Philosophy

Philosophy

Examine life’s biggest questions, from ethics to existence, with curiosity and critical thinking.

first contact
Life arose on Earth very early on. After a few billion years, here we are: intelligent and technologically advanced. Where's everyone else?
An image of a glass jar containing a brain on a textured background.
Even with the best technology imaginable, you'd probably never be able to exist as a consciously aware brain in a vat.
A sequence showing the phases of a solar eclipse, culminating in totality, against a dark background.
Total eclipses are a product of a strange and almost eerie cosmic coincidence — one that makes Earth an even rarer world in the galaxy and, by proxy, in the Universe.
A split image with a close-up of a blue eye on the left, and a classical painting of a woman resting her head on her arm on a sofa on the right.
Bob Dylan gave us the paradoxical gem "there's no success like failure, and failure's no success at all." He had a point.
Four-panel collage of historical philosophers in various artistic styles, including a sculpture, a sketch, and two realistic portraits.
From Taoism to hedonism, philosophers have devised all sorts of ways to live your best life.
A collage of various international banknotes featuring portraits of historical figures.
A physicist, a psychologist, and a philosopher walk into a bar and discuss a framework for thinking better in the 21st century.
distant quasar
The Universe is expanding, and the Hubble constant tells us how fast. But how can it be a constant if the expansion is accelerating?
A collage of images featuring an anatomical drawing of a heart, a portrait of a bearded man embodying everyday philosophy, a brain illustration, and a smartphone showing an unread message notification.
Nicole has been dating someone for a while but it's not working out from her point of view. Is sudden radio silence an ethical option?
Collage of images featuring a classical sculpture, a close-up of a human ear, and a woman in a cafe expressing surprise with children nearby.
Irene is on a bus with her young kids when two men come on, cussing like sailors. Should Irene step in and say something?
Woman wearing pixelated sunglasses sits at a desk, with graphic overlays of a line graph demonstrating workplace equality, classical figures in discussion, and a clock indicating 2 o'clock.
Rich is brilliant at his job. He completes work in half the time of his coworkers. Should he have to sit at his desk just as long?
Abstract illustration of orange arrows soaring upwards from converging lines, symbolizing growth, progress, or success.
It’s not enough just to stay current and competitive with AI — you’ll also need to build a long-term strategy.
A toothbrush with blue and white bristles, topped with a large dollop of minty toothpaste.
Claims circulating on the Internet — some from dentists' websites — suggest toothpaste isn't necessary for dental health. Is that true?
A collage depicting a radio telescope on the left and an abstract celestial body on the right, separated by a vertical band of black and white dashes.
Since 1962, humanity has been sending messages into space with the intent to make contact with intelligent extraterrestrials. Are those efforts worth the risks?
Collage of a man's face superimposed on a graphic background with geometric patterns and abstract white shapes overlaying his image, symbolizing better communication.
When is a rabbit not a rabbit? When it's a thought experiment designed to reveal the tricky tango of language and concepts.
travel straight line
Is the Universe finite or infinite? Does it go on forever or loop back on itself? Here's what would happen if you traveled forever.
A stylized silhouette of a person under an umbrella amidst falling snow, depicted in black against a speckled beige background, embodying elements of Japanese philosophy.
Japanese thought can’t be easily characterized by just a few books — but this essential guide is a great place to start.
heavy neutral atom
No matter how good our measurement devices get, certain quantum properties always possess an inherent uncertainty. Can we figure out why?
Painting of Prometheus holding a flaming torch aloft.
"Hardcore History" host Dan Carlin recently spoke with Big Think about the history of humanity's drive to create — and whether or not we can control it.