All articles from Aeon

Should knowledge be free?

Should it be possible to own an idea? The debate around intellectual property has deep roots in the history of philosophy - by Aeon Video Watch at Aeon]]>

A film is a goodbye that never ends

How do you say goodbye to a beloved dog who will never understand what that means? A meditation on the limits of language - by Aeon Video Watch at Aeon]]>

Hotline 1998

In the face of government denial, this powerful film reveals the devastating gendered violence of Indonesia’s 1998 riots - by Aeon Video Watch at Aeon]]>

To build a nest

Throughout the animal kingdom, the parents of newborns must strive to create snug sanctuaries in a hazardous world - by Helen Jukes Read at Aeon]]>

Geographies of racial capitalism with Ruth Wilson Gilmore

The systems that make people unfree are deeply intertwined. This prison abolitionist dares to envision real alternatives - by Aeon Video Watch at Aeon]]>

Spider divination

Life is complicated. In Cameroon, initiated diviners read the messages of spiders to untangle possible futures - by David Zeitlyn Read at Aeon]]>

How to run the world

We need new forms of global diplomacy to transcend the current pathetic bargaining of national and commercial interests - by David Van Reybrouck Read at Aeon]]>

Joris Hoefnagel: the artist who painted bugs like jewels

The little-known painter who found beauty in bugs, transforming pests into wondrous creatures and works of art - by Aeon Video Watch at Aeon]]>

The physics of dissonance

Dissonance and harmony might seem straightforward, but a deep dive into the physics reveals their delightful complexity - by Aeon Video Watch at Aeon]]>

A life in Zen

Growing up in countercultural California, ‘enlightenment’ had real glamour. But decades of practice have changed my mind - by Anshi Zachary Smith Read at Aeon]]>

The incompleteness of ethics

Many hope that AI will discover ethical truths. But as Gödel shows, deciding what is right will always be our burden - by Elad Uzan Read at Aeon]]>

A simple shift in focus

Life is often experienced as a demanding, ongoing story. But with a little practice, a new space opens for peaceful presence - by James Carmody Read at Aeon]]>

The rewards of ruin

Societal downfalls loom large in history and popular culture but, for the 99 per cent, collapse often had its upsides - by Luke Kemp Read at Aeon]]>

The story of Malcolm X

Alex Haley co-wrote The Autobiography of Malcolm X but Haley left out some profound elements of Malcolm’s political thought - by Alex White Read at Aeon]]>