Philosophy

Philosophy

Examine life’s biggest questions, from ethics to existence, with curiosity and critical thinking.

A close-up of an oiled muscular arm flexing on the left and a vibrant peacock feather with blue and green hues, symbolizing sexual selection, on the right, both set against a stark black background.
Science writer Matt Ridley joins us to discuss how “Darwin’s strangest idea” makes us all a bit feather-brained (in a good way).
A graph titled "The Long Boom 2000-2025" shows intersecting curves from 1975 to 2025, depicting a transition from an old to a new world. Text reads "I was here" at the intersection around 2005.
The latest from Peter Leyden's "The Great Progression: 2025 to 2050", an essay series published by Freethink.
A cartoon of three cosmic phenomena (CMB, Baryon Acoustic Oscillations, Supernovae) pulling on a triangle. Text below reads: "Something has to give...
DESI, by mapping galaxies, has claimed they see evidence for dark energy evolving by getting weaker. But that's only one interpretation.
A stone bust of a bearded figure with an orange band across its forehead displaying several question marks.
“It’s much more interesting to live not knowing than to have answers that might be wrong.”
A man in a suit sits on a stage chair with a headset, set against a vibrant green background, ready to discuss the latest advancements at OpenAI.
OpenAI has become a household name in artificial intelligence — but back in 2018 things looked very rocky. Here’s what happened.
Einstein's general relativity has reigned supreme as our theory of gravity for over a century. Could we reduce it back down to Newton's law?
Illustration of two connected neurons with green and orange bodies, featuring detailed blue nuclei, against a black grid background.
A fresh view of intelligence — spanning living systems from bacteria to human civilization — challenges the idea that it’s merely problem-solving.
Collage featuring a power plant, Alpha School text and logo, graphs, and "The Night Crawler" title on a geometric blue and white background, seamlessly incorporating AI education elements.
Welcome to The Nightcrawler — a weekly newsletter from Eric Markowitz covering tech, innovation, and long-term thinking.
Yellow background with halftone globe and bold text: "The Great Progression 2025-2050.
Tech expert Peter Leyden argues that we have a historic opportunity to harness AI and other transformative technologies in order to make a much better world over the next 25 years.
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.
When you enter someone's home, you learn how life is lived elsewhere.
Gloved hands hold an open book titled "The Origin of Species by Means of Natural Selection" by Charles Darwin, a seminal work exploring the origin of life, published in London by John Murray, 1859.
These books helped build the empirical case that life's origins differ from those described in myths and legends.
A grayscale portrait of a smiling person wearing glasses, exuding Warren Buffett wisdom, is centered within graphic elements featuring blue stripes and charts.
Investor Guy Spier joins Big Think for a chat about the “Oracle of Omaha,” generative AI, what confuses him, and more.
Collage featuring a hand filing papers, an airplane, and numerical data on a grid background. Text reads "The Night Crawler: A Journey for Investigative Investors.
Welcome to The Nightcrawler — a weekly newsletter from Eric Markowitz covering tech, innovation, and long-term thinking.
A group of five men in suits pose with model rockets, showcasing their commitment to fundamental research. Beside them, an illustration depicts a space station orbiting Earth and the Moon, highlighting their visionary investment in space exploration.
Back in 1970, Sister Mary Jucunda wrote NASA, decrying large investments in science. A former Nazi's legendary response is still relevant.
Two faceless busts face each other. One, representing AI, has digital lines on its face, while the other exudes cognitive meaning with flowers and leaves emerging from its surface.
Cognitive neuroscientist and AI researcher Christopher Summerfield explores the differences, and similarities, of how AI and humans make meaning of the world.
An aerial view captures two pairs of tennis players, akin to The Four Enemies, shaking hands at the net on a lush green court.
Buddhism has rules for slaying your enemies. But the real surprise is finding out who your enemies actually are.
Green glowing orbs and funnel-shaped structures with light patterns floating in a vibrant green misty background.
There are some 26 fundamental constants in nature, and their values enable our Universe to exist as it does. But where do they come from?
A stylized image showcases poker chips and a green Swiss army knife, intricately overlaid with circuit patterns, hinting subtly at AI risk. The word "Nightcrawler" graces the top, adding an enigmatic touch.
Welcome to The Nightcrawler — a weekly newsletter from Eric Markowitz covering tech, innovation, and long-term thinking.