How do you know you exist?
Adults PhilosophyHow do you know you're real? Is existence all just a big dream? Has some mad scientist duped us into simply believing that we exist? James Zucker investigates all of these questions (and more) in this mind-boggling tribute to Rene Descartes's "Meditations on First Philosophy."
The famously difficult green-eyed logic puzzle
Adults PhilosophyOne hundred green-eyed logicians have been imprisoned on an island by a mad dictator. Their only hope for freedom lies in the answer to one famously difficult logic puzzle. Can you solve it? Alex Gendler walks us through this green-eyed riddle.
What makes a hero?
Adults PhilosophyWhat trials unite not only Harry Potter or Frodo Baggins but many of literature's most interesting heroes? And what do ordinary people have in common with these literary heroes? Matthew Winkler takes us step-by-step through the crucial events that make or break a hero.
How to build a fictional world
Adults PhilosophyWhy is J.R.R. Tolkien's Lord of the Rings trilogy so compelling? How about The Matrix or Harry Potter? What makes these disparate worlds come alive are clear, consistent rules for how people, societies -- and even the laws of physics -- function in these fictional universes. Author Kate Messner offers a few tricks for you, too, to create a world worth exploring in your own words.
What are the universal human rights?
Adults PhilosophyThe basic idea of human rights is that each one of us, no matter who we are or where we are born, is entitled to the same basic rights and freedoms. That may sound straightforward enough, but it gets incredibly complicated as soon as anyone tries to put the idea into practice. What exactly are the basic human rights? Who gets to pick them? Who enforces them-and how? Benedetta Berti explores the subtleties of human rights.
Would You Rather Be Rich Or Happy?
Adults PhilosophyKids say the darndest things - but sometimes they offer some serious insight. We played "Would You Rather" with kids ages 3 to 11 to see if they had anything to teach us adults. Visit aplus.com/s/readresssuccess for more.
Former President of Uruguay
Adults PhilosophyJose Mujica, nicknamed Pepe Mujica, was President of Uruguay from 2010 to 2015. A former Tupamaros freedom fighter in the 60s and the 70s, he was detained, like a hostage by the dictatorship between 1973 and 1985. He advocates a philosophy of life focused on sobriety: learn to live with what is necessary and fairest.
Our Greatest Delusion
Adults PhilosophyI am working on some big new projects I'm excited to share with you!
A three year old delivers the most intense motivational speech of all-time
Adults PhilosophyThis might have been inspired by Shia LeBeouf's performance of Joshua Parker's script.
Experiment Shows That All Of Us Are Naturally Altruistic
Adults PhilosophyPut to work at the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology in Germany, Alan Alda finds out how children will help, and like it, while chimps are less inclined to offer enthusiastic assistance.
Would You Take This Bet?
Adults PhilosophyPsychological literature shows that we are more sensitive to small losses and than small gains, with most people valuing a loss around 1.5-2.5 times as much as a gain. This means that we often turn down reasonable opportunities for fear of the loss. However over the course of our lives we will be exposed to many risks and opportunities and this invariably means that taking every small reasonable bet will leave us better off than saying no to all of them.
The Meaning of Life, explained by 3rd Graders
Adults PhilosophyAt 6 years old, your whole life stretches ahead of you.
Why Does Billionaire Mark Zuckerberg Wear The Same Shirt Everyday?
Adults PhilosophyWhether you're a fashionista or prefer to dress super laid-back, Mark Zuckerberg's reasoning for his one t-shirt wardrobe is pretty genius. We spend a lot of time on trivial decisions when we could use that energy on something more productive.
It's Time To Put Down Your Phone And Evaluate Your Social Life
Adults PhilosophyThis video called "Can We Auto-Correct Humanity" reminds you of the impacts of technology.