Mark Fabian
@markfabian.bsky.social
Ass-Prof of Public Policy at Warwick. Work mostly on wellbeing from an interdisciplinary perspective. Interested in *everything*. Run ePODstemology: https://www.buzzsprout.com/1763534/episodes
I'm giving a seminar tomorrow (my first!) on my popular book Beyond Happy: How to rethink happiness and find fulfilment.
It's with the International Society for Quality of Life Studies, register here:
isqols.org/event-6357161
Unlike a podcast, here you can ask me questions!
It's with the International Society for Quality of Life Studies, register here:
isqols.org/event-6357161
Unlike a podcast, here you can ask me questions!
November 11, 2025 at 1:52 PM
I'm giving a seminar tomorrow (my first!) on my popular book Beyond Happy: How to rethink happiness and find fulfilment.
It's with the International Society for Quality of Life Studies, register here:
isqols.org/event-6357161
Unlike a podcast, here you can ask me questions!
It's with the International Society for Quality of Life Studies, register here:
isqols.org/event-6357161
Unlike a podcast, here you can ask me questions!
Whenever I get a little bit of time off I always tell myself to use it napping and I always end up blogging instead:
open.substack.com/pub/profmark...?
open.substack.com/pub/profmark...?
November 10, 2025 at 2:36 PM
Whenever I get a little bit of time off I always tell myself to use it napping and I always end up blogging instead:
open.substack.com/pub/profmark...?
open.substack.com/pub/profmark...?
In today's episode of AI can't predict shit, my Netflix suggestions:
Did you watch Oscar winning mythologist Miyazaki's solarpunk masterpiece, Castle in the Sky?
Well our algorithm thinks you'll love...K-Pop Demon Hunters 😑. It's all anime, right?
It is so bad at discovering stuff for me.
Did you watch Oscar winning mythologist Miyazaki's solarpunk masterpiece, Castle in the Sky?
Well our algorithm thinks you'll love...K-Pop Demon Hunters 😑. It's all anime, right?
It is so bad at discovering stuff for me.
November 7, 2025 at 8:57 PM
In today's episode of AI can't predict shit, my Netflix suggestions:
Did you watch Oscar winning mythologist Miyazaki's solarpunk masterpiece, Castle in the Sky?
Well our algorithm thinks you'll love...K-Pop Demon Hunters 😑. It's all anime, right?
It is so bad at discovering stuff for me.
Did you watch Oscar winning mythologist Miyazaki's solarpunk masterpiece, Castle in the Sky?
Well our algorithm thinks you'll love...K-Pop Demon Hunters 😑. It's all anime, right?
It is so bad at discovering stuff for me.
Here's a cute picture of me and bae wearing our all natural fibres that last 20 years to improve the mood.
Low waste lifestyles are not just possible they're actually quite easy. We just need the tiniest shift away from convenience (dont take away your coffee!) and a big shift to compost.
Low waste lifestyles are not just possible they're actually quite easy. We just need the tiniest shift away from convenience (dont take away your coffee!) and a big shift to compost.
November 3, 2025 at 8:13 AM
Here's a cute picture of me and bae wearing our all natural fibres that last 20 years to improve the mood.
Low waste lifestyles are not just possible they're actually quite easy. We just need the tiniest shift away from convenience (dont take away your coffee!) and a big shift to compost.
Low waste lifestyles are not just possible they're actually quite easy. We just need the tiniest shift away from convenience (dont take away your coffee!) and a big shift to compost.
I knew this book would depress me but my god it is soooo depressing.
I dont understand what people think happens to their trash. In the bin out of mind I guess. But actually all that plastic is now in your food, water, beaches, brain. All so Shein can thrive.
I dont understand what people think happens to their trash. In the bin out of mind I guess. But actually all that plastic is now in your food, water, beaches, brain. All so Shein can thrive.
November 3, 2025 at 8:13 AM
I knew this book would depress me but my god it is soooo depressing.
I dont understand what people think happens to their trash. In the bin out of mind I guess. But actually all that plastic is now in your food, water, beaches, brain. All so Shein can thrive.
I dont understand what people think happens to their trash. In the bin out of mind I guess. But actually all that plastic is now in your food, water, beaches, brain. All so Shein can thrive.
I recall the latter Wittgenstein saying something like:
Philosophy is a disease that purports to be its own cure.
I think it's valuable to train yourself to think like this but only if you also train yourself to think in a variety of other ways. Analytical philosophy on its own is a brain worm.
Philosophy is a disease that purports to be its own cure.
I think it's valuable to train yourself to think like this but only if you also train yourself to think in a variety of other ways. Analytical philosophy on its own is a brain worm.
November 2, 2025 at 3:39 PM
I recall the latter Wittgenstein saying something like:
Philosophy is a disease that purports to be its own cure.
I think it's valuable to train yourself to think like this but only if you also train yourself to think in a variety of other ways. Analytical philosophy on its own is a brain worm.
