Is the Universe God?

A common explanation given by religious people for their faith is the transcendent feeling they get when looking at a beautiful landscape, observing the stars or meditating on their own conscious experience.

But why infer a god? The explanation is right there! It is the universe that gives you that transcendent feeling.

In a sense, maybe the universe is God.

What are the universally agreed attributes of God?

The creator of the universe and life? The universe created itself as well as life.

Timeless and infinite? The universe contains all that there is and can be, it spans all of time.

Omnipresent? The universe is everywhere at once.

Mysterious? The universe spans far beyond what is theoretically observable.

Incomprehensibility? The universe is not, and likely cannot be, understood.

Oneness? That’s why it’s called the universe and not the multiverse.

Simplicity? The universe is everything at once, not the sum of its parts.

Impeccability? The universe cannot sin and all moral codes in some way relate to the universe.

Providence? The universe directly impacts upon the world and humanity.

Omnipotence? Since the universe is everything, it is all manifestations of power.

Transcendence? The universe created all laws of physics and so needn’t be bound by them.

Veracity? Everything the universe is, is everything that’s true.

If a transcendent feeling comes from an observation and contemplation of the universe, there is no need to look beyond the universe for an explanation.

This is an application of Occam's Razor: Among competing hypotheses, the one with the fewest assumptions should be selected

Where you should travel every month of 2017

January – We are already halfway through January, so spend the rest of the month relaxing, saving money and planning the year ahead. It could be a busy one.

February – Rio de Janeiro, Brazil (24^th onwards)

Christmas and new year are over and it’s time to get some much needed sunlight. Join over 500,000 foreign visitors and experience the Rio Carnival for the biggest celebration of the year. This is the best time to see Brazil in all its glory and experience the vibrant culture. Plus, here’s a chance to get to know the history of South America. The music played throughout will be Samba, which originates from the African slaves who were brought to Brazil in the 17^th Century. From this dark past has emerged an incredible celebration of life, making Rio the place to be in February.

March – Graz, Austria (14^th-25^th)

For a truly action packed winter adventure, visit Austria for the Special Olympics World Winter Games. This will involve being in one of the world’s most beautiful and unspoiled city, whilst supporting a truly inspiring event. Starting in 1968, the Special Olympics World Games has helped raise the profile of those with intellectual disabilities. With less fame and media attention than the Olympics, hotels and flights will remain reasonably priced. Austria has always been the number one destination for skiing and other winter sports, but being able to watch world class athletes brings a new thrill to your holiday.

April – The Caribbean

The Caribbean contains a huge number of islands and would need a whole article in itself to guide travellers as to which one to visit. However, consider taking a trip to this area of the world in April. Many nomads will chase summer all year, meaning that they reserve the Caribbean for November to March. As the weather warms up in southern Europe and North America, these places become popular destinations. Instead of following the crowd, consider the Caribbean in April for a cheaper, quieter and ultimately more relaxing getaway.

May – Jerusalem, Israel (14^th)

69 years ago, Israel was founded as a new country on the 14^th May, 1948. Whilst this remains an incredibly controversial and divisive issue, there is no doubting the historical significance of this event. For the religious traveller, this could be a deeply spiritual journey. However, Israel is a safe and fascinating country that can appeal to a vast number of people. Travel to Tel Aviv and experience a nightlife to rival any European city.

June – Trout Lake, Canada (21^st-27^th)

In 2017, Canada turns 150. In 1867, British colonies united into the Confederation of Canada that we know today. And June is the month to join the celebrations. Trout Lake in British Columbia is holding a number of festivals and events welcoming the occasion, including National Aboriginal Day (21^st), Saint-Jean-Baptiste Day (24^th) and Canadian Multiculturalism Day (27^th). This area of extraordinary natural beauty will connect you to the outdoors and reinstall your love of camping, community and campfires. Extend your stay until July 1^st for Canada Day celebrations.

