Wisdom

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

Bioethics Civic life Cultural diversity Ethics Fairness and equality Human rights and justice Meaning and the good life Nature and the environment Neurodiversity Progress and the future Race and ethnicity Values and beliefs Virtues and vices Wisdom

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Bronze bust of a bearded man with curly hair, showing detailed facial features, on a black background.

Thinking and intelligence

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Lost perspective? Try this linguistic trick to reset your view

By using ‘distanced self-talk’, you can leverage the structure of language to take a step back and see the bigger picture

by Ariana Orvell

Three men in jackets and gloves looking in a direction outside the camera frame. A red curtain and people in hoodies are behind them.

Theatre and performance

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Much ado about uncertainty: how Shakespeare navigates doubt

‘I know this sure uncertainty’: how Shakespeare’s vision of an unpredictable world can help us live with doubt and error

by Lorenzo Zucca

Illustration of an Oriental woman on a bench, gazing at a city skyline with a red sun above, framed by blooming branches and leaves.

Thinking and intelligence

guide

How to foster ‘shoshin’

It’s easy for the mind to become closed to new ideas. Cultivating a beginner’s mind helps us rediscover the joy of learning

by Christian Jarrett

A colourful, textured painting of a forest with dark trees and vibrant foliage against a starry blue night sky.

Spirituality and religion

film

An exquisite Mongolian meditation on the oneness of all beings

Directed by Alisi Telengut

Illustration of diverse people in warm earth tones overlapping in a crowd, highlighting various cultures and expressions.

Wisdom

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Wisdom is a virtue, but how do we judge if someone has it?

Our team explored who is considered wise in cultures with contrasting philosophical traditions. The results surprised us

by Maksim Rudnev & Igor Grossmann

Black and white photo of an elderly person in sunglasses and hat, wearing a fur-collared coat, standing in a street.

Thinking and intelligence

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Why academia should embrace ‘Grandma’s metaphysics’

‘Grandma’s metaphysics’ and other sources of wisdom are vital if academia is to embrace diversity and fully benefit from it

by Devin Sanchez Curry

Painting of a woman with reddish hair and flushed cheeks holding a white cloth to her mouth, with a soft, blurred background.

Knowledge and reason

guide

How to know who’s trustworthy

Knotty problems call for sound advice. Use philosophy to find the intellectually dependable amid the frauds and egotists

by T Ryan Byerly

Image of an urban housing area at dusk with a distant view of apartment buildings and a blurred figure in the foreground.

Poetry

film

Ideas and metal spark in beautiful unison for a welder-turned-poet

Directed by Callum Rice

A man walks beneath overcast skies down a wet and rutted road past a burned out tank in war-ravaged Ukraine

History of ideas

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Five timeless lessons for life from the Athenian tragedies

In a world filled with grief-fuelled rage, cultivating a tragic mindset can help you to live with grace and dignity

by Andy Owen

Photo of two people embracing indoors, one hand resting gently on the other’s back, both wearing blue clothing with soft-focus background.

Decision-making

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Going with your gut feels good, but it’s not always wise

Research is revealing the mood benefits of making intuitive decisions, but some situations call for an analytical approach

by Carina Remmers

An elderly woman and a young girl sit on steps, embracing each other affectionately in front of a door.

Parenting and families

guide

How to connect with your grandchildren

You have a joyous opportunity to support the next generation. Be yourself, be firm but fair, and bond through tradition

by Jill Lawson