Philosophy & Psychology
The tyranny of story
Story was once a tool for understanding the world and for improving it. The hero or heroine always defeated the …
Wollstonecraft: An introduction to the mother of first-wave feminism
Mary Wollstonecraft has had something of a revival in recent years. Though considered the mother of first-wave feminism, the 18th-century …
The antidote to arrogance: How to be wrong the right way
This article is part of our ‘From the vault’ series of summer reading. It was originally published in the June …
Will understanding Hegel become any easier?
There has been much excitement at the discovery of a treasure trove of notes from the lectures of the great German idealist …
Why magical thinking is so widespread
Growing up in Greece, I spent my summers at my grandparents’ home in a small coastal village in the region …
Democracy and inequality of epistemic power
Many hold that growing inequality is one of the most serious problems we face. But there are others who hold …
Has the pandemic changed our personalities?
For many of us, some personality traits stay the same throughout our lives while others change only gradually. However, evidence shows that significant events in …
Why we should trust science
Many of us accept science is a reliable guide to what we ought to believe – but not all of …
Salman Rushdie and freedom of speech
Salman Rushdie was assailed by 24-year-old Muslim fanatic Hadi Matar on 12 August as he was about to give a …
Why do we mourn people we don’t know?
The death of Queen Elizabeth II has prompted public displays of grief around the world – from public gatherings at …
Inflationary psychology could make things worse
With the world experiencing inflation levels not seen since the 1980s, central banks are caught between warning of the dangers …
Uncertainty and the pull of magical beliefs
Magic has a seemingly universal allure. It’s interwoven in some of the most popular narratives for children and adults, from …