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Ideas

Virtues and vices

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Illustration of diverse people in warm earth tones overlapping in a crowd, highlighting various cultures and expressions.

Wisdom

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Wisdom is a virtue, but how do we judge if someone has it?

Our team explored who is considered wise in cultures with contrasting philosophical traditions. The results surprised us

by Maksim Rudnev & Igor Grossmann

Painting of a bundled stack of old ten-dollar bills tied with a green ribbon set against a dark brown background.

Virtues and vices

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Greedy people might be frowned upon, but are they the winners?

Some individuals have a persistent tendency to want ever more stuff and status. Psychologists are examining the lives they lead

by Karlijn Hoyer

A black-and-white photo of a man in a suit and tie smiling while a woman in a glittery dress and gloves laughs beside him. They are at a social gathering.

Sex and sexuality

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Everything I know about flirting, I learned from the Cold War

The rewards of flirtation go beyond sex or romance. But, as in other exchanges, you have to know where the red line is

by Youngbin Yoon

A young girl, seen from the back, in a museum in China stands before a huge, oval multicoloured image of ‘fossil’ microwave radiation

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

A person in a red costume with wings stands in front of a row of portable toilets on grass.

Emotion regulation

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The psychology of impatience could make waiting more tolerable

New studies on the experience of impatience suggest there’s more to it than simply how long you’ve been left hanging

by Matt Huston

Close-up of a tattooed hand with the numbers “1488” across the fingers and other tattoos on the back of the hand and wrist, wearing blue jeans.

Communication and language

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Beyond dogwhistles – racists have a new rhetorical trick

How are so many politicians today able to get away with overtly racist utterances? By using rhetorical ‘figleaves’

by Jennifer Saul

Students in a library, studying at their own private desk in cubicles or at a communal table

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

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

A busy street with billboards, people walking and police officers beside an overturned green auto-rickshaw, with a blue bus and other vehicles passing by.

Virtues and vices

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What the ‘fundamental attribution error’ misses about blame

Classic research says we overlook situational factors in explaining people’s misdeeds. But the reality is more complex

by Laura Niemi, Jesse Graham & John M Doris

A couple enjoying a cosy moment, the woman holds a pink mug while the man, in a striped shirt, leans in closely, both smiling softly.

Communication and language

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Here’s the truth about how to spot when someone is lying

From shifty eyes to fidgeting fingers, there are many folk beliefs about the signs of lying – but what does the science say?

by Tim Brennen & Svein Magnussen

Two police officers smile, standing beside two individuals in full-body dog costumes with masks, one of whom is held by a lead.

Virtues and vices

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Toleration is an impressive virtue that’s worth reviving

To be tolerant you need both to sustain your moral beliefs and at the same time resist the temptation to act on them

by Daniel Callcut

A photo from the set of the film Edward Scissorhands of Johnny Depp and Diane Wiest as the characters Edward and Peg

Artists and art history

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Love the art, disgusted by the artist? Maybe philosophy can help

Rather than trying to leave behind beloved art by immoral artists, let philosophy offer you a model for engaging with it

by Erich Hatala Matthes