Philosophy is a disease that purports to be its own cure.
I think it's valuable to train yourself to think like this but only if you also train yourself to think in a variety of other ways. Analytical philosophy on its own is a brain worm.
That requires inventing science fiction scenarios that take you even further from the reality that birthed the intuitions in the first place.
We quickly end up in the realm of "all things considered" and "all possible worlds", which is unlike the world our intuitions make sense of.
We quickly end up in the realm of "all things considered" and "all possible worlds", which is unlike the world our intuitions make sense of.
November 2, 2025 at 3:39 PM
That requires inventing science fiction scenarios that take you even further from the reality that birthed the intuitions in the first place.
We quickly end up in the realm of "all things considered" and "all possible worlds", which is unlike the world our intuitions make sense of.
We quickly end up in the realm of "all things considered" and "all possible worlds", which is unlike the world our intuitions make sense of.
You similarly act stumped when your intuitions only work in the messy middle and not when taken to logical extremes.
Analytical philosophy then typically assumes that we just need to disentangle things into even more parts.
Analytical philosophy then typically assumes that we just need to disentangle things into even more parts.
November 2, 2025 at 3:39 PM
You similarly act stumped when your intuitions only work in the messy middle and not when taken to logical extremes.
Analytical philosophy then typically assumes that we just need to disentangle things into even more parts.
Analytical philosophy then typically assumes that we just need to disentangle things into even more parts.
The method is basically to assume that everything is divisible into parts, that the world is well ordered, and that intuition, emotion, and the body are just reason in disguise rather than distinct ways of accessing truth.
You then act stumped when complex systems are more than their parts.
You then act stumped when complex systems are more than their parts.
November 2, 2025 at 3:39 PM
The method is basically to assume that everything is divisible into parts, that the world is well ordered, and that intuition, emotion, and the body are just reason in disguise rather than distinct ways of accessing truth.
You then act stumped when complex systems are more than their parts.
You then act stumped when complex systems are more than their parts.
In caricature, analytical philosophy is the application of Asperger's syndrome as a research method.
This can be a helpful way to approach many questions.
But is not an inherently superior approach.
And many philosophical 'problems' are only such because of this overly narrow method.
This can be a helpful way to approach many questions.
But is not an inherently superior approach.
And many philosophical 'problems' are only such because of this overly narrow method.
November 2, 2025 at 3:39 PM
In caricature, analytical philosophy is the application of Asperger's syndrome as a research method.
This can be a helpful way to approach many questions.
But is not an inherently superior approach.
And many philosophical 'problems' are only such because of this overly narrow method.
This can be a helpful way to approach many questions.
But is not an inherently superior approach.
And many philosophical 'problems' are only such because of this overly narrow method.
Reading analytical philosophy for work and I am once again struck by the standard structure of these papers:
1. Here we have a situation with a common sense solution
2. But what if I take this common sense solution to its logical extreme?
3. Hmmm, now we have a puzzle.
Just don't?
1. Here we have a situation with a common sense solution
2. But what if I take this common sense solution to its logical extreme?
3. Hmmm, now we have a puzzle.
Just don't?
November 2, 2025 at 3:39 PM
Reading analytical philosophy for work and I am once again struck by the standard structure of these papers:
1. Here we have a situation with a common sense solution
2. But what if I take this common sense solution to its logical extreme?
3. Hmmm, now we have a puzzle.
Just don't?
1. Here we have a situation with a common sense solution
2. But what if I take this common sense solution to its logical extreme?
3. Hmmm, now we have a puzzle.
Just don't?
The paperback of Beyond Happy will be out in January 😀
You can pre-order it at Waterstones now with a phat discount using the code OCTOBER25!
You can pre-order it at Waterstones now with a phat discount using the code OCTOBER25!
October 22, 2025 at 11:27 AM
The paperback of Beyond Happy will be out in January 😀
You can pre-order it at Waterstones now with a phat discount using the code OCTOBER25!
You can pre-order it at Waterstones now with a phat discount using the code OCTOBER25!
This is so nice to read:
October 17, 2025 at 2:47 PM
This is so nice to read:
I don't see this talked about enough. My colleagues in machine learning think this is where the value is in the technology, yet the media & investor ecosystem is flooded with chatbot-related content.
This application of ML is not an environmental disaster either.
www.nytimes.com/2025/09/30/t...
This application of ML is not an environmental disaster either.
www.nytimes.com/2025/09/30/t...
October 1, 2025 at 7:20 AM
I don't see this talked about enough. My colleagues in machine learning think this is where the value is in the technology, yet the media & investor ecosystem is flooded with chatbot-related content.
This application of ML is not an environmental disaster either.
www.nytimes.com/2025/09/30/t...
This application of ML is not an environmental disaster either.
www.nytimes.com/2025/09/30/t...
