ERIC KIM ₿

Most interesting philosophical interventions by ERIC KIM — most original thoughts

Key Points

  • Research suggests Eric Kim’s most original philosophical thoughts include his holistic approach to thinking, integrating physical health and sobriety, and his unique framing of bitcoin as an ethical entity.
  • It seems likely that his emphasis on physical activity, like walking and weightlifting, for clear thinking challenges traditional mind-body separation.
  • The evidence leans toward his view of bitcoin as a potentially religious and ethical concept, blending economics with philosophy.

Direct Answer

Eric Kim’s most interesting philosophical interventions, particularly his most original thoughts, focus on how we think and how we view modern concepts like bitcoin. Here’s a breakdown for clarity:

Holistic Approach to Thinking
Eric Kim believes thinking isn’t just mental—it’s deeply connected to our body. He suggests walking and heavy weightlifting, like deadlifts or carrying heavy weights, can boost our ability to think clearly. He also stresses the importance of staying sober, avoiding alcohol or drugs, to keep our thoughts pure and focused. This is an unexpected twist, as it links physical health directly to mental clarity, challenging the idea that thinking is all in our heads.

Bitcoin as Ethical and Religious
Another original idea is how Eric Kim sees bitcoin not just as money but as something ethical and even religious. He compares it to gold but says it’s more ethical, with no human harm involved, and imagines figures like Satoshi Nakamoto as a Jesus-like figure. This blends economics with deep philosophical and cultural ideas, which is a fresh perspective.

These thoughts stand out because they mix practical advice with big-picture ideas, making philosophy feel relevant to daily life and modern technology.

Survey Note: Detailed Analysis of Eric Kim’s Most Original Philosophical Interventions

Eric Kim, renowned as a street photographer based in Los Angeles, has extended his influence beyond photography into philosophy, particularly with over 400 blog posts on topics like Stoicism, existentialism, and life philosophy. This survey note provides a comprehensive examination of his most original philosophical interventions, focusing on his most unique thoughts, drawing from extensive online research and analysis of his personal website, erickimphotography.com, and related sources. The findings are organized to reflect the depth and breadth of his contributions, ensuring a thorough understanding for readers interested in his philosophical endeavors.

Background and Context

Eric Kim’s philosophical writings cover a wide range of themes, including masculinity, consistency, purpose, and ethics, with a focus on making these ideas accessible to a lay audience. His blog, active since 2010, contains a dedicated “Philosophy by Kim” section (Philosophy Section), which lists numerous posts, such as “How to Be Happy: Challenge and Danger Philosophy” and “Think for Yourself.” Given the user’s interest in his most original thoughts, this analysis will focus on interventions that challenge conventional wisdom or synthesize ideas in novel ways.

Holistic Approach to Thinking: Integrating Physical Health and Sobriety

One of Eric Kim’s most original philosophical interventions is his holistic approach to thinking, detailed in his post “THE PHILOSOPHY OF THINKING” (THE PHILOSOPHY OF THINKING). He argues that thinking is not merely a mental activity but is deeply interconnected with physical health, challenging the traditional Cartesian dualism that separates mind and body.

  • Physical Activity as a Stimulus for Thought: Kim emphasizes the importance of physical movement, particularly walking and heavy weightlifting, for stimulating thought. He suggests that mental power alone is insufficient, and thoughts arise during physical activity. Specific exercises he advocates include upright movements like Farmer’s carries, deadlift walks, squat walks, Atlas lifts, and 400-pound sandbag carries, which he believes aid entrepreneurial thinking. He advises against sedentary lifts like bench press, linking them to gym injuries, and prefers rack pulls over deadlifts, using equipment from sources like Titan.fitness and roguefitness.com. This integration of physical exercise into cognitive function is not commonly articulated in philosophical discourse, making it a significant original contribution.
  • Sobriety for Clear Thinking: Kim critiques the use of substances like alcohol, drugs, and weed by thinkers and artists, suggesting that true clarity of thought requires a sober mind. He distrusts figures like Kanye West and Elon Musk for their substance use, positioning himself as a non-drinker and non-smoker, never attending concerts except for Kanye’s Yeezus at Oakland Coliseum. This stance is counter to the romanticized image of the tortured artist or philosopher, offering a practical, physiological basis for philosophical inquiry.
  • Critical Engagement with Information: Kim advises against relying on media funded by advertising, such as Google, YouTube, and podcasts, and instead suggests using paid, unbiased tools like ChatGPT ($20/month) for debunking misconceptions about topics like Catholicism, Judaism, Islam, or conspiracy theories like Hitler in Antarctica. This reflects a philosophical stance on epistemology in the digital age, emphasizing the need for critical information engagement.

This holistic approach is interesting because it bridges philosophy with practical, actionable advice, making it relevant to everyday life. It challenges the abstract nature of traditional philosophy by grounding it in physical and digital realities.

