Thinking and intelligence
How to check if an argument is valid
In logic, validity is prime. If you want to make valid arguments, or sniff out invalid ones, here’s what you need to do
by Robert Trueman
From cave art to subatomic sketches – how drawing has accelerated human progress
Video by MIT Quest for Intelligence
How to cultivate collective intellectual humility
Being smart is knowing what you don’t know. From work meetings to book clubs, use these tips to boost your group’s thinking
by Elizabeth Krumrei-Mancuso & Mark Alfano
These lessons in scepticism could make the world a better place
In our age of certainty and dogma, we would all do well to learn from the philosophy of the ancient Greco-Roman sceptics
by Massimo Pigliucci
Why do beautiful people also seem smart and likeable?
Psychologists have known about the ‘halo effect’ for ages. New research suggests the power of language can help explain it
by Chris F Westbury & Daniel King
To resist dogma and accept uncertainty, think like a pragmatist
Founded in 19th-century America, the philosophy of pragmatism promises imaginative ways of coping with our circumstances
by Michael Bacon
Metaphors open up our minds – but can also shut them down
The best analogies in poetry and science really crackle, but when do they expand our thinking and when do they constrain it?
by Claire O’Callaghan
Equanimity is not stillness – it is a mobility of the mind
To grasp the power of this lauded quality, think of it less as a mountain than as a flexible, even playful way of seeing
by Michael Uebel
A lawyer’s view of irrelevant influences in the courtroom
Psychology studies cast doubt on old assumptions about legal objectivity. Lawyers and laypeople alike should take notice
by Samu Czabán
Why every utterance you make begins with a leap of faith
Time pressure and the limitations of memory compel you and your listener to engage in a fascinating linguistic trade-off
by Julie Sedivy
Long COVID brain fog was my enemy. How did it become my friend?
The confusion of my illness helped me understand Buddhist theories of ignorance and its role in the relief of suffering
by Emily McRae
Expert tips on using gestures to think and talk more effectively
The gesticulations that accompany your speech are so much more than mere hand-waving – they contain and convey meaning
by Susan Goldin-Meadow
The surprising role of deep thinking in conspiracy theories
People who endorse and spread outlandish theories aren’t gullible, they’re drawn to the intoxicating lure of discovery
by Stephen Gadsby & Sander Van de Cruys
How to think about consciousness
What is it like to be you? Dive into the philosophical puzzle of consciousness and see yourself and the world in new ways
by Amy Kind
Your 10-step plan for achieving a creative breakthrough
We often think of Aha! moments occurring by fluke, but there are evidence-based ways to make it more likely they will occur
by Nick Kabrel