Welcome to Erratic Attempts, a blog about culture and politics by Dr. Philipp Kneis. Nothing here is supposed to be perfect, nothing final, everything up for eventual rethinking.

This blog is intertwined with its parent site, philjohn.com, containing my poetry, photography, music and an older blog. My German blog addresses topics specific to German politics and culture, and pjkx.com is dedicated to my academic work. If you like this content, please subscribe, check out my YouTube channel, the main web site, and you may also Buy me a Coffee – Thank you!

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Topics Covered on Erratic Attempts:

This blog explores the political, technological, philosophical, and cultural challenges shaping the twenty-first century. Topics range from democracy and authoritarianism, international politics, media, the nature of (artificial) intelligence, and the ways societies construct knowledge and truth. Alongside these are occasional reflections on history, nature, creativity, and everyday life.

As a poet, scholar, and teacher of Cultural and Political Theory, International Politics, and Human and Organizational Development, I bring my own interdisciplinary perspective to these subjects. The goal is not to provide definitive answers or partisan talking points, but to explore complex questions with curiosity, nuance, and a willingness to reconsider assumptions in light of new ideas and evidence. Nothing here is supposed to be perfect, nothing final, everything is up for eventual rethinking.

Recent areas of focus include:

  • Artificial intelligence and its impact on democracy, work, and personhood
  • Democracy, authoritarianism, and political polarization
  • Ukraine’s struggle for sovereignty and Western support
  • Challenging extremism while preserving civil discourse
  • Media ecosystems, misinformation, and the crisis of truth
  • International conflicts and geopolitical change
  • Philosophy, culture, and the search for meaning in a rapidly changing world
  • The crisis of truth in the digital age

Join me in these erratic attempts to make sense of our complex world.

Recent Posts:

#347: Could We Handle UAP Disclosure?
#346: Sine Ira et Studio: Without Anger and Passion
#345: What Does AI Want? Thoughts on Artificial Intelligence, Biological Intelligence, Sentience and Personhood
#344: Always Check the Work A.I. Does. Hallucinations are Real
#343: Appreciative Critique
#342: Lessons From Hungary’s Election