Philosophy

Philosophy

A side profile of an older man with a white beard, wearing a light blue shirt, against a dark background, illuminated by soft lighting from the left, exudes an aura of radical optimism.
The co-founder of Wired magazine shares his insights on how a long-term mindset can shape a brighter, more innovative future.
Three historical figures in a collage: on the left and right, black and white sketches of two different men; in the center, a blue-toned image of a statue of a seated, thinking person—a perfect visual encapsulation of philosophy for leaders.
Three of the greatest moral philosophers — Bentham, Kant and Aristotle — offer invaluable and practical lessons for leaders today.
Abstract design with human profiles, a silhouette of a person walking, and text reading "The Happiness Paradox 4" on a grid background.
Achieving values and pursuing growth is the real secret to a fulfilled life.
Collage featuring a person sleeping at a desk, a hand holding a hotel bell, and sharks. The title "The Night Crawler" appears at the top.
Welcome to The Nightcrawler — a weekly newsletter from Eric Markowitz covering tech, innovation, and long-term thinking.
dark matter substructure intracluster light
In theory, dark matter is cold, collisionless, and only interacts via gravity. What we see in ultra-diffuse galaxies indicates otherwise.
An open book with a red page showing a black, abstract, circular design on the left and a black-and-white illustration of a person practicing Daoism while riding an ox next to a tree on the right.
"In that conversation with Laozi’s text, I began to see the shape of my own life, the questions that opened seams, the patterns that pooled and shimmered."
Image of a tomato and carrot, each partially overlaid with a black and white digital circuit pattern. The background is a gray, circuit-like texture.
A simple plate of vegetables has found the gaping blindspots in generative AI, and points the way to fixing them.
A collaged image featuring a partial American flag, a tip jar with coins, a percentage-tipping selection panel, a man's face making an awkward expression, and a close-up of striped fabric.
Why do we tip waitstaff and cabdrivers but not flight attendants and retail clerks?
A collage features images of a person smiling, ants, a penicillin bottle, another person's face, and an autonomous car, with the title "The Nightcrawler" at the top against a dark background.
Welcome to The Nightcrawler — a weekly newsletter from Eric Markowitz covering tech, innovation, and long-term thinking.
A man with long hair, a beard, glasses, and a bandana on his head, reminiscent of David Foster Wallace, poses for a portrait against a plain background.
The writer’s tragic death at age 46 has led many to view him as a tortured artist. Here’s why this label is reductive.
An open book with a black-and-white photo of a woman on the left page and a close-up image of a flower bud on the right page.
Late bloomers often find their moment of transformation when life throws them a curveball.
A person wearing safety goggles is using a tool to grind or cut metal, creating sparks in a dimly lit workshop.
6mins
Through woodworking, John Furniss, known as The Blind Woodsman, discovered a new purpose and a way to share his vision with the world.
Unlikely Collaborators
Black and white photo of an American flag waving against a blurred background of buildings, framed by red and beige rectangular blocks.
In today’s political climate, how can we come together and seek some common ground or understanding? What are the mechanics of doing that? Is there some script or set of […]
Three wireframe human heads are depicted against a dark background, their complex overlapping patterns evocative of the Johari window model, revealing multifaceted layers within each head's structure.
It's hard to know what other people know. But it's not impossible.
entanglement across space
It's possible to remove all forms of matter, radiation, and curvature from space. When you do, dark energy still remains. Is this mandatory?
A collage featuring a sleeping person, a 3D-rendered hand, and various graphs with dates and "gpt-4" labels, overlaid by the text "The Nightcrawler," subtly highlights themes of the attention economy.
Welcome to The Nightcrawler — a weekly newsletter from Eric Markowitz covering tech, innovation, and long-term thinking.
spooky action quantum
Do we actually live in a deterministic Universe, despite quantum physics? An alternative, non-spooky interpretation has now been ruled out.
Green and yellow abstract scientific illustration depicting molecular structures interconnected with arrows, set against a dark background.
It's deceptively tricky to distinguish living systems from non-living systems. Physics may be key to solving the problem.
A praying mantis, a marvel of evolution, is gracefully perched on a white orchid flower against a black background.
Some biologists believe natural selection produces animals that are just good enough. Dawkins disagrees.
5mins
“If we didn't find helping other people pleasurable, we wouldn’t be altruistic.”
Rows of identical Earth-like planets stretch out into the vast copy multiverse, with a dark starry background visible between them.
Within our observable Universe, there's only one Earth and one "you." But in a vast multiverse, so much more becomes possible.
Collage featuring a surfer, hands holding a Rubik's cube, and text "The Nightcrawler." Abstract elements include graphs, car parts, and a cityscape interwoven with life lessons.
Welcome to The Nightcrawler — a weekly newsletter from Eric Markowitz covering tech, innovation, and long-term thinking.
A collage features geometric shapes including a green triangle, a white sphere, a purple circle, and a white cube. Partially visible is a grayscale photo of a man wearing glasses.
By focusing on the role of human experience, we may uncover new insights on the fundamental structure of reality.
A dark cloud, laced with cynicism, is topped with a colorful iridescent layer against a dim sky.
Stanford psychologist Jamil Zaki discusses the dangers of cynicism and how skepticism can invigorate our relationships and communities.
6mins
“People will claim that something is rigorous because it's by an authority figure or it's written in a book. But anyone can write a book.”
A pole with numerous traffic lights mounted in different directions creates an illusion of control against a clear sky background.
How to find the right balance between controlling teams and allowing them the agency to make mistakes — and learn from them.
A person in minimal clothing pushes a large clock up a blue hill against a grid background with various numbers and graphs, embodying the diligence reminiscent of the Rule of Saint Benedict.
Oliver Burkeman — author of "Four Thousand Weeks: Time Management for Mortals" — tells Big Think about modern life lessons from a 6th-century monk.
Open book with an image of a brain on the left page and a pencil eraser unlearning old marks on the right page.
By unlearning old leadership mindsets, cultures, and assumptions we can move from Industrial Age thinking to Intelligence Age thinking.
Illustration featuring an eye, an ear, and a hand, each encircled by overlapping multicolored circles.
7mins
Expanding your worldview starts with understanding your brain. Stanford neuroscientist David Eagleman explains.
Unlikely Collaborators