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Pause the busyness of life to reflect on ourselves, our relationships, and the Universe.
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Mini Philosophy is a place to slow down and think. It creates space to reflect on ourselves, our relationships, and the Universe, away from the noise and busyness of everyday life.

Through essays, interviews, and its newsletter, Mini Philosophy makes philosophy accessible and human. Subscribers get exclusive conversations with leading philosophers and become part of a thoughtful, supportive community of curious minds.

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Jonny Thomson is a Big Think columnist and the award-winning, bestselling author of three books translated into 22 languages. A former philosophy teacher in Oxford, he is known for making philosophy accessible, relatable, and engaging.

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The philosophy of indoctrination and how to fix it
Some people are always at war.

by Jonny Thomson

Illustration of a person in a suit with a birdcage as a head; a red bird is perched inside the cage, symbolizing indoctrination and the constraints placed on free thought.
Everything Articles
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Mini Philosophy
4 reasons to take rest more seriously
It's time to invest in your rest.
Jonny Thomson
theory of mind
Mini Philosophy
Theory of mind: What chess and drug dealers can teach you about manipulation
Grandmasters and drug dealers have one thing in common: They are many steps ahead of their rivals.
Jonny Thomson
A silhouette of a crowned figure holding a scepter and a red bag, with various coins spilling out against a blue background.
Mini Philosophy
Why the people who actually drive history aren’t in the textbooks
Follow the money and you'll follow history.
Jonny Thomson
A red, fragmented sculpture of a human face is partially submerged in dark, rippling water against a black background.
Mini Philosophy
Epiphenomenalism: One of philosophy’s most disturbing ideas
Do our thoughts have any meaning whatsoever?
Jonny Thomson
A hint of pessimism drips from the upside-down mint ice cream cone melting on the asphalt, a sweet reminder that some delights are meant to slip away.
Mini Philosophy
The Schopenhauer Principle: How pessimism can help steer your life
Pessimissts are never disappointed, but are they also kinder?
Jonny Thomson
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Mini Philosophy
5 of the most misunderstood quotes in philosophy
That Nietzsche quote might not mean what you think it does.
Jonny Thomson
Illustration of a brain with highlighted internal sections in red and blue, set against a black swirling background, evoking the philosophy of hallucinations.
Mini Philosophy
How the brain creates heaven: The philosophy of psychedelics with Susan Blackmore
What can drugs teach us about consciousness?
Jonny Thomson
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Mini Philosophy
Lao Tzu only wrote a single sentence about Yin and Yang, but it changed philosophy forever
Harmony and moderation make for a happier life.
Jonny Thomson
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Mini Philosophy
“Cluster thinking” is damaging our politics. Here are 3 ways to beat it.
How much can you know about someone from a single belief?
Jonny Thomson
A woman in a pink mask is holding a Nietzsche mirror.
Mini Philosophy
The “Nietzsche Thesis”: Why we don’t really care about truth
Your BS detector might not be as accurate as you think.
Jonny Thomson
An open book with text artfully arranged to form a house and tree shape, set against a blue sky dotted with white swirls, celebrates the magic of books.
Mini Philosophy
Finding home in Storyland: The transformative power of books
When you enter someone's home, you learn how life is lived elsewhere.
Jonny Thomson
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Mini Philosophy
The 4 “beauty ideals” that fuel everyday prejudice
"Lookism" is prevalent and harmful. So why do so few take it seriously?
Jonny Thomson
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Mini Philosophy
The 4 types of enemies (and how to defeat them)
Buddhism has rules for slaying your enemies. But the real surprise is finding out who your enemies actually are.
Jonny Thomson
In a futuristic control room, two people sit at advanced control panels, utilizing AI technology as they face a large screen displaying vibrant green light beams.
Mini Philosophy
We were promised “Star Trek,” so why did we settle for these lousy chatbots?
We need more science fiction-inspired thinking in how we approach AI research, argues AI expert Gary Marcus.
Jonny Thomson
A blue compass rose emblem with a fractured design symbolizes navigation through the struggles of addiction, set starkly against a black background.
Mini Philosophy
The Broken Compass: Why trying harder isn’t always the answer
Big Think spoke with author and psychiatrist Elias Dakwar about addiction, rock bottom, and the moment you realize your compass is broken.
Jonny Thomson
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Mini Philosophy
The Swedish philosophy of lagom: how “just enough” is all you need
Be more like Goldilocks.
Jonny Thomson
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Mini Philosophy
Why you must be logical and scientific to be a good person
The more you know, the better you can act.
Jonny Thomson
A silhouette of a head brimming with green grass and tiny flowers forms a brain-like shape, embodying sentience against a yellow textured background.
Mini Philosophy
If we want artificial “superintelligence,” it may need to feel pain
Could AI develop true intelligence without sentience? Philosopher Jonathan Birch explores the boundaries of artificial and evolved minds.
Jonny Thomson
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Mini Philosophy
The hidden mathematics behind why you find things beautiful
The artistic and the mathematical mind are not so far apart.
Jonny Thomson
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Mini Philosophy
A.C. Grayling: We don’t need to bring back religion, we need to bring back education
Do we really need to be religious to run a society well?
Jonny Thomson
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