Questions
997 questions in the encyclopedia.
What is cultural appropriation?
Cultural appropriation, the adoption of aspects of another culture by members of a dominant culture, is not a new phenomenon. Today, wearing an insensitive Halloween costume or sporting a certain hairstyle can draw accusations of cultural appropriation. But what is cultural appropriation? A form of neo-colonialism? Racism? Cultural theft? Political correctness gone too far? Or is cultural appropriation actually cultural appreciation?
What is dark matter?
Dark matter makes up at least 27% of the universe. Everything on earth only adds up to less than 5% of the universe. Dark matter has been a mystery for a long time and continues to be in so many aspects. What is dark matter, and what do we know about it?
What is Europe's most misunderstood capital city?
Which European capital is most misunderstood? This entry gathers the contenders — among them Luxembourg, Paris, Brussels, Dublin, Warsaw, Zurich, Zagreb and Budapest — and the case made for each.
What is existentialism?
The very definition of 'existentialism' is debatable. Some believe that the term is rooted, and only intelligible, in the realm of philosophy. Thus, existentialism can be understood as a philosophical approach. Yet, there are ways in which the works of key existentialist thinkers span other disciplines, such as literature.
What is God?
When people speak of God, what do they actually mean — a supernatural power, an energy, a substance, a spiritual father, or something else? This entry maps the competing conceptions of God: the fundamental substance, a thought form, a king, and everything that is.
What is Kanye West's best album?
Kanye West is one of the most critically-acclaimed and best-selling hip-hop artists in history. However, unlike Nas or N.W.A., fans rarely agree on West's best album, with almost all of his works - spanning an array of styles - being a popular choice.
What is knowledge?
What does it mean to know something? This entry maps the epistemological debate over the nature of knowledge — whether it is shaped by social conditions and structures, or whether it can be genuinely objective.
What is Libertarianism?
Libertarianism champions individual liberty, advocating minimal government intervention in personal and economic affairs. It emphasizes free-market capitalism, private property rights, and voluntary association.
What is Life?
We are and see and interact with living things all around us... but what is the definition of life exactly? Is life chemical? Or is life spiritual? Or is life functional?
What is love?
Few words in the English language convey such a range of meanings as the word "love". For many, love is the point of existence, for others it's the manifestation of the divine, for some it is a tool of oppression. No other subject has spawned so much poetry. But what is love? Is it an animalistic urge, a mystical aspiration, a social construct, a neurological glitch, or nothing at all?
What is morality?
What is the nature of morality and where do its rules come from? This entry maps the competing accounts — that morality is an evolutionary adaptation, that it is a social construct, and that it is a set of spiritual laws.
What is pleasure?
We all know the feeling of pleasure. Some would describe it as a feeling or sense of delight, happiness, gratification. But what is the sensation of pleasure and where does it come from?
What is QAnon?
This entry sets out how QAnon is understood — as a sprawling far-right conspiracy theory, and as a vehicle for Russian propaganda — mapping the competing characterisations of the movement and its origins.
What is religion?
What is religion, fundamentally? This entry maps the competing accounts of its nature — as engagement with a greater reality, as a spiritual dimension of life, as a form of cult, and as a descendant of magic.
What is society?
Societies have been a core part of human interaction since the beginning of mankind. But what is society? A shared geography? A shared culture? Coming together to work towards a shared goal? Do they even exist?
What is suffering?
Is suffering identical to pain? Or is suffering the frustration of a strong desire? Or is suffering the violation of a moral right? Explore the debate on suffering here.
What is Taiwan's political status?
Is Taiwan an independent country or a part of China? This entry maps the deeply contested debate over Taiwan's political status, setting out the opposing positions that it is a sovereign nation, and that it is part of China.
What is the answer to the trolley problem?
The trolley problem is philosophy's most famous moral dilemma, pitting the lives of a few against many. This entry sets out the rival answers to it — whether one should act to save the one, or to save the group.
What is the best book in The Hunger Games trilogy?
The Hunger Games trilogy by Suzanne Collins is an iconic example of dystopian fiction. Having sold over 65 million copies, the trilogy is undeniably popular among young adult readers. So, which installment of the series is the best?
What is the best Christmas movie of all time?
