Jonny Thomson

Jonny Thomson

Author and philosopher

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 books that have been translated into 22 languages.

Jonny is also the founder of Mini Philosophy, a social network of around two million curious, intelligent minds. He's known all over the world for making philosophy accessible, relatable, and fun. 

A blue compass rose emblem with a fractured design symbolizes navigation through the struggles of addiction, set starkly against a black background.
Big Think spoke with author and psychiatrist Elias Dakwar about addiction, rock bottom, and the moment you realize your compass is broken.
A silhouette of a head brimming with green grass and tiny flowers forms a brain-like shape, embodying sentience against a yellow textured background.
Could AI develop true intelligence without sentience? Philosopher Jonathan Birch explores the boundaries of artificial and evolved minds.
A sunflower with a detailed close-up of its center, showcasing spiral patterns intertwined with mathematics. Fibonacci sequence and mathematical diagrams elegantly overlay a serene blue background.
The artistic and the mathematical mind are not so far apart.
A classical statue, embodying an Olympic mindset, holds a clipboard and phone against a split green and black background.
What we can all learn about the journey from sporting arena to workplace — and how Aristotle can guide our thinking.
Collage with images of a close embrace, crowded street, running feet, U.S. dollar bills symbolizing wealth, and an alarm clock.
Sahil Bloom explores why wealth isn’t just about money, but about knowing which type of wealth matters most in each season of life.
The golden statue of Athena stands prominently in a replica of the Parthenon interior, steeped in mythology. She holds a shield and a small figure, while the spacious setting boasts large columns and high ceilings.
An interview with renowned mythologist Martin Shaw about persona, presence, and how to spend life's finite time.
Blurred image of a thrilling football game in action under the night sky, with enthusiastic spectators on bleachers watching one of America's most exciting and sometimes dangerous sports.
"I think it's about time we stop allowing every male generation bang their frontal lobe through its most developmental stages."
An older man in a suit stands in front of a large bookcase filled with books, pondering life's limit situations.
When Star Trek's Captain Picard and The Office's Dwight Schrute channel philosopher Karl Jaspers, we can all benefit.
Blurred split image: left depicts a person in a hoodie with their hand raised, capturing shifting moods; right features an abstract view with part of a face and a building overlay.
You're a moody person. You have to be — because understanding moods philosophically can be crucial to your work-life.
An ancient manuscript page featuring a large pentagram entwined with themes of necromancy, its red and black text evoking forbidden rituals. Surrounding it are mysterious symbols in various languages, while a faint illustration of a seated figure lingers on the right.
Grab a sword, a small plate, and a young child. We've got a demon to summon.
A close-up of a reddish-orange engraving shows an elderly man with a beard and focused expression, as though he's reflecting on the wisdom found in books.
Self-help often distills philosophical ideas for the modern ear. Sometimes, its better to go back to the source.
An illustration intertwines reality with imagination, featuring a cow, a rainbow, and a human skull linked by red lines and targets.
Just because you can't experience it doesn't mean it's not real.
In this striking black and white portrait, a young person with short hair gazes with a serene resolve, their face half in shadow, as if to remind us all to go grudge-free.
We have it in our power to forgive a debt — and learning to use this power in the workplace can be golden.
Close-up view of a marble sculpture's lower face, showing a smile with detailed lips and chin against a dark background.
10mins
“If we're to be happy at all, it has to be found outside of this notion of pleasure. We have to step beyond hedonia. But the problem is that we risk going too far.”