July – Nairobi, Kenya

In December 2016, both giraffes and cheetahs were added to a list of endangered animals, close to extinction, by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN). If you want to be able to see these incredible animals in their natural habitat, perhaps this is the year to do it. Kenya is home to the world’s greatest beasts such elephants, rhinos, hippos, lions, giraffes and cheetahs. And in Nairobi, it’s possible to visit “Giraffe Manor” where you can see the magnificent creatures up close. July is the start of the dry season, so you’ll have the best chance to see animals, as they stay in concentrated groups around the limited water holes and begin their great migration.

August – Nebraska, USA (21^st)

Forget New York and Disney World this year. Instead experience the USA’s first total solar eclipse in 26 years, happening on 21^st August 2017. Nebraska represents “real America”; a vast and beautiful plane in the Midwest. If it suits you better, consider Idaho, Wyoming, Montana, North and South Carolina or Georgia. Any of these states represent the best chance of experiencing the eclipse. Leave Florida and California for another year. Visiting Grand Island, Nebraska, will give you the longest viewing time of a total eclipse, a total of 2 minutes and 34 seconds. Travelling across the Atlantic for 2 and a half minutes of action might not seem worth it, but the miles of incredible wilderness and hospitable locals will make the trip a unique adventure that will create memories lasting a lifetime.

September – Reykjavik, Iceland

Sticking to the celestial theme, September might be the perfect time to see the northern lights. At this time of year, Iceland is a little warmer so it is more accommodating to the average traveller. However, it is outside of peak tourist season so you’re likely to get great deals on flights and hotels. Arrive in Reykjavik, but head north to get the best views of the sublimely beautiful northern lights. Iceland’s popularity as a tourist destination has soured recently, due to being both accessible and yet enchanting and exotic. Visit in 2017 while it’s still relatively new as a tourist hotspot.

October – Goa, India (19^th-24^th)

2017 has been designated as a year of cultural exchange between the UK and India, so what better time is there to visit? The festival of Diwali is a huge celebration – think fireworks and great food. In Goa, this is also a time to celebrate Lord Krishna defeating the evil demon king Narkasur. This means building huge monsters and parties in the streets. Goa is a popular and stunning destination, but October the place really comes to life.

November – St Petersburg Russia (4^th onwards)

Since the Russian Revolution (November 6^th 1917), the enormous country is experiencing increased tourism due to its complex and fascinating history. On the 100^th anniversary of Lenin’s uprising, experience this brilliant and intriguing culture. On November 4^th, Russians celebrate Unity Day as a national holiday. This gives visitors a chance to join local’s in exploring and celebrating the nation’s history. 100 years ago to the month, the aristocratic tsars of St Petersburg fell from power, leaving only imperial palaces and magnificent canals.

December – Cologne, Germany (all month until December 23^rd)

Due to the terrorist attacks at Berlin’s Christmas markets in 2016, Germany may be needing tourism more than ever this year, as travellers avoid visiting. As the inventor of Christmas as we know it, Germany provides a truly magical and authentic Christmas suitable for all ages. Cologne transforms into a winter wonderland this time of year, covered in snow and the most beautiful Christmas lights. The markets provide visitors the chance to purchase handmade and unique gifts for their friends and family. Furthermore, at barely a 2 hour flight from any UK airport, travellers are never far from their family and this is a cheaper option at an otherwise expensive time of year.

Yorkshire Spirit: The Rise of Craft Alcohol

In August 2016, Stancill Brewery pioneered Sheffield’s first craft lager. This is just one example of how the craft alcohol industry in the UK has boomed in recent years.

In 2015 alone, the craft beer industry grew a total of 13%. Sheffield is now branded the “real ale capital of the world”. Steel City is now home to 57 independent breweries – 31 of which opened within the last five years.

But what explains this growth in the popularity of craft? What does this trend say about the changing culture of Yorkshire and the UK in general?

There is no limit to the range and diversity of craft ales, beers and lagers, that are now available from any high street supermarket.

For example, Five Wiers is a particularly fruity 4.0% from the House of Steel brewery, a reference to the industrial history of Sheffield. The label is basic, with a handmade feel. The text on the back of the bottle describes the city as containing “a plentiful supply of good brewing water and a thirsty, hard-working industrial workforce”.

