Jonny Thomson
Jonny Thomson teaches philosophy in Oxford. He runs a popular Instagram account called Mini Philosophy (@philosophyminis), which is the result of the conversations with his students and a somewhat masochistic obsession with reading dry philosophical books. Although Jonny centers around philosophy, he loves to write about all manner of subjects. Under the increasingly strained title of a 'philosophy' blog, he's turned his hand to the origins of life, linguistics, developmental psychology, time travel paradoxes, psychoanalysis and unpacking classic novels and poetry. His first book is called "Mini Philosophy: A Small Book of Big Ideas."
Is China’s communism a new ideology or traditional philosophy rebranded?
Did traditional Chinese thought pave the way for the philosophy of Maoism?
Too much choice: The strange phenomenon of “analysis paralysis”
When faced with too many choices, many of us freeze — a phenomenon known as "analysis paralysis." Why? Isn't choice a good thing?
Inside the mind of a hoarder (and how to help them)
Hoarders know their habits are abnormal, and yet they cannot help themselves. Maybe you can help them.
The law of reversed effort: The harder you try, the harder you fall
There are many things in life that cannot be improved with greater effort. Sometimes, life requires that you step back.
10 benefits of bilingualism, according to science
Learning another language might make you richer, sexier, and smarter. Why not try it?
Can near-death experiences prove the afterlife?
Millions of people have had a near-death experience, and it often leads them to believe in an afterlife. Does this count as good proof?
Why it’s time to confess your darkest secrets
If secrets are a kind of poison, confession is the antidote.
The Four Enemies to a happy life and how to defeat them
There is a lot of truth in the ancient wisdom found in almost all religions. Love really is the answer to most problems.
What responsibility does Twitter have to free speech?
What responsibility do social media companies like Twitter have to free speech? It depends on whether they are "landlords" or "publishers."
Why do some people love cringe comedy while others can’t stand it?
It may depend on whether you're an "easily empathetically embarrassed" person.
Am I the asshole? Everyday moral dilemmas from Reddit
Moral dilemmas reveal the limitations of ethical principles. Oddly, the most principled belief system might not have any principles at all.
Mathematicians suggest the “37% rule” for your life’s biggest decisions
When making any tough decision, the key is not to be overly exploratory or exploitative.
Solitude is not loneliness. Here’s the key philosophical difference.
When was the last time you spent some quality time with yourself?
Tolkien on the importance of fantasy and science fiction
According to Tolkien, fantasy requires a deep imagination known as "sub-creation." And the genre reflects a fundamental truth of being human.
Whose ethics should be programmed into the robots of tomorrow?
Will all robots think like Jeff Bezos and Mark Zuckerberg?
Kama Sutra isn’t just about sex. It’s a guidebook for pleasure
There is much more to the Kama Sutra than just sex. It's a guide to anyone wanting more pleasure in life, however they take it.
How much progress has philosophy actually made?
It's possible to measure philosophy's progress in two ways. But is that really the point?
Is violence always wrong? A hands-on ethics lesson from Will Smith slapping Chris Rock
The attitude we take to Will Smith's slap will mirror our attitudes to violence, masculinity, and protecting others more generally.
Nostalgia: powerful, poignant — and a painkiller
Nostalgia is a happy remembrance of the past, yet it also leaves us feeling sad. Perhaps ironically, it can serve as a painkiller.
If religion makes you happier, why not give it a go?
A growing body of research shows that religious people seem to enjoy more psychological well-being compared to others.
Are you morally obliged to pick up litter in your neighborhood?
When we fail to help in a bad situation, we are morally responsible. So, why don't we pick up others' litter?
How to measure happiness: hedonia vs. eudaimonia
A lot of research assumes happiness is measured by comfort and material conditions. For Aristotle, it is about being the best we can be.
The different types of atheism
There are different types of atheism and atheists. In general, they can be classified as the non-religious, the non-believers, and agnostics.
Philosophy of objectification: Why everything changes when someone looks at us
The gaze of another person can make us conceive of our body as an object.
Why do people rate AI-generated faces as more trustworthy?
What makes a face trustworthy, anyway?
Why do we value human life?
We value human life in a way that assumes we possess a sacred something not found in beings like lambs, turkeys, or mosquitoes.
Learning how to learn
We forget how unnatural a lot of formal education is. "Learning how to learn" requires bridging the gap between the abstract and the natural.
Taboos: Why are we repulsed yet seduced by the forbidden and unspeakable?
According to Sigmund Freud, our revulsion at taboos is an attempt to suppress a part of us that actually wants to do them.
The McGurk effect: An auditory illusion that shows how strongly our senses deceive us
What's especially bizarre about the McGurk effect is that knowing you're being duped doesn't correct your perceptions.