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Ethics

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Close-up of a stone sculpture of a man’s face with detailed features, set against a plain background. The expression appears solemn.

Civic life

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Don’t be stoic: Roman Stoicism’s origins show its perniciousness

Stoicism might help you as an individual. But we need a philosophy that doesn’t dull us to the injustices of the world

by Henry Gruber

A man wearing a face mask and gloves crossing the road carrying three large bags filled with plastic bottles.

Civic life

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You want people to do the right thing? Save them the guilt trip

If you want to inspire people to do the right thing, don’t guilt-trip them. Positive emotions are a more powerful motivator

by Claudia R Schneider

A countryside landscape with a homemade box sign reading “EGGS £1.00” in the foreground, surrounded by fields and trees.

Virtues and vices

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The virtue of honesty requires more than just telling the truth

Honesty has fallen out of fashion, yet it is essential to self-improvement. How can we cultivate this neglected virtue?

by Christian B Miller

A denim jacket with a patch sewn on with red thread, with a needle with thread resting on the jacket

Traditional arts

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Could the art of ‘sashiko’ help to mend our frayed world?

The Japanese art of ‘sashiko’ celebrates the rough edges of life. Could this be the patchwork solution for our frayed selves?

by Melanie McGrath

A man in sportswear lies on the grass resting, surrounded by cycling gear, with people and bicycles in the background.

Change and self-development

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Why doing your best is sometimes the worst thing you can do

The injunction to ‘do your best’ can get in the way of moral self-development. Instead, plant deep roots and learn to wait

by Mavis Biss

Chain-link fence with a “Private Property, No Trespassing” sign and distant industrial structures in the background.

Personality

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Your sense of right and wrong is interwoven with your personality

Personality traits such as agreeableness and openness to experience can help explain differences in moral judgment

by Luke D Smillie & Milan Andrejević

Animated characters Marge and Homer Simpson stand in their kitchen, with Marge giving Homer a questioning look.

Values and beliefs

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Marge and Homer’s ice cream argument, or why metaethics matters

Metaethics is about the meaning of our moral concepts, which are so consequential for moral debates and behaviour

by Rachel Handley

A vintage painting of a well-dressed group at a party. A woman offers cheese to others, while a man smokes in the background.

Virtues and vices

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Be honest: little white lies are more harmful than you think

Even well-intentioned white lies can foster disconnection and distrust – openness and honesty really are the best policy

by Elena Svetieva & Leanne ten Brinke

Abstract image of blurred multi-coloured lights, including red, yellow, green and orange circles, on a dark background.

Virtues and vices

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‘Moral molecules’ – a new theory of what goodness is made of

Seven basic moral elements could be the building blocks of morality, recombining as needed to form new moral molecules

by Oliver Scott Curry, Mark Alfano, Mark Brandt & Christine Pelican

A man with a turban and beard wearing protective gear and a mask sits in front of a van that reads “The Australian Sikh Association.”

Ethics

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Sikh ethics sees self-centredness as the source of human evil

Sikhism places unity over individualism, offering a different perspective on the big questions of Western moral philosophy

by Keshav Singh

Photo of a grassy wetland with a cloudy sky, a distant mountain range and a lone red traffic cone in the foreground.

Ethics

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Future generations deserve good ancestors. Will you be one?

The living, the dead and the unborn are all here with us: we must respect their interests and their world as much as our own

by Roman Krznaric

Set of Ukrainian stamps depicting a soldier facing a ship with a “Moscow” stamp labelled “DONE” and the date 14.04.2022. Text in Ukrainian.

Laughter and comedy

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A sense of humour – even a dark one – is a moral virtue

A sense of humour is a moral virtue that can help people flourish, even in dire conditions that are conducive to unhappiness

by Mark Alfano & Mandi Astola