Search
Altruism
Biblical scholar Bart Ehrman contends that our modern sense of altruism can be traced back to the radical shift in ethical thinking sparked by Jesus' teachings.
1hr 51mins
Stoicism has been flattened into slogans about toughness, detachment, and emotional silence, a version that’s easy to sell, but mostly wrong. Massimo Pigliucci returns Stoicism to its original purpose: a […]
14mins
If you’ve gotten goosebumps when hearing a story about a stranger’s selfless heroism, or you’ve felt your chest swell at a concert, when the audience’s voice and the musician’s instruments align, you have felt awe. And, according to professor Dacher Keltner, who has spent his life studying it, it’s one of humankind’s most unifying traits:
3mins
From neuroscience to philosophy, experts reveal why compassion may be the most important human skill we have.
Unlikely Collaborators
Members
Arianna Huffington argues that true success should encompass well-being, wisdom, wonder, and giving, rather than just wealth and power, challenging the notion that sacrificing happiness and working excessively defines achievement.
2mins
What separates a disciplined life from a virtuous one? Psychologist Sarah Schnitker says the answer lies in your purpose.
6mins
Virtue is hard to attain, and that’s the point. Sarah Schnitker explains why self-help shortcuts miss the mark.
1hr 24mins
“There's a very pervasive belief that human nature is fundamentally selfish, but I know for a fact that that can't be true in part because my life was saved by a stranger a long time ago when I was 19.”
3mins
According to philosopher Meghan Sullivan, effective altruism may overlook the moral importance of seeing others as individuals. She explains how love should guide how we care for both present and future humans.
Rutger Bregman's "Moral Ambition" wants us to aim our careers not at money but solving the world's biggest problems.
1hr 55mins
“It’s not about being perfect. It’s about reducing suffering where we can, and right now, we’re choosing not to.”
32mins
"Plato would argue that sex in and of itself is not what true love is. Sex can reach a point where you are in union with that person, where you see behind their appearances and you see behind the flesh and you experience something which is more transcendental."
Buddhism has rules for slaying your enemies. But the real surprise is finding out who your enemies actually are.
A study on the “moral circles” of liberals and conservatives gets drafted into the culture wars — with mixed results.
10mins
“If we're to be happy at all, it has to be found outside of this notion of pleasure. We have to step beyond hedonia. But the problem is that we risk going too far.”
5mins
“If we didn't find helping other people pleasurable, we wouldn’t be altruistic.”
9mins
Humans are among the most altruistic species that we’ve studied, due to our alloparental instincts – a trait we evolved into that allows us to care for offspring who are […]
"The movement is much bigger than Sam Bankman-Fried, or any one person, no matter how wealthy," philosopher Peter Singer told Big Think.
In "Moral Ambition," Dutch historian Rutger Bregman argues that all would benefit from a collective redefinition of success.
10mins
Are humans naturally selfless? Psychologist Abigail Marsh is using studies on psychopathy and altruism to find out.
While weltschmerz — literally "world-pain" — may be unpleasant, it can also spur us to change things for the better.
His career helped define humanity’s place in the world by bringing us “a little closer” to our ape relatives.
A new generation of leaders is forging a path for 21st-century capitalism that’s both profitable and socially responsible.
We all have a place in our lives where we look the other way and pretend everything is fine. It's a built-in excuse to act selfishly.
4mins
Can AI and animals coexist? Philosopher Peter Singer gives us a nuanced take on the issue.
8mins
Effective altruism isn’t just for the rich. Philosopher Peter Singer shares how we can all be better at doing “good.”
6mins
Modern life replaced spirituality with goal-setting — and it’s making us depressed. Here’s how to win back your happiness.