philosophy

If the “self” is not real, then we are slaves to a billiard ball universe, trapped in a nihilistic nightmare in which we cannot change our fate.

If you give yourself and others space to tinker and experiment, then you might create something incredible. Here’s how to do it well.

Traditionally, the long history of Japanese thought has not been viewed as “philosophy” — even by Japanese scholars. It’s time for a rethink.

Dive into five philosophical schools that have faded into obscurity but still whisper through the ages.

Artificial general intelligence will not arise in systems that only passively receive data. They need to be able to act back on the world.

The question of why the Universe is the way it is is an ancient one, and none of the answers we have come up with are satisfying.

The philosophy of sex is going through a recalibration period.

The perfectly accessible, perfectly knowable Universe of classical physics is gone forever, no matter what interpretation you choose.

Rooted in Vedic philosophy, “anupalabdhi” — or “non-apprehension” — can help you exploit gaps in the market.

There’s nothing like the end of the world to make you a philosopher.

Defamiliarization is a common tool in the arts. Here we learn how seeing things from a different angle can lead to billion-dollar success.

Effective altruism isn’t just for the rich. Philosopher Peter Singer shares how we can all be better at doing “good.”

The best answer we have is, “Life is matter with intentionality.”

Dive into China’s profound intellectual legacy through five seminal texts that have shaped millennia of thought.

Will you die when your body dies?

The world is facing many crises, and we should look to natural interdependence and ancient wisdom as we explore science for solutions.

“Conceptual isolation” offers an agreeable solution.

Cosmology is unlike other sciences. When our view of the Universe changes, so does our understanding of philosophy and science itself.

When science is a source of spirituality in people’s lives, they feel happy and engaged.

Dive into seven texts that continue to shape Western philosophy, from ancient Mesopotamia to Greece’s brightest minds.

Is mindfulness really the panacea it’s touted to be, or are we glossing over some fundamental flaws?

A relatively new interpretation of quantum mechanics asks us to reimagine the process of science itself.

Looking at our planet with post-Copernican eyes has the power to change how we relate to it and each other.

The One Ring has its own agency and sentience — and it opens up a wonderful philosophy of things beyond our comprehension.

Philosopher Lee McIntyre discusses the dangers of disinformation, how such falsehoods spread, and what we can do about it.

Is true equality achievable — or even desirable? Go on a journey through the strange and unsettling “Land of Justice.”

A new book envisions an encounter of minds between the Argentinian writer Jorge Luis Borges, the physicist Werner Heisenberg, and the philosopher Immanuel Kant.

Art isn’t a side note in human history; it’s the main text.

Do you really need a monstrous upbringing to make monsters?

Life in the supremely vast cosmos is incredibly rare. We need a new vision for our living planet and for ourselves.