Philosophy

Thought experiments and the minds behind them.

6 rabbit holes

• New
  StoicismAn emperor’s private notebookMarcus Aurelius ruled the Roman Empire at the height of its power. Often on campaign, he wrote notes to himself in Greek: reminders to stay calm, to be fair, to remember that everything passes. They were never meant to be read. Today they are a bestseller.4 stages · 1 h 15 min
• New
  Mind & realityAre we living in a simulation?In 2003 the Oxford philosopher Nick Bostrom published a short argument: if civilisations can run detailed simulations of their ancestors, and some want to, simulated minds would vastly outnumber real ones. So which are you more likely to be?3 stages · 47 min
• New
  EthicsThe trolley problemA runaway tram is heading for five people. You can pull a lever and send it onto a side track, where it will kill one. Most people pull. Now you are on a bridge, and the only way to stop the tram is to push a large man off it. Most people refuse. Why?4 stages · 56 min
• New
  Ancient philosophersDiogenes, the philosopher in a jarHe lived in a large clay jar in the market of Athens, owned almost nothing and insulted almost everyone. When Alexander the Great asked if he could do anything for him, Diogenes reportedly said: yes, stand out of my sunlight.3 stages · 1 h
• New
  IdentityThe Ship of TheseusThe Athenians kept the ship of their hero Theseus for centuries, replacing each rotten plank with a new one. At some point no original wood was left. Was it still his ship? And what if someone had kept all the old planks and rebuilt them?3 stages · 58 min
• New
  Thought experimentsRoko’s basiliskIn 2010 a user on an internet forum about rationality posted a thought experiment: a future superintelligent AI might punish everyone who knew it could exist but didn’t help to build it. The forum’s founder deleted the post and banned the topic. That only made it famous.2 stages · 24 min