The Christmas movie is a holiday tradition that Americans have enjoyed for generations. Good feels, time to come together, and all of the wonderful spirit of the holiday wrapped into a shared story. But what is the best Christmas film?
What is the best diet for weight loss?
There now exists hundreds of different wisdoms on what the best and most effective way to lose weight is. All have different philosophies and different benefits, real or alleged. But which has the most evidence behind it? And which, in reality, is the most effective way to lose weight?
What is the best Disney movie?
What is the best Disney film? This entry gathers the contenders — among them The Lion King, The Little Mermaid, Aladdin, Beauty and the Beast, Mulan, Hercules, Pocahontas and Finding Nemo.
What is the best drug regulation system?
What makes for the best system of drug regulation? This entry maps the contending priorities — pharmacovigilance, the regulation of clinical trials, and the inspection of standards in drug development and manufacture.
What is the best film in Christopher Nolan's Dark Knight Trilogy?
Christopher Nolan's gritty, realistic take on Batman was a critical and commercial success. The trilogy earned 31 awards and over $1 billion at the box office. This debate revolves around artistry and storytelling within films relative to the overarching narrative of a trilogy and source material.
What is the best front end framework for building websites?
'Front end' development concerns the visual presentation of data and input, for instance, website design. But there are many different frameworks that can assist with and facilitate front end development. Out of all the front end frameworks for building websites, which is the best?
What is the best Halloween movie of all time?
What is the greatest Halloween movie of all time? This entry gathers the contenders — among them Halloween, Psycho, Hocus Pocus, The Nightmare Before Christmas, The Blair Witch Project, Scream and Ghostbusters.
What is the best Harry Potter movie?
The Harry Potter film series is one of the most lucrative of all time, pulling in $7.7 billion over eight films. But which one is the best? Is it the earlier the better, or did the movies get better as time went on?
What is the best platform for streaming music?
In recent years, music streaming platforms have become the most common way of listening to music. Gone are the days of records, tapes, CDs, or even shady downloaded mp3s from Limewire. Now, music streaming platforms are worth billions of dollars. But which one deserves your monthly subscription fee?
What is the best system of government?
Governments are the backbone of a country. They are responsible for their citizens’ benefits and a healthy economy. Not all governments in the world are the same. There are democracies, republics, authoritarian societies, and many more types of governmental systems. With so many different types of government, which one has the most benefits?
What is the best thing to watch on Netflix while in quarantine?
As the world grinds to a halt with the spread of COVID-19, we all have the responsibility to take public health seriously and isolate ourselves. With that in mind, now's the perfect time to catch up on Netflix! Should you watch something scary to try and redirect your coronavirus anxiety? Or binge watch a sitcom so you can remember what it was like to be able to freely socialise?
What is the best way to increase monthly recurring revenue from $1 million to $10 million in a software as a service business?
What are the best practices for growing software as a service (SaaS) businesses at scale? Business leaders and managers have different approaches and experiences with this type of work. But what works best for increasing monthly recurring revenue (MRR)?
What is the best way to stay fit during COVID-19?
Being mandated to stay inside for extended periods mean that opportunities to keep fit during the COVID-19 epidemic are limited. As we suffer from greatly reduced access to activity and move to a largely sedentary lifestyle, how can we make sure we stay fit?
What is the best way to stay healthy during quarantine at home?
With everyone stuck at home, there's a variety of health concerns to be worried about, whether physical or mental. It's difficult to figure out the best way to stay healthy during this time, as it's a first for most. Internet sources recommend a wide variety of things. With so much out there, what is the best way to stay healthy when you're stuck inside?
What is the best way to study?
In today's fast-paced learning environment, students must develop effective study methods to help them succeed. What works for one person may not work for another. People learn in a multitude of ways, and can learn both in the long- and short-term. So, is one way of studying more efficient than the rest?
What is the debate about rising ocean levels on the Torres Strait Islanders homeland?
This entry maps the debate over rising sea levels threatening the homeland of the Torres Strait Islanders, setting out positions that frame it as a matter of government policy, of discrimination, and of climate change.
What is the difference between a language and a dialect?
Are Mandarin and Cantonese individual languages, or are they dialects of Chinese? Questions like these would be easier to answer if dialects and languages were easy to define, but linguists still disagree on the difference between the two.
