Philosophy

Philosophy

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

Two black-and-white illustrations blur reality: a woman sits on a chair, while another person’s head unexpectedly emerges through a hole in the floor beneath a nearby chair.
Signals from the environment, such as those detected by your sense organs, have no inherent psychological meaning. Your brain creates the meaning.
John Templeton Foundation
black hole spacetime
Everything is made of matter, not antimatter, including black holes. If antimatter black holes existed, what would they do?
analysis paralysis
When faced with too many choices, many of us freeze — a phenomenon known as "analysis paralysis." Why? Isn't choice a good thing?
advanced civilization
Do the laws of physics place a hard limit on how far technology can advance, or can we re-write those laws?
financial bullshit
"A cheap loan is beyond all new destiny." Does that mean anything to you?
taboo science
Science has come a long way since Mary Shelley penned "Frankenstein." But we still grapple with the same questions.
Venatio
To the ancient Greeks, exotic animals were proof of mythological creatures. To the ancient Romans, they were oddities and adversaries.
hoarding
Hoarders know their habits are abnormal, and yet they cannot help themselves. Maybe you can help them.
From machines to animals, there are many kinds of possible minds.
Silhouette of a person standing on a field at night, gazing at a clear sky filled with stars and glowing celestial objects, evoking the wonder described by Jim Al-Khalili.
Popular media often frame scientists as having a cold, sterile view of the world. That couldn’t be further from the truth.
John Templeton Foundation
ss
Were Hitler’s SS henchmen willing executioners fueled by racial propaganda or mindless servants vying for promotions?
round
In Sun-like stars, hydrogen gets fused into helium. In the Big Bang, hydrogen fusion also makes helium. But they aren't close to the same.
science
Science cannot be isolated from culture.
ancient greeks aliens
Speculation about the existence of aliens goes all the way back at least to the Greek philosophers. Their arguments will sound familiar.
Safety through technology is no bad thing—Nietzsche himself sought doctors and medicines throughout his life—but it can become pathological.
Equations that describe time travel are fully compatible and consistent with relativity — but physics is not mathematics.
Classical music
Many contemporary composers live in the shadow of Bach and Beethoven, even though they’re just as interesting to listen to.
math awe
Mathematics and religion both embody awe-inspiring, eternal truths.
John Templeton Foundation
If secrets are a kind of poison, confession is the antidote.
is college worth it
Is college worth it? This question may seem a no-brainer, but there are many reasons why it is worthy of serious deliberation. Here are three.