Questions
997 questions in the encyclopedia.
Do aliens exist?
It's a question humanity has pondered for centuries. People have throughout time reported seeing mysterious objects flying in the sky, sightings of little green men, and even being abducted. But is this just the stuff of imagination? Does life exist in outer space? Or are we really all alone?
Do cell phones cause cancer?
The International Agency for Research on Cancer has classified the radiofrequency fields generated by cell phones as "possibly carcinogenic to humans." With billions of people around the world using cell phones on a regular basis, any link between cell phones and cancer would represent a major public health risk. What does the science say? Has enough research been done? And can existing studies be trusted?
Do childhood experiences determine behavior in later life?
Traumatic events in childhood create phobias, likes and dislikes, and even core personality features. For example, abusers tend to have been abused themselves. The flip side is also true, college students succeed more if they have support from their parents. Also, siblings come into play. Children with opposite-sex siblings tend to have happier marriages if they are wed to the opposite sex.
Do childhood experiences determine our adult personalities?
Do our experiences shape who we are? Are the memories we keep from these experiences more important than the experiences themselves? Many scholars believe our experiences do shape who we are and that memories of those experiences are equally as important. Some scholars, however, believe that there is a core identity each individual has that is unchanging and the very root of one’s existence.
Do deficits matter?
For decades, politicians and economists have condemned deficits as evil. Today, there is a lively debate about whether deficits matter and whether there are advantages to running them. Most notably Modern Monetary Theory encourages the government to run deficits in order to achieve its objectives of full employment and investment.
Do essential oils work or are they useless?
Essential oils are loved by many who believe in their healing and wellness properties, and are big business. But are Essential oils really working or has the marketing and hype blinded consumers to the reality?
Do film stars matter anymore?
In an age where story, special effects, and marketing can drive so much of the success of a movie, do film stars have the same importance to the success of the production as they used to?
Do films and TV series glamourize crime?
Films and TV series have always depicted violence. However, as the trope of the 'anti-hero' becomes more popular, as does showing violence on screen. Additionally, it is seemingly getting more violent and grotesque, especially as special effects allow violence to become more realistic. Is this just harmless entertainment? Or does it encourage violence in real life?
Do guns kill or do people kill people?
“Guns don’t kill people, people kill people” is a well-known slogan used by the National Rifle Association and other pro-gun activists to make the case for their deregulation agenda. So which is it? Do guns kill people or do people kill people?
Do human beings have free will?
Do we have control over our actions? If we do, what sort of control and to what extent? Free will is the power to act without the constraint of necessity or fate. It is the ability to act at one's own discretion. For centuries, people have wondered how freedom is possible in a world ruled by physical determinism. Reflections on free will have been confined to philosophy until half a century ago, when the topic started also to be seriously investigated by neuroscientists. Today, there are several irreconcilable positions about the existence of human free will.
Do people learn from their mistakes?
Do people actually learn from their mistakes? This entry sets out the two positions on the question — that people learn from their mistakes, and that they do not — weighing reflection and growth against repeated error.
Do people respond differently to audiobooks and real books?
More and more people are listening to books rather than reading them, but how do the two experiences compare? Do people retain the same amount from audiobooks? Is one format easier to get into than the other? How do the different formats affect the experience of the book? Does the format change the way the book is interpreted?
Do social media influencers have a positive impact?
Are social media influencers a force for good or ill? This entry maps the positions on the question — that influencers have a negative impact, that they have a positive one, and that their impact is a mix of both.
Do tech monopolies stifle or spur innovation?
A technological monopoly occurs when one company exclusively controls the right to sell a service or product. A company that holds a technological monopoly is free to set prices as high or as low as they want, due to the lack of competition in the given field. This debate is centered on the role of the government in the economy and whether tech companies have an incentive to self-regulate their innovative capabilities.
Do theodicies explain why God allows evil in the world?
A theodicy is a story that attempts to demonstrate that the presence of evil in the world does not disprove the existence of a perfectly good, almighty, and all-knowing God. Theodicies and defences are two forms of response to this conundrum. Evil can be classified into natural evil such as disease and physical catastrophes or moral evil, which can be summed up as "man's inhumanity to man."
Do UK institutions (Government, Schools, etc) prioritise white feelings over harmful and discriminatory behaviours
Black people, People of Colour and Disabled People face microaggressions and insults based on things beyond their control on a regular basis, but if they speak out, they are subjected to tone policing and deemed as aggressive, emotional and irrational. Often, White people react badly to being called out on their harmful behaviours and will behave in a defensive and self-preserving way. People get more upset about people thinking they're racist than actually being racist.
Do video games cause violence?
For decades, parents, psychologists, and neuroscientists have studied the potential connection between violent video games and the level of real-world violence displayed by the children and young adults who play them, especially those shown on the national stage for criminal activity and mass shootings. A plethora of research and academic study has erupted from this debate, contributing to our growing knowledge of how the brain works when interacting with video games and why further research into the topic is important. So, as we traverse a new world of technological advancement and even more complex immersion into video games, do video games cause violence?
