When people hear the term ‘liberal arts,’ it may sound like a phrase with political overtones. A scholar of literature explains why that’s wrong and takes a closer look at its origin and meaning.
The most important part of knowledge, in Socrates’ view? Knowing how much you don’t know.
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Two concepts can help explain why society seems increasingly unable to agree on basic facts.
Population growth fuels knowledge, leading to new technology and energy use, fueling more population growth.
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The UN estimates the global population will pass 8 billion people on Nov. 15, 2022. From the Stone Age to today, here’s how things spiraled out of control.
If you want to build a true artificial mind, start with a model of human cognition.
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The decolonisation of science is an essential step for the academic community in Indonesia to find their voice.
Supporters cheer on truck drivers in the “freedom convoy” headed for Ottawa from an overpass in Kingston, Ont., on Jan. 28.
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Our age of agnosis is increasingly coming into contact in ways beyond historical standards and recorded memory. Empathy, not apathy, is needed now more than ever before.
Kids figure out who’s trustworthy as they learn about the world.
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People often try to seem confident and certain in their message so it will be trusted and acted upon. But when information is in flux, research suggests you should be open about what you don’t know.
The are massive numbers of bird species named after European surnames.
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Receiving a pay raise will make you feel happier only if it was bigger than what you had expected. Why? Because it helps you learn.
These psychological tendencies explain why an onslaught of facts won’t necessarily change anyone’s mind.
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Cognitive shortcuts help you efficiently move through a complicated world. But they come with an unwelcome side effect: Facts aren’t necessarily enough to change your mind.
We know that pigs or dogs will never understand prime numbers. Some philosophers think that concepts like consciousness are similarly inaccessible to humans.
Proposing ‘progress studies’ as a new academic field of study ignores history.
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A recent article in The Atlantic called for a “new science of progress” - this is dangerous and ignores the academic study of the history of human development.
What you find depends on what you’re looking for.
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Some people argue the absence of evidence is not evidence of absence, you just need to keep looking. But there are occasions where finding no evidence is all you can do.