Three elderly women seated on a bench. One laughs, one covers her face with a book, the other sits with hands folded.
LAUGHTER AND COMEDY
3

Why women’s laughter has long been treated as a threat

Traditional patriarchy has always told women not to laugh. Today, female laughter still disturbs a male-dominated world

by Abílio Almeida

Medieval painting of a scribe in a hooded robe writing on a large manuscript at a tilted desk with a gold background.
COMMUNICATION AND LANGUAGE
1

How to be a word detective

Etymology unravels the mysteries of language and the hidden webs that link people across the world. Here’s how to dive in

by Danny Bate

Photo of the Welcome to Mentone, CA sign with the tagline “Rural With Tradition”, against a mountain backdrop, clear blue sky above.
PLACE

Lessons from Wyatt Earp country

How does a man show up for his community? I learned from an old farmer on the edge of the desert

by Zeno Franco

Ideas

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Painting of a late-19th century pub scene with two men and a woman, drinks on the table, the woman looking into a mirror.
ETHICS

Is it morally wrong to not take care of yourself?

by Laura K Soter & Fan Yang

A rear-end collision between two cars, showing damage and close details of tyres and bumpers.
FREEDOM AND CHOICE
24

Why you should try living without free will for two weeks

by Tara-Lyn Camilleri

Black and white photo of a woman shopping in a supermarket aisle, placing items in a trolley filled with groceries.
WORK AND VOCATION

Logistics underpins power – and logistics is female

by Susan Zieger

Guides

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An elderly couple sitting on a bench under a patterned umbrella, with a mosaic-tiled wall in the background.
AGEING
6

How to rediscover your purpose later in life

You don’t have to ‘reinvent’ yourself to live happily after 60. There’s a better approach grounded in lifespan psychology

by Denise Taylor

Photo of a person in a white shirt holding an orange behind their back at a crosswalk, seen from behind.
THINKERS AND THEORIES
5

How to think like a Hegelian

For Hegel, your thoughts aren’t trapped in a cerebral box: they act on the world, making meaning and expressing your freedom

by Jeffrey Reid

Life stories

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An older man in a hat and glasses with a colourful tie-dye shirt at an outdoor event, headphones around his neck.
MUSIC
8

The human frequency

With Radio Paradise, William Goldsmith built an internet radio station that’s become a living argument for taste, trust and the art of choosing what comes next

by Greg Easley

Editor’s picks

Photo of a person in vibrant traditional attire with an orange headwrap singing on stage, another in shadow to the side.
MUSIC
5

How to get hooked on opera

Aspects of opera can seem strange. But give it a try and you’ll soon find yourself absorbed in a truly magical experience

by Alexandra Wilson

Photo of a man sunbathing on a rooftop next to a large satellite dish.
PROGRESS AND THE FUTURE

Why it’s possible to be optimistic in a world of bad news

The original optimist, Leibniz, was mocked and misunderstood. Centuries later, his worldview can help us navigate modern life

by Sumit Paul-Choudhury

Latest videos

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Photo of a man and woman with glasses examining a handheld device in an art-filled room with brick wall and paintings.
ANXIETY

You’re sure that society is spiralling and we’re all doomed. Now what?

Notes to self

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Popular

An elderly couple sitting on a bench under a patterned umbrella, with a mosaic-tiled wall in the background.
AGEING
6

How to rediscover your purpose later in life

You don’t have to ‘reinvent’ yourself to live happily after 60. There’s a better approach grounded in lifespan psychology

by Denise Taylor

A rear-end collision between two cars, showing damage and close details of tyres and bumpers.
FREEDOM AND CHOICE
24

Why you should try living without free will for two weeks

Set aside the philosophical debates and act as if there is no free will. It leads to less blaming and better questions

by Tara-Lyn Camilleri

Black and white photo of a couple sitting on a bench by the sea with a ship in the distance and a palm tree nearby.
MENTAL HEALTH ACROSS CULTURES

Arabic has four words for sadness. Philosophy explains why

More subtly nuanced than standard diagnostic categories, Arabic lets speakers articulate a world of emotional experiences

by Chereen Shurafa

A person walking past outdoor café tables and chairs in shadowed sunlight.
MINDFULNESS AND MEDITATION

Absence of presence and presence of absence

Mindfulness experts teach us to be present in the moment. I suggest an antidote – a meditation that’s focused on absence

by Nigel Warburton

A spiral wooden staircase with soft lighting and curved design elements, creating a warm, flowing pattern.
VIRTUES AND VICES

Sometimes, the road to virtue comes by way of vice

To work your character into better shape, be like a carpenter who fixes warped wood by bending it the opposite way

by Sabrina B Little

A person with a red backpack walking through a lush forest, sunlight filtering through the trees.
NATURE AND THE ENVIRONMENT

Don’t let nature slip out of reach

Research on the ‘extinction of experience’ suggests many of us are losing vital connections to the natural world

by Hannah Seo

An older man in a hat and glasses with a colourful tie-dye shirt at an outdoor event, headphones around his neck.
MUSIC
8

The human frequency

With Radio Paradise, William Goldsmith built an internet radio station that’s become a living argument for taste, trust and the art of choosing what comes next

by Greg Easley

Medieval painting of a scribe in a hooded robe writing on a large manuscript at a tilted desk with a gold background.
COMMUNICATION AND LANGUAGE
1

How to be a word detective

Etymology unravels the mysteries of language and the hidden webs that link people across the world. Here’s how to dive in

by Danny Bate

Explore: Cooperation and collaboration

Photo of a crowded event with out-of-focus people in the background and sharply focused green and white flowers in the foreground.
SOCIAL ANXIETY

How to network when you’re socially anxious

by Fallon Goodman

People on a makeshift raft, constructed from various items and barrels, floating on water under a grey, foggy sky.
ALTERED STATES

After an apocalyptic storm, survivors band together on a surreal journey

Directed by Benh Zeitlin

Photo of flight crew in blue uniforms waving in front of a parked aeroplane on a runway, with people in the background.
CIVIC LIFE

We’re losing trust in civic institutions – can we get it back?

by Ros Taylor

A group of office workers turned to face a colleague, clapping and smiling, in a modern meeting room setting.
WORK AND VOCATION

Are you saying ‘thank you’ too effusively?

by Christian Jarrett