Ethics
How to be happy: Aristotle’s 11 guidelines for a good life
People often ask "What should I do?" when faced with an ethical problem. Aristotle urges us to ask "What kind of person should I be?"
Blaming “evil”: a philosophical paradox, unpacked
A philosopher unpacks the paradox in using the word "evil."
How “gate” became the syllable of scandal
In terms of sheer productivity, “-gate” has no peer. Wikipedia’s list of -gates has over 260 entries.
How many secrets are you holding from these 38 categories?
In "The Secret Life of Secrets", Michael Slepian explores how holding secrets affects our relationships, psychology, and well-being.
Instead of the death penalty, let’s put dangerous criminals in a coma
Prison is an unreliable method of punishment. Let's do better.
The term “white privilege” backfires spectacularly and makes social change less likely
Polarization or misunderstanding?
Thinking fast and slow about ethics: When is it okay to cut in line?
Sometimes breaking a rule is the ethical thing to do.
What is “personhood”? The ethics question that needs a closer look in abortion debates
Suppose that fetuses are persons. Since pregnant people are too, how should conflicts between them be settled?
What does “pro-life” even mean anymore?
Regardless of political ideology, one of the few things that many people seem to have in common is a moral hypocrisy that arises from a fundamental lack of self-reflection.
What makes someone an “asshole”?
We all know assholes. Perhaps, you are one. Now, psychologists are trying to answer one of life's biggest mysteries: What, exactly, makes someone an asshole?
Parental alienation: When parents turn children into weapons, everybody loses
One form of domestic abuse involves a parent breaking their child’s connection with the other parent.
Are some things so taboo that science should never research them?
Science has come a long way since Mary Shelley penned "Frankenstein." But we still grapple with the same questions.
7 reasons why Zelenskyy’s crisis leadership is so effective
Aristotle's ancient virtues play a vital role in today's war.
Abortion has been common in the U.S. since the 18th century
And debate over it started soon after.
Dream hacking: Is this the dystopian future of advertising?
A team of scientists has warned that marketers seek to advertise in our dreams. Will our sleep be commercialized against our wishes?
System 1 vs. System 2 thinking: Why it isn’t strategic to always be rational
People believe that slow and deliberative thinking is inherently superior to fast and intuitive thinking. The truth is more complicated.
The hidden world of octopus cities and culture
Research shows that octopuses are sentient, emotional creatures.
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."
No more Medvedev, Tchaikovsky, or Dostoevsky: the pros and cons of cancelling Russian culture
Some question the ethics of sanctions aimed at cancelling Russian art and culture and punishing ordinary citizens.
The inner life of a lobster: Do invertebrates have emotions?
There is strong evidence that invertebrates are sentient beings.
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.
Atheism is not as rare or as rational as you think
Many atheists think of themselves as intellectually gifted individuals, guiding humanity on the path of reason. Scientific data shows otherwise.
Whose ethics should be programmed into the robots of tomorrow?
Will all robots think like Jeff Bezos and Mark Zuckerberg?
People trust AI fake faces more than real ones, study finds
Not only that, but AI learns what type of faces we like.
What is the Japanese blood type theory of personality?
In some Asian countries, what's in your blood may influence your social status.
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.
Chimpanzees understand the difference between malice and inability
Chimpanzees are able to consider the context of social interactions and can accept unfavorable outcomes — sometimes.