today we live in interesting times, and often, the rapidly changing social and political fabric of our society can leave many in flux. Too many people today seem to have forgotten the prevailing intellectual orthodoxy of the ancient world was that of philosophical inquiry. Philosophy, which is translated from the Greek word Philo (love of ) and Sophos (wisdom) has all been too lost in contemporary culture. It is important to still remember the Greeks; remember the important intellectual tradition of philosophy as it is not only serve as a candle in perpetual darkness, but also is the mechanism in which individuals cultivate critical thinking and introspection about themselves and the world around them.

The primary focus of this blog will be a historical and philosophical analysis into the concept of ethical living, that is, what it means for individuals to aspire to the highest good and live 'the good life'. In it, we will examine, support, and scrutinize the differing insights from philosophers ranging from Socrates to John Stuart Mill. Hopefully this blog can give readers even a small glimpse in the wisdom and insight of what principles and goals each of us wishes to aspire towards.

This blog will also try to give insight into the context of American politics, the structure of Western society, and education. We will look at thinkers from Karl Marx to John Dewey. Currently, the divisiveness of political polarization has promulgated a culture wrought with vitriol and disgust for opposing viewpoints. Not only is maintaining a society where the legitimate views across the aisle are healthily and prominently discussed important in creating a more dynamic citizenry, but it allows contentious points of views to be explored through a critical examination in all independent lines of inquiry. Biases are a deeply rooted biological phenomena. The Dunning-Kruger effect seems to have seized control of political discourse and the resulting post-nuclear wasteland, a Mad-Max esque battleground where the primary weapons of war: lethargic pseudo intellectual posturing. It's easy for people to default to their predisposed ideological positions but allowing different views to manifest in the open allows for a more dynamic culture, one that embodies worthwhile discussions about what good policy or philosophy entails. Only by improving the discourse among our neighbors can our society approach these topics with a healthy skepticism in the exploration of truth. I often quote, 'I'm not trying to win; I'm trying to get it right'