Everyday Philosophy - Big Think

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Bust of a bespectacled man with wavy hair and a pensive expression, depicted on a pedestal, thinking with a question mark in a thought bubble overhead.

Philosophy isn’t only about the big questions like “What is truth?” In fact, some of the best philosophy stems from seemingly small questions, like “Is it ever OK to ghost the people you date?” Everyday Philosophy brings these conversations directly to you, using philosophical insights to unpack everyday dilemmas in an unpretentious and accessible way.

Bust of a bespectacled man with wavy hair and a pensive expression, depicted on a pedestal, thinking with a question mark in a thought bubble overhead.

A serene painting of Buddha on the left and a black-and-white portrait of Freud separated by a vertical orange line symbolizing the desire for inner peace against external ambition.

Everyday Philosophy: Freud and the Buddha debate what to do about desire

Desire is like a drug. But is an addict always an addict?

Jonny Thomson taught philosophy in Oxford for more than a decade before turning to writing full-time. He’s a staff writer at Big Think, where he writes about philosophy, theology, psychology,[…]

A montage of famous philosophers’ portraits next to a large question mark on the right, intersected by a horizontal arrow.

Everyday Philosophy: Why does it seem like philosophy is dead?

Philosophy cures no disease and invents nothing new. What’s even the point?

Jonny Thomson taught philosophy in Oxford for more than a decade before turning to writing full-time. He’s a staff writer at Big Think, where he writes about philosophy, theology, psychology,[…]

Black and white illustration of people in 18th-century attire at a dining table, overlaid with red-orange borders and white arrows indicating interaction among the individuals.

Everyday Philosophy: Is it better to debate people or shrug and drink wine?

An individual in a suit and orange tie gestures toward a firefighter in full uniform and helmet labeled "BUFFALO" with the number "27", as if acknowledging everyday miracles.

Everyday Philosophy: Did God save Donald Trump but kill someone else?

A photograph of a Albert Camus on the left and an illustration of a volleyball with arrows indicating its dimensions on the right, set against a dual-colored red and gray background, evokes a sense of alienation.

Everyday Philosophy: Can we overcome alienation by becoming more assertive?

Two ancient statues, framed by red lines, appear to be conversing through modern emoji speech bubbles. One statue displays several emojis, while the other shows a typing indicator.

Everyday Philosophy: How much empathy is too much empathy?

A modern black-and-white photo of a man giving a presentation exudes ambition as it overlays a historical portrait, aligning the man's face with a red dot to the eye of the portrait. Red borders frame the image.

Everyday Philosophy: Can you handle a Machiavellian colleague without becoming ruthless?

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Submit your question for Everyday Philosophy below. Please provide some details about your particular dilemma (we prefer real-life, relatable situations, though hypotheticals also work) and try to keep your submission under 100 words.

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A black-and-white illustration depicts five individuals wearing robes and garlands, reclining and sitting around a table with food and drink, reminiscent of a classical or ancient feast, evoking scenes one might imagine from the time of Confucius.

Everyday Philosophy: Were your parents right to make you “clean your plate”?

When stuffed and staring down the last bite, you might hear your mother’s voice in your mind.

A red, fuzzy cartoon character with a flame-like head is depicted in an overly emotional state, gripping control levers in a control room setting.

Everyday Philosophy: Can you ever be “too emotional” in decision-making?

In the fight between head and heart, psychologists will win.

Illustration of a brain diagram labeled with letters A through H, set in the center of a corridor flanked by tall columns. Red lines connect the labels to specific points on the brain, evoking pathways that have evolved from the past.

Everyday Philosophy: Is it better to forget your past or keep revisiting it?

Is a repressed memory always so bad?

A depiction of a muscular figure wearing armor and an illuminated gauntlet beside a stylized world map, marked by red circles and black intersecting lines, highlighting the battle against overpopulation.

Everyday Philosophy: Thanos and an economist debate overpopulation

Is there a force keeping humanity in check?

A sandwich with lettuce and bread, adorned with a toothpick, features doll arms and legs sticking out, creating a whimsical yet slightly eerie scene evoking playful hints of cannibalism.

Everyday Philosophy: The religious belief underlying our disgust with cannibalism

Are fava beans and chianti really the best pairing for human liver?

Everyday Philosophy: Is praying fundamentally egotistical?

God is not a vending machine, but is it wrong to treat him like one?

Black and white illustration of two men in ancient attire, one standing with a scroll and the other seated, engaged in debate against a split red and beige background.

Everyday Philosophy: Should you always call out bad opinions?

A reader asks whether we have an ethical responsibility to always debate bad beliefs, especially those that come from our elders.

A black and white photo of a young child holding a vintage telephone receiver to their ear, with an excited expression. The background features graphic designs of sound waveforms and orange flames, evoking the intense energy of death metal.

Everyday Philosophy: The hidden beauty of death-metal screaming

If music is a window onto truth, what does screaming reveal?

A statue of an authentic marble figure holding a red plastic cup against a black background.

Everyday Philosophy: “Should I hide my wild past from my parents?”

How heavy is the mask that you wear?

A diptych image: left side shows a row of shopping carts lined up, right side depicts a single shopping cart abandoned in a puddle, serving as a litmus test for societal behavior.

Everyday Philosophy: The quickest way to test your moral character

The “Shopping Cart Litmus Test” is a popular meme about morality. What does it really reveal about one’s character?

Collage featuring a thoughtful person contemplating dating philosophy, two embracing cats in monochrome, and a close-up of an orange cat's face, with graphic elements like a question mark and abstract lines.

Everyday Philosophy: “Is it OK to date someone your friend likes?”

A battle between different kinds of love.

Three men looking at a smartphone and laughing, embodying everyday philosophy, with two faded figures and a sketch of a thinker with a question mark.

Everyday Philosophy: “Should I disinvite my bigoted friend from group trips?”

You’ve got to know when to fight and when to laugh.

An edited image of elmo peeking out from a trash can, positioned among scattered multiple cartoon-like chat bubbles expressing humorous thoughts.

Everyday Philosophy: “Is there anything wrong with trauma dumping?”

When does “oversharing” become an issue?

A collage of images featuring an anatomical drawing of a heart, a portrait of a bearded man embodying everyday philosophy, a brain illustration, and a smartphone showing an unread message notification.

Everyday Philosophy: “Is it OK to ghost the people you date?”

Nicole has been dating someone for a while but it’s not working out from her point of view. Is sudden radio silence an ethical option?

Collage of images featuring a classical sculpture, a close-up of a human ear, and a woman in a cafe expressing surprise with children nearby.

Everyday Philosophy: “Can I ever swear in front of kids?”

Irene is on a bus with her young kids when two men come on, cussing like sailors. Should Irene step in and say something?