Can the stories we tell about the future actually help bring it into existence? In this episode of The Observing I, I explore the work of philosopher Nick Land, accelerationism and the strange idea of hyperstition, where fiction begins to shape reality. From self-fulfilling prophecies to artificial intelligence and technological change, we examine how our expectations influence what happens next, often without us realising it. We may have rather more influence over the futures we anticipate than we think, although that doesn't necessarily mean we're in control of them.

The same problem becomes rather more personal when we consider the stories we tell about ourselves. Our identities are shaped by experience, by other people's expectations, and by the labels we've gradually come to accept as descriptions of who we are. Those beliefs can influence the opportunities we pursue, the decisions we make, and the possibilities we dismiss without really considering them. Perhaps recognising these patterns gives us an opportunity to question some of the limits we've taken for granted. Are we describing who we are, or quietly deciding who we're allowed to become?

Much love, David x

As it’s Halloween in a few days, I decided to focus on Edgar Allen Poe and the Tell-Tale Heart for this months live session. There’s a reading of Poe’s magnificently unhinged narrator, some philosophical poking about in the darker corners of the human mind, and the somewhat question of whether we’d actually recognise our own self-deception if it slapped us in the face. Given that most of us can barely admit to taking a wrong turn without blaming the sat-nav, I’m not terribly optimistic.

As always, the Q&A descended into a glorious car crash. Careening off the rails into the nature of consciousness, Buddhism, techno feudalism, and my apparently limitless ability to cock up a livestream. I also managed to acquire roughly six months’ worth of future episode ideas, courtesy of some wonderfully enthusiastic listeners (this is all just a thinly veiled plot to farm for ideas).

Huge thanks to everyone who joined in and contributed to the chaos. The recording is below. Come for the philosophy, stay for the increasingly questionable life choices of a man talking nonsense about existential dread at two in the morning.

I run these at 8PM EST on the last Tuesday of every month. Look out for the Substack Live posts that go up a week before the event. The next one is on the 24th of November.

Much love, David x

There's something rather strange about watching a horror film and complaining that it wasn't frightening enough. We spend much of our lives trying to avoid danger, discomfort and anything that might genuinely terrify us. Yet we'll happily pay to experience those very feelings, provided there's a screen between us and whatever's trying to kill us. Why do we deliberately seek out something we'd normally do our best to avoid?

In this episode of The Observing I, I explore philosopher Noël Carroll's paradox of horror, along with the arguments of Berys Gaut and some fascinating psychological research into why fear can sometimes be enjoyable. From our fascination with monsters to the peculiar pleasure of being frightened, we'll consider what horror reveals about our relationship with uncomfortable emotions, and why we keep coming back for more.

Much love, David x

Check out our new partner, daystoic.com. DayStoic delivers a free Stoic quote to your inbox every morning, giving you a little philosophy to think about before the usual distractions take over.