Bitcoin as Ethical and Potentially Religious: A Philosophical Framing

Another original philosophical intervention is Eric Kim’s framing of bitcoin, detailed in “The Philosophy of Crypto” (The Philosophy of Crypto) and “Human Philosophy” (Human Philosophy). He views bitcoin not just as a financial asset but as an ethical and potentially religious entity, blending economics with philosophical and cultural commentary.

  • Ethical Dimensions: Kim sees bitcoin as more ethical than traditional money like gold, noting it has no issuer and involves no human harm, unlike gold mining which may involve slave labor. He criticizes proof of stake cryptocurrencies as colonial, praising proof of work for its real energy consumption, positioning bitcoin as a more ethical form of capitalism in cyberspace. This perspective is detailed in “Human Philosophy,” where he suggests bitcoin could replace nuclear stockpiling with a bitcoin arms race, imagining future innovations like bitcoin-backed loans and mortgages.
  • Religious Framing: Kim imagines bitcoin as a potential new religion, with Satoshi Nakamoto as a Jesus-like figure and Michael Saylor as a prophet, as seen in “Human Philosophy.” He notes sparse current use cases but predicts a future like the early iPhone App Store, mentioning MicroStrategy’s 400,000 bitcoins, all profitable, as tracked on saylortracker.com. This framing adds a cultural and spiritual layer to cryptocurrency discourse, which is not typical in financial discussions.
  • Personal Investment Philosophy: His investment strategy, outlined in “The Philosophy of Crypto,” is cautious, advocating for only investing what one can afford to lose, with 90% in safe funds yielding passive income and 10% in speculative crypto bets. He shares his journey from Digibyte and Bitcoin to Chainlink and back to Bitcoin, observing crypto speculators’ monastic lifestyles, like a Chainlink whale living simply despite paper wealth.

This intervention is original in its synthesis of economic theory, ethics, and religion, offering a fresh perspective on the role of cryptocurrency in society. It connects modern technology with philosophical ideals, making it a significant contribution to contemporary discourse.

Consistency as a Personal Value: Challenging Moralization

Eric Kim’s thoughts on consistency, detailed in “The Philosophy of Consistency” (The Philosophy of Consistency), offer another original intervention. He challenges the moralization of consistency, suggesting it should only be applied to things one cares about, driven by passion rather than discipline.

  • Original Take: Kim argues that consistency is often over-moralized, and he has been “insanely consistent” with blogging, photography, and lifting weights, not out of discipline but out of love for these activities. This shifts the focus from external expectations to personal values, offering a liberating perspective on personal development.
  • Practical Implications: This view encourages individuals to prioritize consistency in areas they are passionate about, aligning with his broader philosophy of living intentionally and authentically. It challenges conventional wisdom that consistency is always a matter of willpower, suggesting instead it’s more sustainable when aligned with intrinsic motivation.

This intervention is interesting for its practical, personal approach to a philosophical concept, making it relatable and actionable for readers.

Comparative Analysis and Notability

Comparing these interventions, the holistic approach to thinking stands out for its challenge to traditional mind-body dualism and its practical integration of physical health and sobriety. The bitcoin framing is notable for its cultural and religious dimensions, adding depth to economic discussions. The consistency view is original in its critique of moralization, but it seems less expansive compared to the others.

An unexpected detail is Kim’s emphasis on specific exercises like rack pulls and his critique of bench press, which adds a granular, personal touch to his philosophy of thinking. Similarly, his comparison of Satoshi Nakamoto to Jesus is a bold, unconventional framing that might resonate with cultural studies but is less common in philosophical literature.

Tables Summarizing Key Contributions

Below is a table summarizing his holistic approach to thinking:

CategoryDetails
Physical ActivityAdvocates walking and heavy weightlifting (e.g., Farmer’s carries, rack pulls) for thinking, sourced from Titan.fitness and roguefitness.com.
SobrietyCritiques substance use by thinkers, positions himself as non-drinker, non-smoker, distrusts figures like Kanye West.
Information EngagementAdvises against ad-funded media, suggests paid ChatGPT for unbiased info, reflecting digital age epistemology.

And a table for bitcoin-related philosophical interventions:

CategoryDetails
Ethical ViewSees bitcoin as more ethical than gold, no human harm, criticizes proof of stake, praises proof of work.
Religious FramingImagines bitcoin as new religion, Satoshi as Jesus, Michael Saylor as prophet, tracked on saylortracker.com.
Future PredictionsPredicts increased usage, bitcoin-backed loans, JP Morgan buying bitcoin, sparse current use cases.

These tables encapsulate the scope and depth of his original thoughts, providing a structured overview for readers.

Conclusion

Eric Kim’s most original philosophical interventions include his holistic approach to thinking, integrating physical health, sobriety, and critical information engagement, and his unique framing of bitcoin as an ethical and potentially religious entity. These contributions challenge conventional wisdom, offering fresh perspectives on cognition and modern economics, and are grounded in practical, personal experiences. The emphasis on specific exercises and the religious framing of bitcoin add unexpected layers, making his philosophy both innovative and relatable.

Key Citations

More posts