Ghosting, benching, breadcrumbing and new, fashionable terms related to modern dating have been multiplying rapidly. Currently, every social media platform overflows with publications focused purely on love and how to interpret it. Although these terms are relatively recent, obsessing over love is certainly not a new phenomenon: the first love poem, The Love Song of… Continue reading Schopenhauer and Modern Dating
The fast-paced nature of modern society leaves little room for stillness and self-reflection. Increasingly, much of our decision-making operates around a growing sense of urgency, an urgency which originates from the need to keep up to date with self-imposed timelines. Many of us have goals that involve reaching a certain milestone within a particular timeframe, as social norms dictate, these goals may include… Continue reading To Wait or to Rush: The Philosophy of Moving at Your Own Pace
What if I were to tell you that the US government and media is controlled by a secret cabal of devil-worshippers who are organising the mass kidnapping of children? Well, according to a recent poll, 17% of Americans believe this to be the case. Another 30% believe the 2020 US presidential election was stolen from… Continue reading Descartes and the deep state: what 17th-century philosophy reveals about Trump and QAnon
Frankenstein, or, The Modern Prometheus, is an 1818 novel by Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley. Set in the late 18th century, it follows scientist Victor Frankenstein’s creation of life and the terrible events that are precipitated by his abandonment of his creation. It is a Gothic novel in that it combines supernatural elements with horror, death and… Continue reading Frankenstein: how Mary Shelley’s sci-fi classic offers lessons for us today about the dangers of playing God
If you’re looking for ways to bring more positive changes into your life, TikTok recommends jumping on the “lucky girl syndrome” trend. The hashtag links countless videos, all claiming this new form of positive thinking can help you achieve your goals. If you haven’t already come across one of these videos, many of them involve… Continue reading Lucky girl syndrome: the potential dark side of TikTok’s extreme positive thinking trend
Scientists regularly study the ongoing degradation of Earth’s environment and track the changes wrought by a warming planet. Economists warn that intensifying disasters are harming people’s quality of life. And policymakers focus on crafting rules to diminish the health and environmental effects of humanity’s growing footprint. What is the role of philosophers and people of… Continue reading Can religion and faith combat eco-despair?
Do you remember what it was like to discover the magic of a city for the first time? Do you remember the noises, smells, flashing lights and pulsating crowds? Or do you mostly remember cities through the screen of your phone? In 1967, French philosopher and filmmaker Guy Debord publicised the need to move away… Continue reading The art of ‘getting lost’: how re-discovering your city can be an antidote to capitalism
Ideas about the soul have been powerful throughout the history of religion and philosophy. Until the 19th-century, most people took the existence of souls for granted. With the rise of modern psychology, this belief lost its plausibility, and today it is largely absent from academic philosophical and even theological writing. Many now deny the existence… Continue reading How Disney took Plato’s view of existence and added a modern twist
I drink borax!” proclaims the smiling TikToker. Holding up a box of the laundry additive, she rhymes off a list of its supposed health benefits: “Balances testosterone and estrogen. It’s a powerhouse anti-inflammatory…. It’s amazing for arthritis, osteoporosis…. And obviously it’s great for your gut health.” Videos like these prompted health authorities to warn the… Continue reading Online wellness content: ways to tell evidence-based health information from pseudoscience
Dry conditions and impending drought mean millions of people endure hosepipe ban’s each year. There is a “temporary use ban” in Hampshire and the Isle of Wight, with Kent and Sussex to follow. It’s virtually impossible for water suppliers to enforce this ban themselves, so some are reportedly urging customers to report if they spot… Continue reading Hosepipe ban: should you snitch on your neighbour’s water use? A philosopher’s take
