FORGOTTEN HISTORY: 3 - The Untold Story

The ancient Greeks invented democracy – and warned us how it could go horribly wrong

The ancient Greek orator Dio Chrysostom (1st-2nd century CE) said in his speech To the People of Alexandria that there were two kinds of democracy: one good and one bad.

The Conversation · Aug 22, 2025

Christopher Rowe obituary

Other lives: Linguist, translator and philosopher known for his work on Socrates, Plato and Aristotle

The Guardian - UK · Aug 20, 2025

Friday essay: Trump and Kennedy are destroying global science. Even Einstein questioned facts – but there’s a method to it

Eight months into Donald Trump’s second presidency of the United States, truth and science are again under attack – with global consequences. USAID, which tackled HIV, TB, malaria and child malnutrition is gone. Funding has been withdrawn from GAVI, a public–private global alliance that helps buy vaccines for the world’s…

The Conversation · Aug 7, 2025

26 Famous Paradoxes That Make Even Smart People Feel Confused

If I told you "This sentence is a lie," would you believe me?

Bored Panda · Jun 10, 2025

AI is making us dumber

Whether we lose some of the skills artificial intelligence performs for us largely depends on how we use this tech

Salon · Jun 8, 2025

“Twins: Donwanna And Doneeda”: 65 Of The Craziest Names People Ever Heard

These names might make you say, “What were the parents thinking?”

Bored Panda · May 23, 2025

Will AI Kill Our Freedom To Think?

Algorithmic systems increasingly shape what we know, see, and question. To preserve free inquiry, we need transparency, competition, and a commitment to timeless principles of open debate.

Reason · May 16, 2025

The End: philosopher explains new climate-collapse musical using the allegory of Plato’s Cave

The End tells the story of a wealthy family who survived the collapse of the climate and civilisation in a bunker inside an abandoned mine. Before the collapse they were rich, and they continue to enjoy every luxury.

The Conversation · Mar 27, 2025

What does Platonic love really mean?

If the object of your affection were to suggest that a “platonic” relationship might be of more interest to them, your heart might sink a little. The common understanding of Platonic love, so called after the ancient Greek philosopher Plato, is that it indicates a relationship of strong affection from…

The Conversation · Feb 14, 2025

‘We’re not doing the thing we’re built to do’: Agnes Callard, the philosopher living life according to Socrates

Why did the professor get divorced, remarry, but allow her former husband to remain in the house? In her brilliant new book, Open Socrates, she makes the case for an intellectually honest life

The Guardian - UK · Feb 9, 2025