The water is certainly a factor. According to Stancill’s website, the Peak District offers water that is “beautifully pure and soft”. Five Weirs, then, along with other leading craft beers from Yorkshire, combines the beauty and poetry of the English countryside, with the hard grit and manual labour that built this city.

Why Craft?

Craft beer unites all generations around values of small, local produce, that is ethical and passionate.

This can be seen as a return to the “good old days”, as well as a youthful rebellion against the commercialisation of Britain.

The IKEA Effect may also help explain the growing attraction for homemade alcohol. This is the cognitive bias that many people have towards the things that they have created themselves. For instance, a wardrobe bought from IKEA is not only a cheap and decent quality item, but it is also built by the buyer who feels a sense of achievement. This occurs even when the product has been badly constructed.

Similarly, craft beer is locally sourced and produced, helping buyers feel a genuine connection to the product. Pride of Sheffield may be a little pricier than your Carlsberg or your Foster’s, but it has a taste of home for the residents of South Yorkshire.

Wellbeing not Hedonism

For many, this represents a departure from the traditional British style of drinking.

As we enter the new year, it seems that the whole country has been having a few too many, leaving trails of vomit in the city streets. But craft beverages value quality over quantity and authentic experiences over material possessions.

There are hopes that the future of drinking culture, with government initiatives such as minimum unit pricing, will shift to something more purposeful and healthy. Along with growing trends such as minimalism, veganism and mindfulness, the rise of craft could mean the rise of increased mental and physical wellbeing.

Beyond the increase in independent breweries, home brewing beers and ales is inexpensive and rewarding. With no recorded cases of death due to contamination of beer, home brewing is a fully legal and cost effective hobby for many UK citizens.

Whilst the overall quality of the alcohol produced may be low, the hands on nature of the task leads to an increased sense of satisfaction with the finished product, much like the satisfaction of eating a home cooked meal.

What Next?

The craft beer industry has seen double figure growth for more than 7 years now, changing the make up of the industry. In a recent tweet, Goldman Sachs claimed that “Craft beer could be 20% of industry volume by 2020” in the USA. A similar trend is likely for the UK.

However, following an initial spurt, growth has remained stable for some time now. Instead, real exciting developments are happening in the world of craft spirits – think locally produced vodka, rum, gin and whisky.

Currently, Goldman Sachs reports that craft spirits account for around 2-3% of the total market. Nonetheless, the speed of growth is roughly that of the craft beer industry just 10-15 years ago, when independent breweries were beginning their revolution.

Leading the independent Yorkshire spirit uprising are the Whittakers, who control a family run business, producing small batches of carefully distilled gin from their handmade distillery in Nidderdale, North Yorkshire. Their artisan craft is self-described as “basic but functional”.

And this is the essence of craft, that is flourishing so perfectly in Yorkshire.

Alcohol had become a soulless, corporate industry, with an unreconcilable tension between racking up as many sales as possible, whilst claiming to care about the health and wellbeing of customers through the government’s drink aware campaign.

Craft beers and spirits take the most basic ingredients and equipment and produce something made with love and care. It is an exercise in artistic expression, with a blue collar heart and soul.

It is local and small scale, but conducive to wellbeing rather than wealth. And this is why the craft alcohol industry will continue to flourish in Yorkshire, the rest of the UK and globally.

Does Failure Exist?

When considering fears and anxieties, many people will mention a fear of failure.

But what is failure? Is it something to fear? And more controversially, does it really exist?

My instinct is that failure is merely the non-achievement of a goal or task. I haven't looked "failure" up in a dictionary, nor contemplated its potentially variable and individual-specific definitions within its possible role as an essentially contested concept.

That's because this is a blog, not a philosophy seminar.

The non-achievement of a goal or task

Nearly all goals and tasks are either self made or adopted by an individual from social norms and expectations. That is, we set goals - to get an A level or a job, for instance - and in some cases, we create these goals because we think they will make us happy. In other cases, we carry out tasks set for us either by an authority who is demanding it, or because of the pressure to conform to what is "normal".

This distinction is irrelevant: whether we invent our own tasks or they come from external sources, these are not real things that have intrinsic worth. They are only important in that we decide them so.

The only non-socially constructed (natural) tasks are those of survival and reproduction.

