Eudaimonia
History of emotions
idea
The fear that trashy media will rot your brain goes way back
by James Waddell
Food and drink
idea
What our fantasies about futuristic food say about us
by Kelly Alexander
Freedom and choice
guide
How to think about free will
You can’t escape cause and effect, but there is a way of viewing human agency that is motivating, plausible and humane
by Julian Baggini
Ageing and death
film
Scenes unfold like Romantic paintings in a touching meditation on grief
16 mins
Conversation
idea
Why you shouldn’t shrink from challenging your loved ones’ views
by Matt Ferkany
The self
idea
The philosophy of selfhood became real when my mother got dementia
by Noga Arikha
Emotion regulation
guide
How to take things less personally
Always blaming yourself or assuming others think ill of you? A CBT therapist shares ways to break these self-critical habits
by Joel Minden
Learning and education
film
A homework task prompts kids to reflect deeply on learning, and its limits
20 mins
Engagement and activism
idea
Don’t be stoic: Roman Stoicism’s origins show its perniciousness
by Henry Gruber
The self
idea
The question therapy doesn’t answer: who are we really, really?
by Eric Jannazzo
Communication
guide
How to ask for help
You’re not weak or lazy – everyone needs support. Follow these steps to learn when to reach out, who to go to and what to say
by Debbie Sorensen
Love and relationships
film
A poet struggles for the just-right words to memorialise a past romance
8 mins