Philosophy

Philosophy

World map illustrating various countries color-coded by their happiness levels with symbols indicating the most and least happy countries in each region.
The Gallup World Poll reveals regional peaks and valleys of happiness across all of the continents.
Split image. On the left, a woman using a spyglass, and on the right, fury depicted by an aggressive dog barking.
When high-anxiety situations arise in the workplace, we tend to react by fighting, fleeing, freezing, or fawning — but there’s a hidden fifth option.
A vibrant image of the Horsehead Nebula captured by JWST, featuring a radiant blue and white glow against a deep red starry background.
The most iconic "dark nebula" of all lights up under JWST's infrared gaze. Here's what's newly discovered inside.
Portrait of Voltaire, featuring a detailed depiction of the philosopher in a red coat, with gray curly hair and a gentle smile, symbolizing his wisdom in making better decisions, painted by Nicolas de L
Voltaire's wonderful satire, Candide, remains a useful work-life antidote to bogus platitudes and naive optimism.
Holograms preserve all of an object's 3D information, but on a 2D surface. Could the holographic Universe idea lead us to higher dimensions?
A bright flash of light in the Universe
In general relativity, white holes are just as mathematically plausible as black holes. Black holes are real; what about white holes?
A graphical representation of network connections superimposed on a dark map, highlighting major nodes with bright orange and yellow lines.
Digital analyses of Enlightenment-era letters are teaching us a thing or two about Locke, Voltaire, and others.
A minimalistic graphic depicting dual shades of blue, segmented horizontally, with small white dots scattered throughout, resembling a starry night sky.
Discover how Quantum Bayesianism challenges traditional quantum mechanics by focusing on the role of the observer in creating quantum reality.
X-ray style image of a human head with brain highlighted by luminous, branching electric currents made of particles against a dark background.
At a fundamental level, only a few particles and forces govern all of reality. How do their combinations create human consciousness?
An American flag and a decorative shield with a peace symbol, evoking a sense of paranoia, in front of the United States Capitol building under a cloudy sky.
Although social paranoia is more common than clinical paranoia, studies suggests that American society isn’t any more conspiratorial than it has been in the past.
dark energy
Dark energy is one of the biggest mysteries in all the Universe. Is there any way to avoid "having to live with it?"
A digital graphic featuring a vibrant blue circle showcasing a clear sky with clouds, surrounded by radiating white lines and particles on a dark background.
Big Think recently spoke with Nick Bostrom about how humans might find fulfillment in a post-scarcity world.
A black and white image of Isaiah Berlin.
Leadership evasion might seem like a plan for workplace freedom but it isn't a good thing — it's a denial of opportunity.
A realistic illustration of earth in space, bathed in sunlight with a visible blue glow from the GaiaSignatures atmosphere.
"I hope we take a mindset where we are willing to look for weird life in weird places."
how many planets
For some reason, when we talk about the age of stars, galaxies, and the Universe, we use "years" to measure time. Can we do better?
Abstract monochrome sketch of two figures, one with head bowed and the other looking downward, conveying a contemplative or somber mood, suggestive of the Chiron effect.
Sometimes you just want to hear, "I know what it's like."
Black and white image of a stone statue depicting an elderly man in thoughtful pose, positioned against geometric building lines, symbolizing generous leaders.
Tough and cutthroat leaders are celebrated in a results-driven culture — but there is another path to C-suite success.
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?