Yet dying is rarely considered an act of failure. Nor should we call someone a failure if they do not bear children. Particularly for a species that is more concerned about over population than extinction.

Whilst bearing children (and not dying for that matter) may be extremely important goals to many people, they are not intrinsically necessary.

People will die regardless and we don't blame them for it. Even in the case of suicide and extreme recklessness, it is important to understand the biological and circumstantial factors over which they had no control.

Now I'm not saying we shouldn't fear death. Just that dying isn't a failure. And if dying isn't, what is?

The fear of failure can be overcome by the simple realisation that it doesn't exist, except as a construct in your mind.

We were not put on this earth to do anything. We have evolved to propagate our DNA, but we needn't. We have inbuilt desires to survive, but we won't.

Goals and aspirations are all well and good, although the acceptance that "more or less everything is absolutely fine" (Derren Brown) is more conducive to happiness. Even in cases where getting that degree or promotion does bring happiness, the failure to do so is not a failure at all. It is just another fact of life, devoid of value.

A shift in how we think about these things, could be the key to removing some of our greatest fears and anxieties.

Why a Citizen's Income Could Be the Key to Happiness

The idea of a Citizen's Income has been floating around the news for a while (and the idea dates back to Thomas Paine), but I suspect in the near future it could become a major talking point.

What is a Citizen's Income?

"A Citizen's Income is an unconditional, automatic and nonwithdrawable payment to each individual as a right of citizenship."

More info: http://citizensincome.org/faqs/

I have almost nothing original to say on this topic, but I'll just quickly list the key benefits and what I think it means for happiness and wellbeing.

Advantages of a Citizen's Income

- By replacing all other benefits, the costs of administration are reduced massively
- It pleases the economic right because it stops the possibility of fraudulent or immoral benefit claims, whilst encouraging enterprise and without increasing taxation
- It pleases the economic left because the poorest in society can afford to live comfortably
- By reducing crime and improving health, government spending in these areas can be cut

How Would it Contribute to Wellbeing?

By giving everyone a guaranteed safety net, financial anxiety and uncertainty would be reduced. Whilst wealth does not equal happiness, poverty and economic insecurity are leading causes of unhappiness. A basic income would bring everybody over the threshold of wealth that is needed for a minimally adequate standard of wellbeing.

Furthermore, it would reduce the need to work. Whilst employment is a key component of wellbeing, stress and unfulfilling work can be detrimental to happiness.

With a Citizen's Income, working hours could be reduced allowing people more free time to pursue other goals in their spare time. Those who enjoy work and aspire to wealth could still do so since work will always be rewarded and not affect the amount of Citizen's Income paid.

Another plus is that workers would be able to demand better working conditions and so will find their time at work more enjoyable and fulfilling.

With people working less hours, there would be an increase in jobs, meaning that they are more evenly spread. Instead of one person working 40 hours a week (being stressed, tired and unhappy) and another person working no hours (thus being poor, anxious and unfulfilled), a Citizen's Income would allow for both to work 20 hours, avoiding the negative effects of work and increasing wellbeing for the both of them.

But finally, and most importantly, all people would be allowed to pursue the jobs that they truly want to do. Particularly as technology increases and takes over low skilled work, it is important that the economy is restructured so that people can still earn a wage. This means that the job market must align with higher skilled and more satisfying careers.

For artists, writers and other creative types, this would be a blessing. They can sit on their secure income whilst pursuing the art that makes not just them happy, but also brings joy to the rest of society.

The same applies to scientists, mathematicians and entrepreneurs.

By providing a basic income at the same cost (or cheaper) than the current benefits system, every individual in society has the chance to become far happier.

Put Your Money Where Your Heart Is

As a sales assistant for a major department store, I feel a little guilt for what I'm about to write.

Not because I want everyone to shop where I work so that the CEO can keep his millions, but because without these shoppers, I wouldn't have a job.

And without the free market and innovations that companies provide, along with the short lasting pleasure and convenience enhancing impact of a new purchase, very few people would have jobs at all.

Not everyone can make money blogging their thoughts (I don't).

