Jamie Michele

In Post Philosophy: Taking Back Logic, Michael Aaron Cody asserts that logic precedes motion and enables adaptive survival through coherent deviation, while motion without logic results in chaos. He rejects mathematics as the origin of existence or intelligence, framing it as a static record of dynamic processes rather than a causal force. Cody critiques IQ as an inadequate measure of intelligence, advocating instead for "Survival IQ," which emphasizes recursive adaptability over symbolic fluency. He argues that logic is not the domain of institutions but an inherent capacity for adaptive reasoning. Static systems, like educational, ethical, or biological, fail without continuous evolution. Cody redefines evolution as recursive compression of directional motion, not random mutation, and views time as a descriptor of change rather than a driver, and says that ethics, cognition, and survival must be structured around recursion, not rigid doctrine.

Post Philosophy by Michael Aaron Cody delivers a striking and intellectually agile argument dismantling traditional ideas, executed with a mix of precision and a bit of flair. He does a great job of presenting formulas, equations, and the ideas that bind them in thoughtful and lucid, often rhythmic prose. This is not light reading, and it is not meant to be, but even still, Cody avoids the customary academic pretension without diminishing the complicated philosophical territory of his work. I appreciate the use of real-life examples and analogies, from collapsing empires to corporate fossils, and how he frames his arguments in a practical dimension to what could otherwise be an abstract discussion. As a result, Cody backs his arguments up with case studies, empirical data, and references. Overall, this is an excellent study for readers interested in thinking beyond traditional boundaries, with Cody offering a rewarding and disciplined mental exercise. Very highly recommended.

https://readersfavorite.com/book-review/post-philosophy

With the ever-increasing volume of information we consume through digital media nowadays, sometimes it is difficult to distinguish between fact and fiction. According to Michael Aaron Cody, traditional and current philosophical constructs have become increasingly redundant. The author advocates for a new intelligence paradigm grounded in the foundational principles of coherent motion and logic. Post Philosophy favors renewal over stagnation, placing structure in service of motion and coherence. The book further explores logic-guided adaptive change, coherent deviation, and directional flow, illustrating how motion is shaped by compressed and adaptive knowledge from prior states. Motion comes before math, and elitism is a trap in and of itself. Cody approves of the replacement of IQ and credentialism with recursive survivability metrics. The Compression Philosopher is a structural survivor.

Thought-provoking and inspiring, Post Philosophy invites readers to develop logic-driven independent ways of thinking and nurture minds capable of compression, adaptive coherence, and coherent movement in the face of contradiction. Author Michael Aaron Cody emphasizes the importance of restoring logic beyond traditional gatekeeping systems, which were created to command authority over logic itself. The book also delves into the role of ethics in a hypothetical future when/if superintelligence such as AGI coexist alongside humans. Cody has an engaging way of presenting the subject matter with in-depth explanations and observations that stimulate your mind. This makes even some of the more technical parts of the book accessible to a broad range of readers. Having said that, this isn't everyone's cup of tea. But if you enjoy invigorating philosophical discourse, this is the perfect book for you. Highly recommended.

https://readersfavorite.com/book-review/post-philosophy

Carol Thompson

Post-Philosophy: Taking Back Logic by Michael Aaron Cody is an innovative work that challenges conventional ideas about logic, intelligence, and philosophical authority. Instead of reiterating classical or academic arguments, Cody creates a new framework centered on conceptual and structural motion as the basis of meaningful thought. The author suggests that traditional systems like mathematics, IQ measurement, and static philosophy are remnants of deeper, recursive processes that have been misinterpreted as origins. Cody advocates for a shift toward dynamic thinking that evolves through contradiction rather than adhering to static symbols of coherence. Throughout the chapters, the book dismantles dominant narratives: it critiques the supremacy of IQ as a measure of intelligence, questions the idea of time as a fundamental axis, and urges a rethinking of evolution, ethics, and even artificial general intelligence (AGI) through the lens of recursive motion. A recurring concept—Δm—symbolizes directional deviation that retains structure, representing the type of motion Cody sees as essential for survival and coherence in a collapsing world. He consistently introduces terms like “Compression Compass,” “Recursive Survivability,” and “Purpose-Guided Recursion” to argue for a flexible intelligence that learns through collapse, not despite it.

The prose is intense and symbolic, mirroring both philosophical treatises and poetic manifestos. It encourages readers to transcend inherited knowledge systems and nurture an internal logic that does not depend on credentialism or external validation. Michael Aaron Cody’s work does not seek to emulate academic neutrality; rather, it addresses those disillusioned by conventional metrics of intelligence and control, presenting an alternative rooted in structural clarity and adaptive survival. This is not a traditional philosophy book but rather a structural blueprint for navigating uncertainty and resisting cognitive stagnation. For readers willing to rethink how logic functions, not as a detached framework but as a living, recursive engine, Post-Philosophy offers a compelling look at traditional philosophical constructs, advocating for a dynamic understanding of logic. It is a challenging read, but well worth exploring Cody’s arguments.

https://readersfavorite.com/book-review/post-philosophy

Michael Aaron Cody’s Post Philosophy: Taking Back Logic won’t rid you of belly fat or save your marriage or beat the stock market.   Even so, it might just be the most important book you’ll ever read.  The author has done a lot of work, and the reader has to do some work, too, but that’s the nature of all-encompassing ideas like the ones presented here.  You may emerge from this energized, focused, and with greater self-respect.

Cody argues here for the primacy of motion in describing nature.  Our thought processes, the evolution of our beliefs, are one form of motion that gets a lot of attention here.  He does not beat us over the head with this; instead, he encourages us to learn for ourselves how constant reflection, adaptation to changes in our environments, and being open to changing our minds result in change.  And what’s more, anybody can take advantage of this.

Cody has developed symbolism of a mathematical appearance to help describe his ideas more compactly, but you don’t need mathematical training to follow his thinking.  There are no equations to solve or theorems to memorize.  (A glossary of his symbols is helpfully provided at the end.)  In fact, part of this book argues that mathematics can obscure rather than enhance rational thought, if we consider the laws of mathematics the origin of “truth” rather than recognizing that the truth came first, and math is simply a way of describing it. Similarly, university degrees are evidence of an ability to think, but they are imperfect evidence; more importantly, the value lies in the thinking, not in the evidence of it.

After laying out the primacy of recursion in nature and in thinking, of adaptability as the most important of the brain’s functions, Cody provides a breathtaking set of ideas on what education looks like today, vs. how it could look with the proper frame of mind.  We currently separate the topics of the humanities, languages, mathematics, and science, but these are all part and parcel of the understanding of motion.  We cannot understand science without the language to describe it; we cannot understand the threats to the beauty of a sunset without understanding how it was created. 

https://readerviews.com/reviews/post-philosophy-taking-back-logic-n-cody/