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Ideas that inspire a life well-lived
Do we inhabit a multiverse? Do we have free will? What is love? Is evolution directional?
Life’s biggest questions rarely have simple answers. That is precisely why they continue to occupy the world’s most thoughtful minds. The Well is a place to engage those questions, drawing on insights from science, philosophy, and the humanities.
Created by the John Templeton Foundation in partnership with Big Think, The Well brings together ideas that inspire deeper understanding and a more considered approach to living.
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The Templeton Foundation supports interdisciplinary research and catalyzes conversations that inspire awe and wonder.
Your life has purpose — just not the kind you think
We’ve been asking whether we have a purpose. Philosopher Alan Love says the better question is: what kind of purpose can we identify, document, and explain?
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The ultimate definition of trauma, explained by leading psychiatrist Bessel van der Kolk.
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To be happy, you have to become antifragile first. Harvard’s Tal Ben-Shahar explains.
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‘Flow state’ is a peak performance mental state experienced by the world's highest achievers. Learn how it works in just 7 minutes.
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8mins
Is science destined to crack the code of consciousness—and how would we even go about it?
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From politics to culture, we blame “tribalism” for humanity’s problems. This explanation is entirely wrong.
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We all want to have a good, stable relationship with somebody, says Dr. Helen Fisher. So it's important to understand how intense romantic love affects our long-term goals.
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6mins
Darwin, Descartes, and Maxwell all believed in these science ‘demons.’
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The concept is so complex that scientists still argue whether it exists or if it is an illusion.
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Today’s young people are intelligent and kind, but they are overworked and burned out.
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9mins
Enlightenment is a traditionally mystical and slippery concept, but when it is subjected to the rigors of empirical analysis, there is a lot to be learned about our brains and ourselves.
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Humans tend to hunker down in our own minds and trust what we already believe to be true. This emotion-based way of thought isn't often the best way to think about anything, and often leads to gridlock.
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An interview with CRISPR co-discoverer and Nobel Prize-winner Dr. Jennifer Doudna.
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“The very best arguments against God have been formulated by believers.”
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4mins
Some scientists see religion as a threat to the scientific method that should be resisted. But faith "is really asking a different set of questions," says Collins.
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When justice isn’t tempered by something such as mercy, forgiveness, or nonviolence, efforts to make society more equitable often backfire.
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4mins
There is no evidence for God as a “big being.” Is God something else?
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5mins
When should we seek justice, and when should we forgive? A bishop explains.
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New research shows that having an attitude of gratitude is key to healthy relationships, and it can virally impact society.
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