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Ethics

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World map illustration showing physical geography with oceans, continents and elevation.

Ethics

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What makes a map ‘good’? On the ethics of cartography

Rendering the world in a responsible way means wrestling with what gets depicted on a map, how, and for whom

by Nat Case

A vintage voltmeter displaying a scale in volts and ampères with a brass base and needle indicator.

Ethics

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What a real-life ‘trolley problem’ reveals about morality

We used an electric-shock dilemma to test the strength of people’s moral principles when faced with real-world complexities

by Dries Bostyn

A classical painting of two women and a man in a lavishly decorated room with ornate furniture and clothing, 19th century style.

Ethics

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The curious paradox in how we address each other today

While honouring people’s preferred pronouns, we’ve begun to neglect forms of formal address. Perhaps we need a rethink

by David Benatar

Workers in a warehouse stacking large burlap sacks with grain on the floor and more sacks piled against the walls.

Money and economics

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There are ways to manage your finances to do good in the world

Whether you have a little or a lot, your money is always at work. Follow these steps to ensure it’s making a positive impact

by Sarah Bengtsson

Photo of a person in a white vest and jacket with folded hands and a tattoo, viewed through a mesh screen.

Conflict and conflict resolution

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Restorative justice fits human nature more than retribution does

As recognised by ancestral wisdom and Indigenous practices, our need to repair relationships is a deep-rooted instinct

by Flavia Corso

Photo of a person standing before a large, colourful cosmic map display with clumps of blue and orange speckles.

Virtues and vices

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The medieval notion that shows why even experts should be humble

Nicholas of Cusa and others saw the importance of ‘learned ignorance’ or recognising there is always something more to learn

by Christopher M Bellitto

Photo of people studying at desks in a library with a large abstract painting on the wall above them.

Virtues and vices

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Why so many plagiarists are in denial about what they did wrong

So often people claim ‘I didn’t mean to’, yet they fail to realise that plagiarism is more like speeding than theft

by Philip Reed

Photo of two people meditating on a road in front of a police van in an urban setting with a few bystanders.

Mindfulness and meditation

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Here’s what to know about using meditation to be a better person

Meditating has long been thought to enhance morality. But the type of meditation – and the aspects of morality – matter

by Jakob Hohwy & Kevin Berryman

Photo of a man with a serious expression sitting at a table holding a fork in a kitchen setting.

Stories and literature

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What is it about film and TV antiheroes that’s so captivating?

They’re entertaining, of course – but research highlights a deeper psychological reason viewers are drawn to the bad guys

by Ana Gantman & Jordan Wylie

Animated character with a long nose and a yellow hat, smiling in a blue background.

Communication and language

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These are the mental processes required to tell a convincing lie

The cognitive work involved in lying is relevant to lie detection and could help explain why some people are better liars

by Molly MacMillan

Photo of an elderly person’s hands clasped together, wearing an orange jumper, with focus on the wrinkles and texture.

Ageing

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Efforts to expand the lifespan ignore what it’s like to get old

As modern medicine extends the human lifespan, quality of life is not keeping up, raising thorny ethical dilemmas

by Robert S Gable

Photo of a small porcelain statue of a serene figure in robes, holding a vase on a dashboard with a blurred background.

Ethics

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Morality aside, there’s another good reason to love your enemies

Wishing your antagonists well can be seen as a moral obligation or a misguided ideal. But it might serve your interests

by Alex Moran