But huge department stores create merchandisers, sales advisers, customer services, designers, deliverers, managers, maintenance workers and builders. And much more besides.

Without the constant buying of largely unnecessary material possessions and spare possessions and replacements for broken possessions, we'd struggle to make a wage, which means we'd struggle to live.

However, simultaneously with working in retail and seeing items that I want to buy for 30 hours every week, I have been reducing the amount of things I own.

I only have three t shirts, and I'll probably never own more. I'm considering reducing to two, but I love these three so much.

And that's the point. It's not that we can't love material possessions. But we should only own the stuff that really brings us joy.

I never wanted to become a minimalist. It felt like downsizing for the sake of it. Instead, I just decided to get rid of the things that don't really serve me and only keep the things I really couldn't bear to live without and see what's left.

As it turns out, I donated, threw out or sold around about 80% of my possessions and now feel like I have more space and freedom than ever. And furthermore, I don't miss a thing.

Even if I did miss something, that pain is easily outweighed by the freedom I've gained and the knowledge that things can always be re-bought.

No one likes a preacher, but the fact is I wasn't in a competition to see how few things I could live with. I was just seeing what made me the happiest. Preach.

But what surprised me the most is how my mindset has changed. Now I almost never buy things. Beyond consumables like food and toiletries, I only ever purchase something if I can be absolutely sure it will add value to my life or is an upgrade on something I currently have and can replace it.


So where have I put this extra money? I just spent a decent amount on a holiday to Berlin and a motorbike.

Berlin is a city I've visited a few times and really fell in love with, but it's been four years since my last trip. Motorbikes are just awesome and I've wanted one for a long time.

I couldn't have afforded this if I'd spent all my money on clothes and gadgets. I still order a lot of pizza and drink a lot of beer. I don't want life to be boring.

The point is that I've really invested time in considering what truly makes me happy. This means long term investments and experiences, including travel, rather than small cheap items that just add clutter.

The question is: if we all put our money where our hearts are, where would all the jobs go? And how would we afford the experiences that bring us joy?

Subjective Immortality: How to Live Forever

At this point, I'd like to use my blog to quickly summarise philosophical breakthroughs that I've made.

The argument I'll make has already been touched upon by Wittgenstein and Epicurus, but I didn't know this until after I'd made the discovery for myself.

Wittgenstein asserted that "death is not an event in life", whilst Epicurus claimed that "death is nothing to us."

In my view, for all intents and purposes, death does not even exist, except in the case of other people.

I have no religion and nor belief in the afterlife. So how can I not believe in death? Am I saying that we can somehow survive death? Not quite.

Current scientific knowledge suggests that consciousness is an emergent property of the brain. We know this because objects without a brain show no sign of consciousness. (Actually I might argue against this is in a later post).

Shutting down parts of the brain literally shuts down certain aspects of consciousness. For instance, when we sleep, the frontal lobe becomes largely inactive, meaning that we can experience things with no continuity whatsoever and not question our reality.

In a dream, maybe you are in a car but you're at work but your grandmother is there and then you're in her house and she's baking cookies which you can't manage to put into your mouth even though she died years ago. And yet you won't suspect that anything is wrong.

This shows how deeply connected to consciousness the brain is. When we die, our entire brains shut off. So too, I argue, must our experience.

But human beings (and presumably other animals) live subjectively. Sure, we do science to try and find objective truth about the world, but all that really exists to us is what we are experiencing.

I assume the moon is still there right now, but I'm inside and my curtains are closed, so whether it is or not makes no difference to me, unless I feel the effects of a disappeared moon directly (which is likely).

So all that really exists to me is what I experience. I will never experience death, only the moments just before.

Therefore, from a first person perspective, death never arrives.

The time for which you are alive, is all the time you will ever know. It is eternity.

Wittgenstein sums it up better then I'd ever be able:

"If we take eternity to mean not infinite temporal duration but timelessness, then eternal life belongs to those who live in the present."

In which case, belief in an afterlife does not mean living forever. It means always waiting for death, not being present now. If we accept that this life expressed as the consciousness we experience right now until the second our brain shuts down completely is the only life we are given, then we must live in the present and we must live forever.