About

My Who and Why.

My name is Ivan Bock, and I am deeply passionate about philosophy and living the examined life. I have a master’s in philosophy and focus on questions of ethics and metaphysics. If you ask me a question about right or wrong or the nature of something, get ready for a lengthy discussion.

The most important aspects of my life are learning new things and teaching, my relationships with the people I love, and good music and series. By exploring the world with others, enjoying the creativity and beauty of life, and spending time with people, I live the life I think is worth living. My aim is to help others also live a life worth living by reflecting on what matters.

This blog’s current name, Casual Philosophy, reflects the fact that I do not have a set schedule or list of topics for the blog. It is also supposed to convey that the blog is meant for the average person and philosophy lovers alike.

Mini-Bio

• I was born in Johannesburg, South Africa, in 1994. I lived there until the
  age of 11, when my mother, brother, and I moved to Cape Town. There, I went to High school and decided I wanted to be a programmer or
  psychologist.
• In 2013 I started as an undergraduate student at the University
  of Stellenbosch, where I studied psychology, sociology, information sciences, and philosophy. By the time I received my three-year degree in 2015, I had developed a passion for philosophy and wanted to do an Honours degree.
• At the end of 2016, I received my Honours degree. The topic of my thesis was on free will and determinism.
• In 2017, I started my Master’s degree in philosophy. At the beginning of 2020, I was awarded my Master’s degree cum laude. The topic of my thesis was on the paradox of moral luck.
• Currently, I am working full-time as a Business Analyst (since 2019) while planning my Ph.D. I am currently in the process of finalising and submitting my doctoral proposal.

Philosophical interests

Ethics and Moral Philosophy – My greatest interest is in ethics, with a general virtue ethic perspective and a focus on normative ethics, meta-ethics, and moral psychology.

Epistemology – I am interested in the competing theories of epistemological justification, such as Foundationalism, Coherentism, Reliabilism, and Pragmatism.

Metaphysics – I have a specific interest in the question of free will and its relation to moral responsibility, the philosophy of mind, and theories of agency.

Philosophy of Religion – I am generally interested in the question of God’s existence and the arguments for and against it – although this has remained a personal interest, and I have not done any academic work on the subject.

I hope you find some interest in what I have to say and that it will positively affect your life. If you enjoyed any of my posts, consider subscribing to the blog or giving a post a like.

Happy reading!

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