Progress and the future

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Photo of a man sunbathing on a rooftop next to a large satellite dish.

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Why it’s possible to be optimistic in a world of bad news

The original optimist, Leibniz, was mocked and misunderstood. Centuries later, his worldview can help us navigate modern life

by Sumit Paul-Choudhury

Scene from a film with three characters walking from a futuristic spacecraft in a city setting.

Progress and the future

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We need the toolkit of utopian thinking, now more than ever

Many dismiss utopian ideas. But imagining a better world is a vital political skill for tackling today’s challenges

by Caitlin Rajan

Photo of a stone wall beside a sandy beach with calm sea under a cloudy sky sun peeking through a ship on the horizon.

Goals and motivation

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How to do mental time travel

Feeling overwhelmed by the present moment? Find a connection to the longer view and a wiser perspective on what matters

by Richard Fisher

Two arms in colourful jumpers hold chopsticks that hold a small TV. Trees and rooftop scenery are visible in the background.

Painting and sculpture

film

Working ‘like chopsticks’, two married artists create independently, in tandem

Directed by Bryan Chang and Vicky Du

Photo of a person in protective gear disinfecting an empty cinema with an animated film playing on the screen.

Progress and the future

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The empathy gap that is imperilling future generations

To protect our descendants from catastrophe, we must overcome the emotional hurdles that make it easy for us to look away

by Matthew Coleman

Photo of a person with code reflecting on glasses, focused on a computer screen displaying programming text.

Consciousness

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The myth of machine consciousness makes Narcissus of us all

The idea that AI can be conscious is a mistake. It’s just a very shiny mirror of humanity, reflecting what we want to see

by David Bentley Hart

Abstract orange background with two stick figures amidst geometric shapes and lines.

Progress and the future

film

Stick figures meet existential angst in this acclaimed, darkly comedic short

Directed by Don Hertzfeldt

Photo of a river with gravel banks winding through a red autumn landscape, mountains in the background under a cloudy sky.

Nature and the environment

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What does water want? Most humans seem to have forgotten

Asking what water wants sounds a bit mystical, even radical. But it’s a practical, proven path to creating a better world

by Erica Gies

Scene from a film with three men indoors, one holding a computer mouse. A badge reads “I quit smoking.”

Technology and media

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What the journey from Star Trek to Siri says about our culture

The talking computer in Star Trek takes the culture and technology of the present and dreams up future possibilities

by Liz W Faber

A person walks past a construction site with “WE LIVE HERE” written on a white panel and an image of two women smiling.

Progress and the future

film

The fate of a London landmark inspires a feverish rumination on progress

Directed by Alice May Williams