Philosophy

Philosophy

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

gender equality paradox
Iceland consistently ranks as the most gender-equal nation. It is also the nation where men and women are most likely to pursue sex-typical jobs.
Leningrad
The Siege of Leningrad lasted over two years and claimed nearly a million lives. It also inspired writers to record the bleak conditions in which they lived.
French Revolution
Despite losing most of his extended family to the guillotine, Tocqueville grew up to become a fervent supporter of democratic revolution.
eastern philosophy
Non-Western thought is vast and ancient, so why don't some consider it philosophy?
The language you speak plays an important role in how you evaluate truth.
place cells
Your brain is remarkably good at mapping out physical spaces — even if it's an imaginary space like Hogwarts. But how does the brain do it?
James Webb Hubble
Hubble's deepest views of space revealed fewer than 10% of the Universe's galaxies. James Webb will change that forever.
personality tests
The first personality tests revolved around assessing people’s reactions to ambiguous and often unsettling images. Today, the gold standard is a barrage of questions.
Dark Academia
People around the world, mostly Generation Z, are obsessed with the look and feel of gothic, elitist universities. Why?
A woman holding a loudspeaker at a protest.
The problems that Americans face are often too complex for fact-checking alone.
arc of history
We are generally taught that there is an arc of history — an inevitable path of progress that leads to modern society. Maybe it isn't true.
Alexander Friedmann
It is time to give the Russian cosmologist the credit he deserves.
Stendhal syndrome
People who visit Florence seem strangely susceptible to Stendhal syndrome, which is blamed on an overwhelming sense of awe.
Ernest Hemingway
The author of classics like "A Farewell to Arms" and "The Sun Also Rises" is known and loved for his simple yet effective writing style. Here’s how to imitate it.
From boosting empathy to improving therapy, virtual reality is poised to change our ideas of the self.
how many planets
In 1990, we only knew of the ones in our Solar System. Today, we know of thousands, and that's just the tip of the iceberg.
psychopomps
Death is the great and terrifying unknown, awaiting us all at the end of this life. Giving it a personality makes it easier to gaze upon.
progression bias
We seem to have a "progression bias" that nudges us toward pro-relationship decisions and away from breaking up.