Prospect Magazine
The world’s top 50 thinkers 2020

Prospect salutes the scientists, philosophers and writers reshaping our times—and asks for your help choosing our 2020 winners
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thebritishacademy.ac.uk
What is philosophy?thebritishacademy.ac.uk
3 min read · Mar 10th · Professor Jonardon Ganeri FBA explains the meanings and uses of philosophy, from the ancient world to the present day.
philosophy
Takeaways
the ways to become wise.
the way to lead one’s life
Farnam Street
John Stuart Mill’s Philosophy of EqualityFarnam Street
10 min read · Mar 22nd · Sometimes in the debates about how to improve equality in our society, the reason why we should desire equality gets lost. In his classic text The Subjection of Women, John Stuart Mill explains why…
equality
society
philosophy
Takeaways
He argued that we need to give people a choice as to how they will best contribute to society. If we don’t, we prevent ourselves from accessing the best ideas and contributions.
the attempt to make the equal right of the weak the principle of its outward actions will always be an uphill struggle.”
The New Yorker
As Technology Gets Better, Will Society Get Worse?The New Yorker
6 min read · From 2017 · The problem with technological evolution is that it is under our control, and we don’t always make the best decisions.
technology
philosophy
society
Existential Comics
The Philosophy of a Good PartyExistential Comics
1 min read · 2019-12-09 · A philosophy webcomic about the inevitable anguish of living a brief life in an absurd world. Also Jokes
society
Aeon+Psyche
Philosophy cannot resolve the question ‘How should we live?’Aeon+Psyche
4 min read · 2020-05-01 · The meaning of life is not a puzzle that can be solved once and for all. Asking ‘How should we live?’ defines our humanity
society
philosophy
BBC News (World)
The 100 stories that shaped the worldBBC News (World)
7 min read · From 2018 · BBC Culture asked writers around the globe to pick stories that have endured across generations and continents – and changed society.
The TLS
Is philosophy simply harder than science?The TLS
2020-07-29 · David Papineau considers why philosophy seems to make such slow progress
philosophy
Aeon+Psyche
What can we learn from the perennial philosophy of Aldous Huxley?Aeon+Psyche
~12 min read · 2020-02-19 · Aldous Huxley argued that all religions in the world were underpinned by universal beliefs and experiences. Was he right?
psychology
Prospect Magazine
The Hume paradox: how great philosophy leads to dismal politicsProspect Magazine
~11 min read · May 5th · The Enlightenment genius showed how admirable scepticism in the world of ideas can translate into a miserable reactionary stance in the world of practical affairs
philosophy
Takeaways
Perhaps Hume also stands as a warning about the ease with which profound theoretical heterodoxy can be married with comfortable social conformity.
Hume shows that the smartest person in the room isn’t necessarily the smartest choice for the job.
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