Philosophy

Philosophy

A burning car on the side of the road.
You are much more likely to die in a car crash than from terrorism. Yet, philosopher Eran Fish says fearing terrorism more is justified.
Monks in red robes walking in the snow during biostasis.
Inside the “out there” quest for a drug that would help doctors save lives before it’s too late.
A group of men studying Japanese philosophy.
Traditionally, the long history of Japanese thought has not been viewed as “philosophy” — even by Japanese scholars. It’s time for a rethink.
A group of sheep in a barn with a green arrow in front of them.
4mins
Can AI and animals coexist? Philosopher Peter Singer gives us a nuanced take on the issue.
If you find yourself on one of these roads, it might be a while before you see another fellow traveler.
A bust of a man from one of the schools of philosophy that died out.
Dive into five philosophical schools that have faded into obscurity but still whisper through the ages.
A hand holds and fans out a deck of playing cards with patterned backs against a black background.
6mins
We’re often ashamed to say, “I don’t know” — but this professional poker player thinks it’s one of our greatest strengths.
An image of a man's head with gears representing the fusion of free will and AI.
Artificial general intelligence will not arise in systems that only passively receive data. They need to be able to act back on the world.
Nasa's finely-tuned image of a cluster of galaxies.
The question of why the Universe is the way it is is an ancient one, and none of the answers we have come up with are satisfying.
A painting exploring the philosophy of sex through a woman holding a shell.
The philosophy of sex is going through a recalibration period.
Jon Fosse is posing for a photo.
The world’s “most produced living playwright” wins out over other contestants, including Salman Rushdie and Margaret Atwood.
hydrothermal field
With such a vast Universe and raw ingredients that seem to be everywhere, could it really be possible that humanity is truly alone?
A QBism-inspired painting of a woman in blue and black.
The perfectly accessible, perfectly knowable Universe of classical physics is gone forever, no matter what interpretation you choose.
An image of a pink spiral on a black background depicting uncertainty.
If nature were perfectly deterministic, atoms would almost instantly all collapse. Here's how Heisenberg uncertainty saves the atom.
Anupalabdhi on stage at SXSW.
Rooted in Vedic philosophy, "anupalabdhi" — or "non-apprehension" — can help you exploit gaps in the market.
A painting of a group of people around a table with an air pump.
Science and technology were making early modern Europe a better place to live, but at what cost?
Aliens contemplating the apocalypse in a field with a castle in the background.
There's nothing like the end of the world to make you a philosopher.
A black and white photo of two men walking down a path in Papua New Guinea.
Australian soldiers fighting the Japanese recruited native New Guineans to their campaign.
Two men sit facing each other in a barn with pumpkins behind them; one man holds a pipe, and both appear to be engaged in conversation.
5mins
There are 3 key principles that separate a good conversation from a great one — and they’ll completely change how you communicate.
Three men in suits and hats talking to each other, uncovering plot holes.
Want to write a time-travel story? Do so at your own risk.
A man and a monkey named Ivanov kissing in the ocean.
In an attempt to prove Christianity inferior to communism, a Soviet scientist hoped to play God.
A painting challenging perception with the words 'c'est pas une pipe'.
Defamiliarization is a common tool in the arts. Here we learn how seeing things from a different angle can lead to billion-dollar success.
A man surrounded by clocks in a room.
In a world without clocks, people used common activities in place of time units. How long it took you to go to the toilet mattered.
A post-career world with a desk holding a laptop and hand holding a pen.
In work and life, the rules of success are being redefined.
An ufo flying over a forest.
12mins
There are a few theories as to why we’ve never found other intelligent life in our Universe. Physicist Brian Cox walks us through them.
LL Orionis bow shock nebula
The laws of physics don't prefer matter over antimatter. So how can we be certain that distant stars & galaxies aren't made of antimatter?
An older man pondering with his hand on his chin, contemplating effective altruism.
8mins
Effective altruism isn’t just for the rich. Philosopher Peter Singer shares how we can all be better at doing “good.”
Two enigmatic jellyfish dancing in the dark.
The best answer we have is, "Life is matter with intentionality."
A model of a temple inspired by Herostratus.
His crime was so great, he was not only sentenced to death but his name was to be erased from memory.