Philosophy

The philosopher held vile elitist views – but his sister distorted his legacy towards fascism

There are con artists everywhere online. The only option is relentless, exhausting suspicion. But be careful not to fall into paranoia

Should we judge someone on the intention of their action, or its consequences?

Physicist Carlo Rovelli’s new book says quantum mechanics has demolished one of our most basic assumptions about the world we live in

Controversial, dizzyingly erudite and defiantly European, is the world finally catching up with the Slovenian thinker?

Once, people wondered whether they should believe in God – now they wonder whether to believe in AI. Sadly, this time, the bargain on offer is much worse

He’s remembered for a single phrase, “the end of history”. But it didn’t mean what everyone thought. It was a much more perceptive comment than it appeared

The man who helped to invent modern liberalism also had some distinctly illiberal ideas – including on slavery

The best political performers are the ones who convince us there’s no performance at all

There needs to be much stricter controls on who can access the genetic data of viruses. AI is making that situation all the more urgent

Anthony Kenny saw the future PM’s flaws close-up at Oxford University

Karl Popper identified the problem of how tolerant we should be towards intolerant people. Where do you draw the line?

Both Immanuel Kant and Ann Widdecombe believed in capital punishment – but it is barbarous and absurd

The De Hogeweyk project offers a normal life for elderly sufferers. But sceptics call it a dystopian Truman Show

The Proms is a reminder that the stirring quality of organised sound defies all reason

We really don’t have to do it – but the law is so badly drafted that sometimes there’s only one outcome, and everyone is left devastated

AI firms have been hiring philosophers to deal with the moral questions thrown up by their platforms. But are they just window-dressing?

If your country caused suffering and if identifiable victims are still alive, then apologetic statements may not be enough

It would be a cruel twist – but Silicon Valley doesn’t care about copyright and trains its AI systems using the work of writers who see no benefit. If that continues, the role of the writer may cease to exist

Philosophical writer Jorge Luis Borges loathed international football. He was wrong about the sport, but right about the nationalism it engenders

Every year, in the Faroe Islands, pods of whales are trapped and hacked to pieces in the water. Just because it has been done for centuries does not mean it has to continue

The bosses of Nvidia and Google think their companies are building the future. The trouble is, if they keep saying it and we keep believing it, one day it might actually come true

In a new book, Cal Flyn describes the competing feelings she has on approaching the edge of a live volcano. It is a reminder of the power and mystery of the sublime

Nigel Farage’s party waves the Bible but opposes loving thy neighbour and helping those in need

Our society does horrendous things to animals, but this one taboo is regarded as sickening and wrong above all others – and people find it hard to say exactly why

Wittgenstein designed a house thinking it would be something of deep significance. It turns out that it wasn’t

A beautiful new memoir by novelist Siri Hustvedt, the writer’s widow, is full of philosophical insights

Philosopher Immanuel Kant said you should always tell the truth no matter the consequences. It’s too much to expect that from politicians

The promise that everyone can benefit from science rings hollow in a world of inequality and exclusion

You’ll never have a two-sided conversation with a cherry tree – but it probably has a far simpler sentience of its own

You can be an expert in logic and still espouse the worst values

The Tory claims a Muslim ceremony was about ‘domination and division’. Is his intervention really about British values, or something darker?