Nigel Warburton
18 August 2022
Everyday Philosophy: Heat or eat is not a choice fit for a civilised society
So, naturally, there are signs of social unrest and civil disobedience across the country
Read the full article11 August 2022
Have I got too much news for you?
From Ukraine to wildfires, from Partygate to Taiwan, the blur of events seems faster than ever. Is it a sign of the times or a trick of our minds?
Read the full article11 August 2022
Everyday Philosophy: The complexities around returning the Benin Bronzes
When the bronzes were created, Nigeria didn’t exist as a country the way it does today. So, is returned the right word?
Read the full article04 August 2022
Everyday Philosophy: We need to prepare for the robot revolution
When it comes, it will be led by complex AI machines that are able to adapt to any environment. Make no mistake - the robots are coming
Read the full article28 July 2022
Everyday Philosophy: The aesthetic case for butterfly preservation
We don’t need a pragmatic or evolutionary reason to value butterflies. There's a simple joy in seeing them
Read the full article14 July 2022
Everyday Philosophy: Can, and should, we learn from Henry David Thoreau?
The answer is both yes and no. While we can take many things from his thinking, we must be wary of his celebration of self-reliance
Read the full article07 July 2022
Everyday Philosophy: The ongoing battle against old age
You can’t win the fight against ageing. But, it’s part of the human condition to try
Read the full article30 June 2022
Everyday Philosophy: How Stoicism can help ease the summer of discontent
We must remember that we can control what we think and feel about the cards we are dealt, but not what happens to us
Read the full article23 June 2022
Everyday Philosophy: The government is neglecting animal welfare
Britain is a nation of animal lovers. So, the government should be wary that post-Brexit imports could include food products from countries with far lowers standards than ours
Read the full article16 June 2022
Everyday Philosophy: Can political predictions ever be precise?
Many pundits feel Boris Johnson's demise is inevitable. But attempts to determine exactly when he'll go are highly speculative
Read the full article09 June 2022
Everyday Philosophy: Can you ever morally own a masterpiece?
The best way to protect, and honour, culturally important objects is to put them on public ownership in museums
Read the full article02 June 2022
Everyday Philosophy: Why one swallow doesn’t make a summer
Swallows can't exactly reflect on their actions. We, however, can think about if we're actually acting virtuously or not
Read the full article26 May 2022
Everyday Philosophy: The dangers of kill switches
Remote locking has thwarted the Russians in Ukraine but the technology has more dystopian possibilities
Read the full article19 May 2022
Everyday Philosophy: The problem with whataboutery
Whataboutists try to convince you that all wrongdoing is the same because ignoring how the cases differ never works in their favour
Read the full article12 May 2022
Everyday Philosophy: How to win hearts and minds
Our feelings shape what we do and they arise from our interactions with the world and changes in our bodies. It's time to get back to thinking about decision-making in this way
Read the full article05 May 2022
Everyday Philosophy: We are on the cusp of a social crisis
The rich may be well-protected. But for the rest of us, this is going to be a very rough ride
Read the full article28 April 2022
Everyday Philosophy: Why we need analyses of atrocities
But, we also need art that exposes us to different ways of thinking about them
Read the full article21 April 2022
Everyday Philosophy: Russian soldiers need to know the world is watching them
The so-called Nuremberg defence of “I was just following orders” won't protect them, nor should it
Read the full article07 April 2022
Everyday Philosophy: Does wisdom always come with old age?
Cicero famously said that old age is the final act in the play of life. But that doesn't always mean wisdom plays a part in it
Read the full article31 March 2022
Everyday Philosophy: Why this spring could prove the pessimists wrong
Despite the devastation in Ukraine, there is still room for hope this spring
Read the full article24 March 2022
Everyday Philosophy: How photography captures the unforgiving reality of war
Photos quickly become burned into memory and can trigger a stronger human response than words or cool statistical analysis
Read the full article17 March 2022
Everyday Philosophy: What Hobbes teaches us about our desire for peace
If Hobbes is right, perhaps the only way to maintain peace is to have a powerful world organisation that can enforce international laws and punish states that break them
Read the full article10 March 2022
Everyday Philosophy: What Aristotle teaches us about the bravery of the Ukrainians
Putin will never subjugate those who, despite their fears, stand up and defend their families, homes and democracy itself
Read the full article03 March 2022
Everyday Philosophy: Why we need to keep talking to each other
Polish ophthalmologist LL Zamenhof's dream of a universal language that would foster international harmony never really caught on. Nonetheless, we have to keep communicating with each other
Read the full article23 February 2022
Everyday Philosophy: Why we’re pessimistic about power
As the power games play out in Europe, we continue to hope that key players will use reason and self-control
Read the full article17 February 2022
Everyday Philosophy: Why it’s right to feel uncomfortable about Jimmy Carr’s comedy
Intentions aren't everything, says philosopher NIGEL WARBURTON. Casually racist jokes can normalise contempt and hatred for minority groups
Read the full article10 February 2022
Everyday Philosophy: Why we should be wary of political metaphors
'Cutting the red tape' was always an easy message to sell. But, philosopher NIGEL WARBURTON warns us not to get beguiled by the imagery of political rhetoric
Read the full article03 February 2022
Everyday Philosophy: How the British became bad at waiting
Philosopher NIGEL WARBURTON on why it's alright to be impatient while we wait for the full Sue Gray report, and why we hope for some gratification from it.
Read the full article27 January 2022
Everyday Philosophy: How the arguments for republicanism haunt today’s Royal family
Using Thomas Paine's anti-monarchy arguments today suddenly makes close scrutiny of the royal family not look quite so promising, writes NIGEL WARBURTON.
Read the full article20 January 2022
Everyday Philosophy: Why compassion must not be forgotten in the wake of Partygate
While Britain has focussed on Boris Johnson's partying and Prince Andrew, desperate people have risked their lives in cold and dangerous waters, writes NIGEL WARBURTON.
Read the full article13 January 2022
Everyday Philosophy: How to decode politicians’ use of flags
Keir Starmer opted for the backdrop of a Union flag while he delivered a keynote speech. It may look like a prop, but we can't ignore it, writes NIGEL WARBURTON.
Read the full article06 January 2022
Everyday Philosophy: How to define a party
Most parties include alcohol, some even include cheese... Philosopher NIGEL WARBUTON on what makes a party.
Read the full article