Philosophy

Philosophy

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

A painting of a woman crying.
2mins
Many of us rely on emotional advice that doesn’t actually work. Psychologist Ethan Kross offers a smarter, science-backed approach to managing emotions with flexibility and perspective.
A person stands facing a wall covered in sticky notes on the left; abstract blue and white sparkling patterns form a striking nexus on the right side of the image.
When your head is full of information, how can you actually make use of it?
A collage with the text "THE NIGHTCRAWLER," featuring a hand holding money, coins, and a windowed building, all tinted in pink and black tones.
Welcome to The Nightcrawler — a weekly newsletter from Eric Markowitz covering tech, innovation, and long-term thinking.
7mins
“Because of the efficiency worship that we have developed in our industrial age, we are now seeing procrastination as a character flaw rather than what it is, a signal that is worth listening to.”
Close-up view of mushroom gills with overlaid chemical structure diagrams, including molecular formulas and lines, set against a blue-tinted background.
5mins
What happens when the boundaries of “you” disappear? James Fadiman, PhD, Jamie Wheal, and Matthew Johnson, PhD explore how supported experiences with psychoactive drugs can dissolve identity and reveal a deeper reality.
Unlikely Collaborators
A person in a suit holds up a NOAA map showing the forecast track and intensity of Hurricane Dorian, reminding us that, unlike Einstein, we can't change the facts—only prepare for them—in an office setting.
Einstein is credited with saying, "If the facts don't fit the theory, change the facts." What he actually said has a very different meaning.
Microscopic view of a single-celled organism with a translucent body and clustered orange structures inside, set against a plain background.
Our Earthbound definitions of life could leave us blind to the Universe’s strangest forms.
A hand pulls a green book from a library shelf, surrounded by tsundoku—the gentle art of collecting more books than you can read—with the silhouette of a person formed from the bookshelf and books.
The Japanese practice of "tsundoku" bestows joy and lasting benefits to those who make books an important part of their lives.
An image of an ancient black hole
At the center of Hubble's famous "cosmic horseshoe," a very heavy supermassive black hole has been robustly measured. How is it possible?
A dark, rocky planet orbits in space with the sun illuminating its edge, surrounded by stars and distant cosmic clouds.
In the search for life in the Universe, the ultimate goal is to find an inhabited planet beyond Earth. How will we know when we've made it?
A woman sits in a Victorian-style room, reading a large book of classic books. She is surrounded by bookshelves, decorative objects, and a curtained window letting in natural light.
These short books offer insights and meditations on timeless themes, without the time commitment.
parallel universe
Parallel universes are among the most profound notions in all of quantum physics. It's a compelling and fascinating idea, but is it true?
Collage with a man in a suit, stacked mugs, an upside-down creature, dice, and the text "THE NIGHTCRAWLER" at the top on a dark grid background—hinting at the power of intuition amid surreal imagery.
Welcome to The Nightcrawler — a weekly newsletter from Eric Markowitz covering tech, innovation, and long-term thinking.
A person wearing a wide-brim hat and vest crouches beside a tree stump covered with various fungi, gazing in wonder at the fascinating growths in the green forested area.
Wonder is like a guest you haven’t planned for.
Two torn paper cutouts of open mouths are positioned against a black background, both appearing to be yelling or shouting.
6mins
“What did you win? You won awkward silence. You won their contempt. You won the first to apologize. When you win an argument, you will lose their confidence, you will lose their respect, you will lose the connection.”
An older man with white hair and a suit receives a document from another man in a robe during an event, as several people look on in the background. In the age of viral misquotes, capturing such moments accurately becomes ever more crucial.
From Einstein to Twain, Garson O’Toole investigates the truth behind your favorite — and often misattributed — quotes.
Bogumil Baranowski, dressed in a dark suit, white shirt, and patterned tie, stands and smiles in front of a plain light blue background.
The investment advisor and host of the Talking Billions podcast explores childhood curiosity, building networks through kindness, and more.
A group of people in ancient attire react to shadows cast on a wall, referencing Plato’s Allegory of the Cave.
Why some of philosophy’s strangest scenarios are more than mental games.
Book cover of "The Cybernetic Society" by Amir Husain, featuring robotic arms—reminiscent of a cybernetic corporation—constructing a cityscape against a black background with blue digital elements.
Are you ready for the “cybernetic corporation”? Amir Husain “profiles” the hottest company of 2035 — and makes a telling comparison with Nvidia.
creation of adam sistine
When it comes to our Universe's origins, scientists discuss the Big Bang, cosmic inflation, and other theories. Why doesn't "God" come up?