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Values and beliefs

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Photo of a police officer talking to two elderly people sitting on a bench outside a French cafe, all wearing face masks.

Freedom and choice

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In a pandemic we learn again what Sartre meant by being free

What the Nazi occupation was for Sartre, the COVID-19 pandemic is for us: an opportunity to relearn what it means to be free

by Julian Baggini

Person kneeling on barren land under a cloudy sky, facing away with arms crossed. Sparse vegetation visible in the background.

Spirituality and religion

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Religion gives life meaning. Can anything else take its place?

Religious faith promotes a sense of meaning in life – and it might take more than ‘social glue’ to duplicate the effect

by Michael M Prinzing

A woman in period dress smiles while holding a small object depicting a nude seated figure.

Laughter and comedy

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Just when in history did men decide that women are not funny?

Women have been witty and bawdy throughout history. It’s only recently that men haven’t been able to see their funny side

by Joy Wiltenburg

A man with a confused expression and a large “Q” sign around his neck, surrounded by people in Trump-themed clothing.

Thinking and intelligence

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How conspiracy theories bypass people’s rationality

Prior research has focused on the negative reasons people are drawn to conspiracies, but there’s another side to the story

by Jan-Willem van Prooijen

Silhouette of a person riding a horse up a rocky hill during sunset, with rolling hills in the distance.

Spirituality and religion

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Why religion without belief can still make perfect sense

Meet the practising agnostic and the religious fictionalist: people for whom religion can work well without sure belief

by Philip Goff

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

Painting depicting pioneers with covered wagons and oxen travelling through a valley, with mountains, a river, and people on horseback in the background.

Identity

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I rebuilt my self-esteem by changing the story of who I am

I once clung to a dubious family legend to help me cope with a difficult childhood. I’ve since found a better story to tell

by Patricia Olsen

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

An elderly man with a white beard holds a U.S. flag at an outdoor gathering, with other attendees and flags visible in the background.

Values and beliefs

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Popper was right about the link between certainty and extremism

In terms of irrational confidence, many people at opposite ends of the political spectrum seem to have something in common

by Thomas Costello & Shauna Bowes

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 person watching a sex scene on a blurred TV screen; glasses and part of the person’s head are visible in the foreground.

Addiction

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If you think you’ve got a porn addiction, you probably haven’t

People with addictions see relationships, health and careers fall apart. Most people who watch porn don’t meet this definition

by Joshua Grubbs