Philosophy

Philosophy

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

entanglement across space
Are quantum fields real, or are they simply calculational tools? These 3 experiments show that if energy is real, so are quantum fields.
Samuel Johnson by Joshua Reynolds
Art criticism is inherently subjective. Still, many critics have tried to make a case for why some of the world’s most celebrated books are in fact terribly written. 
4mins
This productivity hack comes with an asterisk, explains note-taking guru Tiago Forte.
Hungarian Gypsy Girl by Amrita Sher-Gil
In the West, discussions of 20th-century painting are dominated by Warhol and Picasso, but trendsetting artists are found everywhere.
Illustration of a man smoking a pipe, with red handprint-shaped smoke rising from the pipe against a yellow background.
5mins
Poker pro Maria Konnikova on how to recognize which details matter and master the science of deduction.
halo evolve cosmic time millennium II
Generations ago, cosmologists asserted that the Universe might not just be the same in all directions, but at all times. But is that true?
A red-orange background with atom-like scribbles
The answer to the age-old philosophical question of whether there is meaning in the Universe may ultimately rest upon the power of information.
John Templeton Foundation
According to Peter Ward's "Medea hypothesis," photosynthesizing organisms regularly doom most life on Earth by over-consuming carbon dioxide.
A wide-scale examination of early Neolithic human skeletons reveals the violent history of a supposedly peaceful period.
Video games matter. Their continued technological and artistic development is reshaping the way we satisfy our ancient need to tell stories.
Kids are fragile. They should trust their feelings. The world is a battle between good and evil. We should stop repeating these untruths.
Science will lead us to a universal morality and a cosmic religion.
a quantum cat on a blue background.
Though quantum mechanics is an incredibly successful theory, nobody knows what it means. Scientists now must confront its philosophical implications.
Buddha statue with flowers
For Buddhists, the “Four Noble Truths” offer a path to lasting happiness.
7mins
How to maximize wins and minimize losses, explained by four experts on game theory.
Alibaba has played a key role in China’s meteoric economic rise.
Take a closer look at the different types of reasoning you use every day.
Emotional intelligence abstract concept
Research suggests that emotional intelligence is more vital for success than IQ.