https://patrickdesjardins.com/philosophyEssays and notes by Patrick DesjardinsenThu, 18 Jun 2026 00:00:00 +0000https://patrickdesjardins.com/philosophy/the-peacock-perfect-trialIn a quiet clearing at the edge of a forest, there lived a peacock known far and wide for his elegance and certainty. His feathers were always perfectly arranged. His voice carried authority. And above all, he believed he understood excellence better than any creature around him. One day, the peacoc…Sun, 14 Jun 2026 00:00:00 +0000https://patrickdesjardins.com/philosophy/the-peacock-perfect-trialhttps://patrickdesjardins.com/philosophy/can-we-know-anything-with-certaintyIn this essay, I argue that human beings cannot possess absolute certainty about any claim concerning the world. What appears certain in one era often becomes untrue because of new data and perspectives. I take a skeptical approach to explore the relationship between certainty and knowledge. This po…Wed, 03 Jun 2026 00:00:00 +0000https://patrickdesjardins.com/philosophy/can-we-know-anything-with-certaintyhttps://patrickdesjardins.com/philosophy/the-roster-who-was-asked-to-flyAt the edge of a wide and quiet farm lived a farmer who prided himself on doing things better than the past. For years, a simple routine had served him well. Each morning, a rooster stood upon the fence and crowed. The farm awoke. The day began. It was not complicated. But one day, the farmer watche…Mon, 01 Jun 2026 00:00:00 +0000https://patrickdesjardins.com/philosophy/the-roster-who-was-asked-to-flyhttps://patrickdesjardins.com/philosophy/the-bridge-that-listened-to-no-oneAlong a winding river that split a forest in two, there lived a beaver named Orin. Orin was known as a builder. Strong, organized, and proud of his work, he had already constructed several dams and crossings. Creatures from both sides of the river depended on him. One season, Orin announced a new pr…Sun, 24 May 2026 00:00:00 +0000https://patrickdesjardins.com/philosophy/the-bridge-that-listened-to-no-onehttps://patrickdesjardins.com/philosophy/the-many-kingdoms-of-the-meadowBeyond a winding stream and under a wide sky stretched a great meadow divided into many kingdoms. Each was ruled by its own kind. The lions governed the golden plains. The eagles ruled the high cliffs. The ants commanded vast underground cities. The bees organized their humming fields of flowers. Ea…Thu, 14 May 2026 00:00:00 +0000https://patrickdesjardins.com/philosophy/the-many-kingdoms-of-the-meadowhttps://patrickdesjardins.com/philosophy/philosophy-journeyI have always been captivated by the deep questions of life. My mind has a tendency to wander, at times, I even find myself getting lost in the sheer scale of my own thoughts. Up until now, my education, hobbies, and major life choices have largely been driven by the need to improve my position in a…Fri, 08 May 2026 00:00:00 +0000https://patrickdesjardins.com/philosophy/philosophy-journey