Our Human Condition

Identity

Should Artists Get to Stay Anonymous?

Matthew Clemente, Ph.D. and David Goodman, Ph.D. on April 6, 2026

After concealing his identity for decades, the street artist Banksy was recently unmasked by journalists—raising important questions about the nature of anonymity and the public's desire to know.

After concealing his identity for decades, the street artist Banksy was recently unmasked by journalists—raising important questions about the nature of anonymity and the public's desire to know.

Psychology

Reimaging Psychology or Revitalizing the Humanities?

Matthew Clemente, Ph.D. and David Goodman, Ph.D. on February 26, 2026

What if no topic or question was off limits because psychology understood itself to be a convening discipline in which every aspect of human experience meets?

What if no topic or question was off limits because psychology understood itself to be a convening discipline in which every aspect of human experience meets?

Therapy

The Poetics of Psychotherapy

Matthew Clemente, Ph.D. and David Goodman, Ph.D. on December 18, 2025

Virginia Woolf wrote that we suffer from a "poverty of language" when we're in pain. Therapists must help patients to discover a "poetics of suffering" to express their afflictions.

Virginia Woolf wrote that we suffer from a "poverty of language" when we're in pain. Therapists must help patients to discover a "poetics of suffering" to express their afflictions.

Therapy

Creative Writing as Play Therapy

Matthew Clemente, Ph.D. and David Goodman, Ph.D. on December 4, 2025

Authors often speak of the therapeutic nature of writing. Why this is the case, however, is rarely theorized. An insight might be gleaned by means of analogy with child's play.

Authors often speak of the therapeutic nature of writing. Why this is the case, however, is rarely theorized. An insight might be gleaned by means of analogy with child's play.

Embarrassment

Sometimes It’s Good to Be Embarrassed

Matthew Clemente, Ph.D. and David Goodman, Ph.D. on November 9, 2025

Nobody likes to feel embarrassed. Embarrassment can lead to shame and self-loathing. And yet, there are times when feeling embarrassed is not only necessary but good.

Nobody likes to feel embarrassed. Embarrassment can lead to shame and self-loathing. And yet, there are times when feeling embarrassed is not only necessary but good.

Artificial Intelligence

Do Not Trust Robotic Birds

Matthew Clemente, Ph.D. and David Goodman, Ph.D. on October 6, 2025

In "The Nightingale," by Hans Christian Andersen, we are offered a vivid depiction of one of the greatest temptations and tragedies of our technological age.

In "The Nightingale," by Hans Christian Andersen, we are offered a vivid depiction of one of the greatest temptations and tragedies of our technological age.

Philosophy

Are You Your Body?

Matthew Clemente, Ph.D. and David Goodman, Ph.D. on August 29, 2025

We tend to think of our personalities as arising from our psychological lives. Yet if we insist that the psyche is the true self, we run the risk of dismissing our individuality.

We tend to think of our personalities as arising from our psychological lives. Yet if we insist that the psyche is the true self, we run the risk of dismissing our individuality.

Therapy

Are We Over-Therapizing the Youth Mental Health Crisis?

Matthew Clemente, Ph.D. and David Goodman, Ph.D. on August 5, 2025

Today's youths are the most anxious, depressed, and medicated generation on record. Those of us in the mental health field must consider what role our work plays in the crisis.

Today's youths are the most anxious, depressed, and medicated generation on record. Those of us in the mental health field must consider what role our work plays in the crisis.

Artificial Intelligence

Is Generative AI Alive?

Matthew Clemente, Ph.D. and David Goodman, Ph.D. on July 5, 2025

The advent of artificial intelligence has raised a number of perplexing questions. Chief among them is how we ought to relate to the devices we create.

The advent of artificial intelligence has raised a number of perplexing questions. Chief among them is how we ought to relate to the devices we create.

Attention

Learning to Live in the Present

Matthew Clemente, Ph.D. and David Goodman, Ph.D. on June 2, 2025

We are often caught between anxiety over the future and remorse over the past. Yet philosophers teach that only the present moment truly exists. How can we learn to live in it?

