Emotions

Self-knowledge and personal growth Relationships, work and leisure Values and ethical living

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Painting of a man with medium-length hair in dark clothing, seated near a window with a city view, holding a book.

Emotions

idea

What makes hate a unique emotion – and why that matters

How does hating someone compare with anger, contempt or disgust? A clearer picture of what makes it unique is emerging

by Cristhian A Martínez

Photo of a man playing a violin in a columned, mosaic-tiled hall with people walking in the background.

Music

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Music is a philosophy, rich in ideas that language cannot say

Musical thinking offers a means for composing our lives and a philosophical foundation that embraces both sound and silence

by Xenia Hanusiak

Stone statue of a Moai head with a prominent brow and nose against a black background, photo.

Gender

guide

How to be a man

Old ideas of manliness make us miserable. Being labelled ‘toxic’ doesn’t help. A reimagined masculinity is the way forward

by Andrew Reiner

Elderly man in a weathered hat and coat, with a grey beard, lighting a cigarette, set against a blurred outdoor background.

Emotions

film

Scenes unfold like Romantic paintings in a touching meditation on grief

Directed by Hayk Matevosyan

Photo of a person falling near running bulls on a cobblestone street during a bull run event, with legs and hooves in motion.

History of emotions

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Schadenfreude: why do we find joy in the pain felt by others?

A brief history of schadenfreude – taking pleasure in the misfortune of another – from ancient China to Charlie Chaplin

by David P Barash

Painting of three women, one holding a hat, standing on a bridge with a blurred landscape in the background.

Emotions

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For young people, emotions are highly contagious social viruses

Like viruses, our internal mental states are socially transmissible, and it’s easier to catch happiness than depression

by Jack Andrews

Photo of a stormy sky over Sydney Opera House and city skyline with dark clouds and a sailboat on the water.

Difficult emotions

guide

How to understand and cope with mood swings

Sudden mood changes can be unsettling, but getting to know them will help you regain balance and, if needed, find support

by Zindel Segal & Norman Farb

A man recently released from prison standing on a rock by a tranquil lake, surrounded by dense green trees and under a partly cloudy sky.

Freedom and choice

film

After decades in prison, Jack navigates the strange, beautiful outside world

Directed by Pete Quandt

Scene from a film with a pale man in black leather and a woman in glasses standing by a blue door in a home setting.

Artists and art history

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Love the art, disgusted by the artist? Maybe philosophy can help

Rather than trying to leave behind beloved art by immoral artists, let philosophy offer you a model for engaging with it

by Erich Hatala Matthes

Photo of an overturned car on grass with pink flowers, a police car nearby and a person holding a pink umbrella.

Emotions

idea

Why it feels right to feel guilty about accidental mishaps

Say you caused a random accident. Your expression of guilt – or its lack – could send a message about who you are deep down

by Rajen Alexander Anderson

Two people sitting on a bench next to a marina with several boats in the background, partially covered by tree branches.

Parenting and families

film

Young, gay and Arab, Omar navigates the seasons of his life in Montreal

Directed by Aziz Zoromba