Philosophy

Philosophy

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

A radio telescope points at the night sky, where stars are arranged in the shape of a large question mark.
13mins
"We've sent out one or two little messages, but we certainly aren't investing billions of dollars shouting out into the cosmos saying, "Hey, we are here. Come say hi.""
A human skull and bone rest beside colorful flowers and sheet music in a detailed memento mori still life composition.
A mid-flight scare reveals how embracing death can bring purpose and meaning to everyday life.
Side-by-side images of the Ring Nebula show its structure in different colors, each with a white dotted oval highlighting the central region.
Our nearby Ring Nebula, with JWST's eyes, shows evidence for planet formation. Will the Sun eventually destroy, and then replace, the Earth?
Microscopic view of green cyanobacteria chains forming spiral and linear patterns against a dark background, highlighting their role within the microbiome.
In "The Microbiome Master Key," Brett and Jessica Finlay argue that we need to stop waging war on all germs and start working with the microbes that make us who we are.
Collage featuring a snail, two hands gripping a baton symbolizing succession, and a boat, overlaid on a pink and black grid pattern with the text "THE NIGHTCRAWLER" at the top.
Welcome to The Nightcrawler — a weekly newsletter from Eric Markowitz covering tech, innovation, and long-term thinking.
A magnifying glass focusing on concentric circles against a plain teal background.
19mins
"It's a very, very beautiful calculation, but it's the best example I know of the relationship between these rather abstract quantities perhaps and something that you can look at in a telescope."
A split image shows a hand with fingers crossed on the left, evoking the idea of a noble lie, and a person in military uniform saluting on the right.
This is my country and this is what we stand for. At least for now.
A young armored man consults an elderly bearded man holding a key and a staff, both seated and looking at an open book, as if exploring how stories teach philosophy.
Want to study philosophy but skip some of its heavier tomes? These five novels are a great place to start. (Existential despair guaranteed.)
A historical illustration shows one man performing a medical procedure on another man’s chest using a metal instrument, both with serious expressions.
3mins
According to philosopher Meghan Sullivan, effective altruism may overlook the moral importance of seeing others as individuals. She explains how love should guide how we care for both present and future humans.
the night sky with stars and trees in the foreground.
Looking at a dark, night sky has filled humans with a sense of awe and wonder since prehistoric times. But appearances can be deceiving.
A green skull in the background appears to stare through a glass of champagne centered in the foreground, evoking Agatha Christie poisons, all set against a black backdrop.
Kathryn Harkup, chemist and author of V Is for Venom, joins Big Think to discuss why Christie isn’t just a brilliant writer but a unique science communicator.
A grayscale collage features a smiling woman, a silhouetted figure with outstretched arms, and the title "The Nightcrawler" at the top. Geometric shapes and architectural sketches, inspired by Shannon Vallor's work, are layered in the background.
Welcome to The Nightcrawler — a weekly newsletter from Eric Markowitz covering tech, innovation, and long-term thinking.
An illustration of a human brain tightly bound with red rope, set against a textured background with blue and brown patches.
21mins
"You can't possibly exaggerate how much better it is to live in a peaceful, orderly society, and to be wealthy, and healthy, and surrounded by people who you love."
A woman in ancient armor holds out a small statue to a seated, bearded man, while another figure—symbolizing the evolution of wisdom—stands with their back turned near a tree and a cave.
Evolution may have built our brains, but it didn't build them to find truth.
Two women in historical clothing sit outdoors, one holding a book while the other leans in, both appearing to read together near a tree.
Most of us think we're good listeners, but we're wrong — and it's ruining our relationships.
A woman smiling at camera.
8mins
Rediscovering competition in an unexpected place helped her rewrite what was possible — and go on to win gold.
Unlikely Collaborators
Two glowing spheres connected by a thin line suggest a quantum link above a red, knotted rope, with abstract wave patterns in the background.
A meditation on quantum physics, creative endurance, and the unseen forces that shape what lasts.
Krel and Hana Koecher celebrate with StB colleagues after returning to the Eastern Bloc.
In this excerpt from "Agents of Change," Christina Hillsberg tells the story of Martha “Marti” Peterson, the first female case officer stationed in Soviet Moscow.
A healthcare worker wearing blue gloves gently inserts an IV into a man's hand as he lies on a hospital bed, battling lung cancer.
Here in 2025, many of us claim to come to our own conclusions by doing our own research. Here's why we're mostly deluding ourselves.