We are often caught between anxiety over the future and remorse over the past. Yet philosophers teach that only the present moment truly exists. How can we learn to live in it?

Therapy

Liberating Psychotherapy, Society, and Yourself

Matthew Clemente, Ph.D. and David Goodman, Ph.D. on April 29, 2025

Liberatory therapy fosters social imagination, helping us to envision how authentic selves can be cultivated in societies that support human dignity and thriving.

Liberatory therapy fosters social imagination, helping us to envision how authentic selves can be cultivated in societies that support human dignity and thriving.

Freudian Psychology

On Kissing and Other Perversions

Matthew Clemente, Ph.D. and David Goodman, Ph.D. on April 3, 2025

Freud's ideas are often maligned as obscure and even bizarre. Nevertheless, his works are still worth reading, even for those who disagree with his conclusions.

Freud's ideas are often maligned as obscure and even bizarre. Nevertheless, his works are still worth reading, even for those who disagree with his conclusions.

Philosophy

What Is the Point of Art?

Matthew Clemente, Ph.D. and David Goodman, Ph.D. on March 3, 2025

Understanding life away from screens, and asking new questions.

Understanding life away from screens, and asking new questions.

Artificial Intelligence

Can AI Replace Your Therapist?

Matthew Clemente, Ph.D. and David Goodman, Ph.D. on February 1, 2025

Recent studies suggest that patients are more comfortable talking to chatbots than human therapists. Once we understand why, we can ask whether we ought to.

Recent studies suggest that patients are more comfortable talking to chatbots than human therapists. Once we understand why, we can ask whether we ought to.

Dementia

Dementia's Tragic Promise

Matthew Clemente, Ph.D. and David Goodman, Ph.D. on December 13, 2024

Personal Perspective: Watching another descend into dementia is torturous. Such experiences, however, can give rise to vital reflections.

Personal Perspective: Watching another descend into dementia is torturous. Such experiences, however, can give rise to vital reflections.

Deception

Are There Good Lies?

Matthew Clemente, Ph.D. and David Goodman, Ph.D. on November 27, 2024

We often view lying as immoral. And yet, certain kinds of lies are a vital part of human relations. Deception can even help us to reimagine what is possible for our lives.

We often view lying as immoral. And yet, certain kinds of lies are a vital part of human relations. Deception can even help us to reimagine what is possible for our lives.

Philosophy

The Peril and Promise of Technology

Matthew Clemente, Ph.D. and David Goodman, Ph.D. on November 1, 2024

Technology is something that both enhances and encumbers our lives. This contrast leaves us feeling deeply ambivalent and reminds us that all human creations bring help and harm.

Technology is something that both enhances and encumbers our lives. This contrast leaves us feeling deeply ambivalent and reminds us that all human creations bring help and harm.

Happiness

Don’t Just Survive, Flourish

Matthew Clemente, Ph.D. and David Goodman, Ph.D. on September 30, 2024

Living a fulfilling life may not seem possible in the midst of suffering. How then are we to flourish when facing adversity? Learning to appreciate literature and art can help.

Living a fulfilling life may not seem possible in the midst of suffering. How then are we to flourish when facing adversity? Learning to appreciate literature and art can help.

Philosophy

Resisting the “Me” Culture Can Lead to Greater Fulfillment

Matthew Clemente, Ph.D. and David Goodman, Ph.D. on August 28, 2024

We live in a culture that promotes happiness at all costs. Paradoxically, this emphasis on happiness only tends to make us unhappy. Self-denial offers more fulfillment than self-indulgence.

We live in a culture that promotes happiness at all costs. Paradoxically, this emphasis on happiness only tends to make us unhappy. Self-denial offers more fulfillment than self-indulgence.

Parenting

You Won’t Be Here Forever

Matthew Clemente, Ph.D. and David Goodman, Ph.D. on July 15, 2024

As parents, our job is to prepare our children for the day when they will need to live without us. We will struggle to do so, however, if we won't contemplate our own mortality.

As parents, our job is to prepare our children for the day when they will need to live without us. We will struggle to do so, however, if we won't contemplate our own mortality.