Values and beliefs
Freedom and choice
idea
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
Spirituality and religion
idea
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
Thinking and intelligence
idea
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
Spirituality and religion
idea
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
Personality
idea
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
Laughter and comedy
idea
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
Values and beliefs
idea
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
Virtues and vices
idea
‘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
Values and beliefs
idea
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
Addiction
idea
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
Childhood and adolescence
idea
Young children use reason, not gut feelings, to decide moral issues
It’s not just ‘gut feelings’: humans form moral judgments that align with moral principles and beliefs from a young age
by Audun Dahl
Identity
idea
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