IQ scores are falling but, no, we’re not growing more stupid
Screens and social media get the blame, but the real problem lies in how we measure intelligence in the first place
by Stuart Jeffries
Progress and the future
Articles, Films and practical Guides on progress and the future, part of Psyche’s coverage of values and ethical living.
How will the future judge us?
Any excuses we might give for acting or not acting now are likely to seem much thinner to someone living 250 years from us
by Matt Huston
Why the search for proof can’t be separated from faith
Rather than being an enemy of empiricism, belief in what can’t be known is part of how we gain knowledge, even now
by Adam Kucharski
Why AI’s hallucinations are like the illusions of narcissism
Unable to handle uncertainty, AI mimics the narcissistic compulsion to fill voids with plausible but false narratives
by Jennine Gates
Does progress seem slower when you constantly check on it?
Research on how we perceive the rate of change shows how you can be strategic about goal tracking and boost your motivation
by André Vaz
Are people less talkative these days?
A study explores how many words people use a day, whether women really speak more than men, and whether we’re talking less
by Matt Huston
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
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
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
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
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
Working ‘like chopsticks’, two married artists create independently, in tandem
Directed by Bryan Chang and Vicky Du
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
Stick figures meet existential angst in this acclaimed, darkly comedic short
Directed by Don Hertzfeldt
The fate of a London landmark inspires a feverish rumination on progress
Directed by Alice May Williams
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