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.

An abstract illustration features a bell curve with red dots and a percentage labeled 49%. The background includes a monochrome portion of a face with wide-open eyes peeking below the curve.

Everyday Philosophy: Bad at probability? That might be a blessing.

How black and white is your thinking?

Jonny Thomson taught philosophy in Oxford for more than a decade before turning to writing full-time. He’s a columnist at Big Think and is the award-winning, bestselling author of three[…]

An illustration intertwines reality with imagination, featuring a cow, a rainbow, and a human skull linked by red lines and targets.

Everyday Philosophy: Are rainbows, farts, and emotions “real”?

Just because you can’t experience it doesn’t mean it’s not real.

Jonny Thomson taught philosophy in Oxford for more than a decade before turning to writing full-time. He’s a columnist at Big Think and is the award-winning, bestselling author of three[…]

A black-and-white photo of two prisoners in uniforms stands next to a colorful animated image of a hot dog bun character with a sausage character, creating an unexpected juxtaposition that highlights the beauty of contrasts.

Everyday Philosophy: If beauty is subjective, is “Shawshank Redemption” no better than “Sausage Party”?

A vintage-style illustration of a winged figure falling through the sky, set against a textured red background, surrounded by intricate black and white abstract patterns.

Everyday Philosophy: “Are scientists involved in a Satanic plot to undermine religion?”

A statue of a thoughtful, seated philosopher on the right seems to be contemplating a calling, while a standing figure holding a lyre on the left adds harmony against the textured background.

Everyday Philosophy: Can you have a “calling” without a caller?

A gloved hand grips a vaccine-loaded syringe, framed by a red-tinted portrait of a historical figure in the center and a grainy black-and-white landscape on the right.

Everyday Philosophy: When should you try to change your friend’s beliefs?

Animated characters observe a family walking in a snowy scene through a viewing screen, inside a control room.

Everyday Philosophy: Is there such a thing as a “negative emotion”?

Got an everyday dilemma?

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 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?

Woman wearing pixelated sunglasses sits at a desk, with graphic overlays of a line graph demonstrating workplace equality, classical figures in discussion, and a clock indicating 2 o'clock.

Everyday Philosophy: “Should I have to work the same hours as my inefficient colleague?”

Rich is brilliant at his job. He completes work in half the time of his coworkers. Should he have to sit at his desk just as long?