Talking about my experiences of hair loss at @isqols.bsky.social 2025 conference in beautiful Luxembourg 🇱🇺
July 25, 2025 at 3:49 PM
Talking about my experiences of hair loss at @isqols.bsky.social 2025 conference in beautiful Luxembourg 🇱🇺
July 16, 2025 at 10:19 AM
These are the same people who oppose tax increases
July 12, 2025 at 8:53 AM
These are the same people who oppose tax increases
I was having some deep thots this morning...
If we get a Bernese and a Shiba, will people mostly pat the Berner because he's chonky? #inequality
And will that give the Shiba an eating disorder? 🤔
If we get a Bernese and a Shiba, will people mostly pat the Berner because he's chonky? #inequality
And will that give the Shiba an eating disorder? 🤔
July 9, 2025 at 9:29 AM
I was having some deep thots this morning...
If we get a Bernese and a Shiba, will people mostly pat the Berner because he's chonky? #inequality
And will that give the Shiba an eating disorder? 🤔
If we get a Bernese and a Shiba, will people mostly pat the Berner because he's chonky? #inequality
And will that give the Shiba an eating disorder? 🤔
Fam, let me tell you, when she came out and everyone was screaming and the music was killed and the first lines of the concert were...
"There's a lot of talking going on"
I lost my shit.
Also closing on Amen with the bandit-scarfed Statue of Liberty on stage was <chef's kiss>.
"There's a lot of talking going on"
I lost my shit.
Also closing on Amen with the bandit-scarfed Statue of Liberty on stage was <chef's kiss>.
June 17, 2025 at 8:19 AM
Fam, let me tell you, when she came out and everyone was screaming and the music was killed and the first lines of the concert were...
"There's a lot of talking going on"
I lost my shit.
Also closing on Amen with the bandit-scarfed Statue of Liberty on stage was <chef's kiss>.
"There's a lot of talking going on"
I lost my shit.
Also closing on Amen with the bandit-scarfed Statue of Liberty on stage was <chef's kiss>.
#NoKings we here to see the Queen #Beyonce.
Now ain't the time to play pretend
Now is the time to face the wind
Now is the time to let love in
Can we stand for something?
#Metamodernity #AmericanRequiem.
Now ain't the time to play pretend
Now is the time to face the wind
Now is the time to let love in
Can we stand for something?
#Metamodernity #AmericanRequiem.
June 17, 2025 at 8:14 AM
#NoKings we here to see the Queen #Beyonce.
Now ain't the time to play pretend
Now is the time to face the wind
Now is the time to let love in
Can we stand for something?
#Metamodernity #AmericanRequiem.
Now ain't the time to play pretend
Now is the time to face the wind
Now is the time to let love in
Can we stand for something?
#Metamodernity #AmericanRequiem.
I found these 25 year old Kents (charcoal filtered) in my aunt's cocktail cabinet in Budapest!
I don't think these has been for sale for at least a decade (I haven't looked hard since I've mostly quit). Feel like I'm about to light up a priceless antique.
I don't think these has been for sale for at least a decade (I haven't looked hard since I've mostly quit). Feel like I'm about to light up a priceless antique.
June 15, 2025 at 12:01 PM
I found these 25 year old Kents (charcoal filtered) in my aunt's cocktail cabinet in Budapest!
I don't think these has been for sale for at least a decade (I haven't looked hard since I've mostly quit). Feel like I'm about to light up a priceless antique.
I don't think these has been for sale for at least a decade (I haven't looked hard since I've mostly quit). Feel like I'm about to light up a priceless antique.
Rootless cosmopolitan takeover: Hungarian, Polish, Japanese, Australian and Egyptian in London.
May 22, 2025 at 9:09 AM
Rootless cosmopolitan takeover: Hungarian, Polish, Japanese, Australian and Egyptian in London.
My mate has a custom chatGPT book review script and here is what it through up for my book, Beyond Happy: How to rethink happiness and find fulfilment.
The most satisfying line: this book should NOT have been a blog post.
You can buy the book here or Waterstones
www.amazon.co.uk/Beyond-Happy...
The most satisfying line: this book should NOT have been a blog post.
You can buy the book here or Waterstones
www.amazon.co.uk/Beyond-Happy...
May 9, 2025 at 7:34 AM
My mate has a custom chatGPT book review script and here is what it through up for my book, Beyond Happy: How to rethink happiness and find fulfilment.
The most satisfying line: this book should NOT have been a blog post.
You can buy the book here or Waterstones
www.amazon.co.uk/Beyond-Happy...
The most satisfying line: this book should NOT have been a blog post.
You can buy the book here or Waterstones
www.amazon.co.uk/Beyond-Happy...
Back in January this spider plant was basically dead from dehydration and got pruned back basically to the roots. Now flowering! What a trooper.
May 7, 2025 at 8:11 AM
Back in January this spider plant was basically dead from dehydration and got pruned back basically to the roots. Now flowering! What a trooper.