Solve suffering by blowing up the universe? The dubious philosophy of human extinction

Driven by a desire to eliminate pain, some people have shockingly advocated taking the rest of nature with us.

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extinction philosophy history-of-science interdisciplinarity suffering

Challenge trials for a coronavirus vaccine are unethical – except for in one unlikely scenario

Challenge trials – purposefully exposing volunteers to the coronavirus – could speed up the development of a vaccine. But there are serious ethical concerns with this approach.

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Strong opinions are irrational – here's why we should all be agnostic

Those with strong beliefs tend to be admired.

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philosophy debate wisdom-of-crowds argument epistemology disagreements echo-chambers

Devs: explaining the philosophy at the centre of Alex Garland's mind-bending TV show

If every action spilts the universe into different versions, what does that mean for free will?

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philosophy quantum-mechanics free-will determinism

Why can't I stop thinking about my dead parents?

Whether we miss them, feel guilty about not having appreciated them more or struggle to forgive them, remembering our parents can hurt. Here's how to move on.

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children parents death psychology memory philosophy lifes-big-questions forgiveness loss

Why coronavirus death rates can't be summed up in one simple number

A lot of numbers are being tossed around about COVID-19 and what to expect in the future. They're being used to make critical public health decisions, but they aren't as simple as they appear.

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