Can Philosophy Survive the Internet? Melvin Poh Thinks So

Singapore – Melvin Poh, social entrepreneur and public intellectual, has released his debut book, DISCONNECTED—a serious examination on existentialism in the digital age and the fragile pursuit of philosophy in an overstimulated world.

As the founder of Empirics, an open knowledge platform advancing accessible ideas across Asia, Poh has earned much recognition for bridging entrepreneurship and intellectual thought, with the platform celebrated for both its innovative model and its impact on knowledge accessibility. With DISCONNECTED, he takes a more personal turn, writing not from the vantage of entrepreneurship, but from the lens of philosophy. The result is a work that affirms his emergence as one of Southeast Asia’s most thoughtful and distinctive new thinkers.

“This wasn’t written for mass appeal,” Poh says. “It was written for an age that confuses stimulation with substance; where attention is currency but meaning is bankrupt.”

His debut book explores themes such as the erosion of intellectualism, the disappearance of private thought, the performance of self in digital spaces, the decline of public philosophy, and the quiet hunger for a meaningful life. Poh’s tone is intimate and stripped back—more conversation than lecture—inviting the reader into a space of quiet clarity and reflection.

Since its launch, the book has sold over 1,000 copies in its first week, largely through word of mouth and the growing momentum of his online audience. Poh first introduced the project on his YouTube and Instagram platforms in 2019, where he regularly shares philosophical reflections on intellectual topics, personal existentialism, and what it means to live with philosophy in modern society. The book will be globally available in select bookstores starting July 2025.

Notably, his series 1 Minute Philosophy has cultivated a loyal following, drawing over a million views each month. His work resonates with those seeking serious, thought-provoking ideas—delivered with simplicity and practicality. Poh is on a public mission to bring philosophy back to where it belongs: not locked in academia, but spoken in the language of real people, in real moments.

“Philosophy shouldn’t be reserved for the academic elite or confined to an ivory tower,” Poh says. “It should be modernised, made relevant, and contextualised in a manner that normal people can actually understand and utilise.”

DISCONNECTED marks the beginning of a new chapter for Poh and a larger creative initiative under his personal brand. Alongside his public intellectualism, Poh has revealed that he has been developing a range of offerings aimed at enabling people to reconnect with thought, philosophy, and intellectualism.

The book is now available in hardcover and digital editions at www.melvinpoh.com.

Media Contact
Company Name: Empirics Publishing
Contact Person: Richard Kavanagh
Email: contact@empirics.org
Country: Singapore
Website: https://empirics.org/