Mini Philosophy - Big Think

Bronze statue of a bearded man in a robe riding a horse, set against a black background.

The image shows the word "MINIPHILOSOPHY" in large, white, capital letters on a white background.

Pause the busyness of life to reflect on ourselves, our relationships, and the Universe

Follow on Substack

Mini Philosophy is a place to slow down and think. It creates space to reflect on ourselves, our relationships, and the Universe, away from the noise and busyness of everyday life.

Through essays, interviews, and its newsletter, Mini Philosophy makes philosophy accessible and human. Subscribers get exclusive conversations with leading philosophers and become part of a thoughtful, supportive community of curious minds.

with

Jonny Thomson

Jonny Thomson is a Big Think columnist and the award-winning, bestselling author of three books translated into 22 languages. A former philosophy teacher at Oxford, he is known for making philosophy accessible, relatable, and engaging.

Full Profile

If humans went extinct, could we re-evolve?

Maybe — just don't expect a carbon copy.

by Jonny Thomson

Six orange origami shapes on a light background, with hand-drawn arrows connecting them to illustrate a progression or transformation—evoking themes of change and even human extinction.

Everything Articles

Two people sitting across from each other at a table in a diner, engaged in conversation. The table has plates of food and drinks. The background shows other diners in a black and white setting.

Thinking

Everyday Philosophy: Can you build an intellectual friendship with someone you’re attracted to?

Does Platonic love actually exist?

A serene painting of Buddha on the left and a black-and-white portrait of Freud separated by a vertical orange line symbolizing the desire for inner peace against external ambition.

Thinking

Everyday Philosophy: Freud and the Buddha debate what to do about desire

Desire is like a drug. But is an addict always an addict?

A montage of famous philosophers’ portraits next to a large question mark on the right, intersected by a horizontal arrow.

Thinking

Everyday Philosophy: Why does it seem like philosophy is dead?

Philosophy cures no disease and invents nothing new. What's even the point?

Black and white illustration of people in 18th-century attire at a dining table, overlaid with red-orange borders and white arrows indicating interaction among the individuals.

Thinking

Everyday Philosophy: Is it better to debate people or shrug and drink wine?

If philosophers really enjoy one thing, it’s a good debate — but not an argument.

An individual in a suit and orange tie gestures toward a firefighter in full uniform and helmet labeled "BUFFALO" with the number "27", as if acknowledging everyday miracles.

Thinking

Everyday Philosophy: Did God save Donald Trump but kill someone else?

Is it ever possible for God to violate the laws of nature?

A photograph of a Albert Camus on the left and an illustration of a volleyball with arrows indicating its dimensions on the right, set against a dual-colored red and gray background, evokes a sense of alienation.

Thinking

Everyday Philosophy: Can we overcome alienation by becoming more assertive?

How do you cope when joining a team shatters your confidence? Albert Camus and Harry Stack Sullivan can help.

Two ancient statues, framed by red lines, appear to be conversing through modern emoji speech bubbles. One statue displays several emojis, while the other shows a typing indicator.

Thinking

Everyday Philosophy: How much empathy is too much empathy?

"I know what you're thinking" can sound kind or creepy — depending on who's saying it.

A modern black-and-white photo of a man giving a presentation exudes ambition as it overlays a historical portrait, aligning the man's face with a red dot to the eye of the portrait. Red borders frame the image.

Thinking

Everyday Philosophy: Can you handle a Machiavellian colleague without becoming ruthless?

There's a fine line between ambition and ruthlessness.

A black-and-white illustration depicts five individuals wearing robes and garlands, reclining and sitting around a table with food and drink, reminiscent of a classical or ancient feast, evoking scenes one might imagine from the time of Confucius.

Thinking

Everyday Philosophy: Were your parents right to make you “clean your plate”?

When stuffed and staring down the last bite, you might hear your mother's voice in your mind.

A red, fuzzy cartoon character with a flame-like head is depicted in an overly emotional state, gripping control levers in a control room setting.

Thinking

Everyday Philosophy: Can you ever be “too emotional” in decision-making?

In the fight between head and heart, psychologists will win.

Illustration of a brain diagram labeled with letters A through H, set in the center of a corridor flanked by tall columns. Red lines connect the labels to specific points on the brain, evoking pathways that have evolved from the past.

Thinking

Everyday Philosophy: Is it better to forget your past or keep revisiting it?

Is a repressed memory always so bad?

A depiction of a muscular figure wearing armor and an illuminated gauntlet beside a stylized world map, marked by red circles and black intersecting lines, highlighting the battle against overpopulation.

Thinking

Everyday Philosophy: Thanos and an economist debate overpopulation

Is there a force keeping humanity in check?

A sandwich with lettuce and bread, adorned with a toothpick, features doll arms and legs sticking out, creating a whimsical yet slightly eerie scene evoking playful hints of cannibalism.

Thinking

Everyday Philosophy: The religious belief underlying our disgust with cannibalism

Are fava beans and chianti really the best pairing for human liver?

Thinking

Everyday Philosophy: Is praying fundamentally egotistical?

God is not a vending machine, but is it wrong to treat him like one?

Black and white illustration of two men in ancient attire, one standing with a scroll and the other seated, engaged in debate against a split red and beige background.

Thinking

Everyday Philosophy: Should you always call out bad opinions?

A reader asks whether we have an ethical responsibility to always debate bad beliefs, especially those that come from our elders.

A black and white photo of a young child holding a vintage telephone receiver to their ear, with an excited expression. The background features graphic designs of sound waveforms and orange flames, evoking the intense energy of death metal.

Thinking

Everyday Philosophy: The hidden beauty of death-metal screaming

If music is a window onto truth, what does screaming reveal?

A statue of an authentic marble figure holding a red plastic cup against a black background.

Thinking

Everyday Philosophy: “Should I hide my wild past from my parents?”

How heavy is the mask that you wear?

A diptych image: left side shows a row of shopping carts lined up, right side depicts a single shopping cart abandoned in a puddle, serving as a litmus test for societal behavior.

Thinking

Everyday Philosophy: The quickest way to test your moral character

The "Shopping Cart Litmus Test" is a popular meme about morality. What does it really reveal about one's character?

Collage featuring a thoughtful person contemplating dating philosophy, two embracing cats in monochrome, and a close-up of an orange cat's face, with graphic elements like a question mark and abstract lines.

Thinking

Everyday Philosophy: “Is it OK to date someone your friend likes?”

A battle between different kinds of love.

Three men looking at a smartphone and laughing, embodying everyday philosophy, with two faded figures and a sketch of a thinker with a question mark.

Thinking

Everyday Philosophy: “Should I disinvite my bigoted friend from group trips?”

You've got to know when to fight and when to laugh.

1
2
3
4
5

Learn from the world’s biggest thinkers.

© Copyright 2007-2026 & BIG THINK, BIG THINK PLUS, SMARTER FASTER trademarks owned by Freethink Media, Inc. All rights reserved.