Jonny Thomson

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Jonny Thomson

Jonny Thomson taught philosophy in Oxford for more than a decade before turning to writing full-time. He’s a columnist at Big Think and is the award-winning, bestselling author of three books that have been translated into 22 languages.

Jonny is also the founder of Mini Philosophy, a social network of around two million curious, intelligent minds. He's known all over the world for making philosophy accessible, relatable, and fun. 

Everything Videos Articles
A woman with long, wavy brown hair wearing a white top stands outside in a forested area with green foliage and a tree trunk visible in the background.
Business
How to pivot like a ballerina in the turbulent age of AI
Big Think interviews Angie Westbrock, CEO of Standard AI, to learn the secrets of adapting to the winds of change.
Jonny Thomson
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?
Jonny Thomson
A detailed black and white illustration of a porcupine is centered on a worn paper background with a green border.
Business
How the “porcupine dilemma” teaches us to cooperate like champions at work
Schopenhauer and Freud can help teams navigate the most prickly of collaboration problems.
Jonny Thomson
A sculpture depicts a human head with the top open like a birdcage. A lone white feather, symbolizing lost motivation, lies on the ground outside the cage on a blue background.
Neuropsych
Feeling unmotivated? Use “Skinner’s Law” to get yourself back on track
Big Think recently spoke with behavioral scientist and author Katy Milkman about what really motivates us and steers our behavior.
Jonny Thomson
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?
Jonny Thomson
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?
Jonny Thomson
Business
The panopticon effect: How best to handle surveillance
Nobody likes the uneasy feeling of being watched — so can there be any workplace benefit to the all-seeing eye?
Jonny Thomson
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