Product of the Environment

Published on Oct 23, 2009 (updated Aug 16, 2013), filed under philosophy. (Share this post, e.g., on Mastodon.)

Let me ask you a question: If you’re not a product of your environment, but the environment a product of you, what would it mean to believe that you are product of your environment?

Could it be that us being responsible for our own lives, bearing the solutions to our problems in ourselves, making our very own reality, not only empowers but also gives some subtle hints about the meaning of… everything?

About Me

I’m Jens (long: Jens Oliver Meiert), and I’m an engineering lead, guerrilla philosopher, and indie publisher. I’ve worked as a technical lead and engineering manager at various companies (e.g., Google); I’m an active web and tool developer (code optimization, digital defense), a contributor to web standards (like HTML, CSS, WCAG), and a book author (O’Reilly, Frontend Dogma).

I love trying things—in web development and engineering management, but also in politics and philosophy, where I hold to one idea in particular: that we can only be well if we take good care of everyone. Here on meiert.com I talk about some of my perspectives and experiences. (Please share feedback: Interpret charitably, keep it friendly, but do be critical.)