The study of the unique characteristics of human beings.
Thank you, Carmen Plaza, for such a perplexing question. Nature is in some ways chaotic, and we therefore all seek, as human beings, to fit into a social structure (cities, universities, jobs, etc.) which precedes our own existence and yet changes with it. We do this for evolutionary reasons, and it influences heavily what we […]
A question inspired by Tiger King. Thank you, Ela Özcan, for a very important question. The problem of responsibility in broadcasting is pretty complex. Since Ela’s question was inspired by Tiger King, I would like to analyze it in terms of the (mis)representation of Carole Baskin in the series. One of the most specific controversies
Thank you, Roy Head, for such a candid question. I will answer it, if I may, with another question: What is the point of getting a high definition television? The connection between relationships and televisions is less than obvious, I admit. Allow me to explain. One of my favourite podcasts is The Happiness Lab with
What is the point of a relationship? Read More
Do I bear the responsibility of my friend’s ‘soul’? I mean: Am I good only if I keep my friend on a good way? Can I be good while letting my friend turn to the dark way? Thank you, Levente CsTóth, for such a thoughtful question. There are two questions at play here. It will
What makes someone a good friend? Read More
Thank you, Arjun Sambhi, for such an important question! I will do my best to capture its complexity and implications. Imagine Juliet, a white American philosophy professor. As many academics, Juliet is liberal and fiercely against racism in any shape or form. She is informed of systemic racism in American society, and she is a
Thank you, Heather Bennett, for a very important question. When we ask whether we should hold historical figures to the standard of modern morality, there is perhaps an implicit premise that the societies of the past and our own society have different moral standards. This may assume that moral standards are sensitive to different cultures
Thank you, Frankie Belton, for such a stirring question! When we ask a question about whether something (A) is necessarily something else (B), we are asking whether there can ever be an A that is not also a B. In other words, what we are asking is not whether there are A’s that are also
Is masculinity necessarily toxic? Read More
Thank you, Joshua Chawner, for such an interesting question! I liked this question because I distinctly remember being baffled by a Flemmish expression that is taken to mean the same thing: ‘you need to taste all the sauces’ (or: ‘ge moet van alle saze nekeer proeve’). I was baffled because the proposed principle is so
‘Don’t knock it untill you’ve tried it’ – really? Read More
Thank you, Tanay Baswa, for this wonderful question! I hope you won’t mind if I start by discussing something slightly different: Why did we start smiling in photos? If you look at Victorian photographs, you will instantly notice a difference to our modern-day selfies: nobody is smiling! Try going further back in time and look
Why do we smile in photos? Read More
Thank you, Heather Bennett, for such a timely question… I happened to be watching Tiger King recently (along with everyone else, no doubt). It was episode 3. Carole Baskin was talking about an argument she had had with her first husband. She said, ‘I deal with stress the same way cats do: I just pace