What is the etiology of depression (Major Depressive Disorder)?
Depression is a mental disorder characterized by a lack of pleasure in familiar activities, a sad mood, and cognitive/somatic changes that limit functioning. Psychologists use three different approaches while explaining the etiology (origin) of depression: biological, cognitive, and sociocultural.
What is the fastest way to learn a language?
What is the fastest way to learn a language? This entry gathers the contending strategies — setting clear goals, learning the most useful words, studying smart, daily immersion, real-life practice, cultural learning and self-testing.
What is the future of NATO?
The North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) was formed in 1949 as a Western military alliance to deal with the growing threat of the Soviet Union. However, since the break-up of the Soviet Union in the early 1990s, it has struggled to define itself in the 21st century. This has led some to speculate whether the military alliance has a future?
What is the future of the European Union?
The European Union has faced a litany of challenges, from the Eurozone crisis, the migrant crisis, and Brexit, this has led many to speculate whether the days of the European political and economic union are numbered.
What is the greatest album of all time?
There are a lot of amazing musical albums that have had a huge impact on the world and their listeners. Some were cutting edge sounds, some were of the moment and touched people, and some were wild commercial successes. But what was the best album of all time?
What is the greatest movie of all time?
What is the greatest film of all time? This entry gathers the perennial contenders — among them The Godfather, Citizen Kane, Casablanca, Vertigo, Psycho, Pulp Fiction, The Dark Knight and The Shawshank Redemption.
What is the ideal diet for humans?
The world of health, wellness, and nutrition is vast. Since good health is among the greatest blessings one can have, people strive to keep it. Such health-conscious people adopt specific diets that they believe will allow them to maintain good health. But which diet is best?
What is the illuminati conspiracy theory?
This entry sets out how the Illuminati are understood — as a real 18th-century Bavarian society founded to curb the Church's influence, and as the shadowy group of conspiracy theory said to secretly rule the world.
What is the impact of invasive species?
Invasive plant and animal species live in virtually all areas of the globe. The reason for their unnatural presence is because humans have accidentally or deliberately introduced them to new ecosystems. Because they have been introduced to new habitats they are not initially meant to be in, invasive species have negatively impacted their new homes. How extensive is their damage and are all invasive species harmful?
What is the intellectual framing of the UK statues debate?
In June 2020 Bristol protestors rioting against the murder of George Floyd tore down a statue of Edward Colston. Having hauled it from its plinth, they eventually abandoned the statue in the city's harbour. Hundreds of onlookers gathered to watch, viewing this as a momentous step in the fight against racism. Colston is known as the man who built Bristol. He bequeathed his enormous fortune to the city upon his death. 300 years on, the scale of his legacy is visceral in Bristol's landmarks and architecture, and the names of its schools, concert halls, streets, restaurants, pubs and cathedral. Yet, his fortune was built on slavery, leading many to argue that the statue props up institutional racism in the UK. Since Colston's toppling, activists have circulated lists of hundreds more controversial statues they say must be removed to end racial inequality. Others call this type of campaigning problematic. They view the destruction of monuments as historical whitewashing. For them, this trend is an affront to British history that does not confront the real issues at play. So, who are these groups, what do they think, and why?
What is the key to running fast?
What is the key to running faster? This entry gathers the contending answers — interval training, varying your pace, jump-roping, lighter shoes, and good running form — each argued to be the decisive factor.
What is the least successful major North American sports franchise of all time?
Many look to the great sports franchises that have defined generation after generation in all four major leagues; the New York Yankees, the Los Angeles Lakers, the New England Patriots. But there is another, rather ugly side to sports that explores just how unlucky, incompetent, and stagnant a major team organization can truly be. There are multiple teams that fit the bill for least successful of all time.
What is the main theme of Black Panther?
What is the central theme of Black Panther? This entry maps the readings of the film — from black communal power and Pan-Africanism versus nationalism to questions of African sovereignty, identity, self-determination and the legacy of colonisation.
What is the Mind-Body problem?
What is the mind? Since the beginning of civilization, we have grappled with the idea of consciousness. Could the study of our brain and nervous system account for conscious thought? If not, what are the relationships between the non-physical processes and the physical ones?