Do Viral messages contain good arguments?
This entry explores whether messages that go viral tend to contain good arguments. It maps a range of positions on what makes an argument 'good' — from real-world impact and emotional resonance to engagement metrics — and whether virality reflects any of them.
Do we have a soul?
The soul as a concept is widely debated and has an array of definitions. It is broadly defined as the essence of our being, that which makes one who they are. It is normally considered beyond the physical world, and often eternal or immortal. For generations, humans have sought to explain the soul through religion, philosophy, and science, and there are countless theories and controversies regarding this question. Do we have a soul?
Do we need manned space flights?
Seeing a man on the moon was one of the coolest things of the 1960's. Since then, shuttle have been sending many, many people up to complete missions. These are costly and incredibly dangerous. Are manned missions economically viable or is it more effective to focus on less expensive drone missions?
Do you agree that to live authentically is to connect with and express true self courageously, in order to create better relationships and environment for everyone?
All of us have a true self we can deeply connect with, which should guide our interactions with self and others, so that we live a life that is personally meaningful. With technology advancement and a rapidly changing world, the ability to live at this level of consciousness is ever more important. For current and future generations, we need to learn to understand who we truly are, what we truly want, so that we can interact with self and others consciously (and courageously) to create a better environment for everyone. This means to learn how to live authentically.
Do you like online jobs?
Online work is changing
Do zodiac signs influence anything?
Astrology is the belief that the alignment of stars and planets at an individual's time of birth affect their mood, personality, and environment. In astrology, personalized horoscopes are printed by birth date and make vague predictions, generally about the love life, success, and health of everyone who has that sign. But how does this work? Can the movement of planets have this much impact?
Does "Lolita" glorify pedophilia?
Does Vladimir Nabokov's novel Lolita endorse the predation it depicts, or expose and condemn it? This entry maps the literary debate, setting out the positions that Lolita does not glorify paedophilia, and that it does.
Does "pure evil" exist?
The concept of "pure evil" has been an inexhaustible source of debate across philosophical, psychological, social, and religious communities. Definitions of "pure evil" vary, but most tend to include the stipulation that it describes an action that causes suffering and is performed for the sake of causing that suffering.
Does "Responsibility" make sense?
Responsibility is accrued when an individual is free. However, contemporary scholarship suggests that we are not, in fact, totally free. Neurological and psychological predispositions prevent us from having full control over our actions. Then, are humans able to truly possess responsibility?
Does androcentrism perpetuate gender roles?
Androcentrism refers to a worldview based on male perspectives and standards. Men and masculinity are viewed as the human norm and women and femininity are viewed as "other". Many languages--including English--have long used androcentric language. This can be seen by the use of spotlighting, order choice in conjoined terms, and male generic language which is the use of masculine pronouns and words like "man" or "mankind” to refer to both men and women, such as in Neil Armstrong's famous phrase "One small step for man, one giant leap for mankind." Recently, though, many are arguing for more inclusive, gender-neutral language on the basis that androcentric speech ostracizes women and other genders.
Does Atlantis exist?
Atlantis is an Island which features in Plato's dialogues Timaeus and Critias. It is said to have existed about 9000 years before the birth of Solon. According to Plato, Atlantis was a successful and wealthy Island, eventually destroyed by its greed. Despite the broad acceptance that Atlantis is fictional, it has exerted a high level of influence on culture, history and conspiracy theories. Various locations have been touted as 'Atlantis', and many are keen to locate the legendary island.
Does bisexuality exist?
Bisexuality is the attraction to more than one gender or sex. According to National Health Statistics Reports (2016), 5.5% of women and 2% of men said they were bisexual. For a long time, people inside and outside the LGBTQ+ community have discussed whether bisexuality is a valid sexuality.
Does charisma influence political campaigns?
Are people more likely to vote based on the charisma of the leader or the actual policy issues at hand? Clearly charisma does play a large role but this may not be for the best.
Does conversion therapy work to alter sexual orientation?
Does conversion therapy actually change a person's sexual orientation? This entry sets out the two positions on the question — that conversion therapy works to alter sexual orientation, and that it does not.
Does Donald Trump or Joe Biden have the better approach to Policing?
As Black Lives Matter #BLM protests shook the US in the wake of George Floyd's murder at the hands of police in Minneapolis in May 2020, the issue of police reform surged to the top of the political agenda. Policing will be a central debate in the upcoming US Election. Who has the better approach?
Does ending climate change mean the end of capitalism?
Scientific consensus suggests we are experiencing a climate catastrophe. Many see Capitalism's drive for growth and accumulation as being incompatible with a finite planet. Do we need a new system to sustain human life?
Does Esports have a legitimate claim to being a sport?
Esports is a video gaming competition played with spectators, typically by professional players. Like many games before it, such as chess, many have come to ask whether it can be classed as a 'sport'. Should the definition of 'sport' include Esports?
Does fortune telling work?
Humans have practiced fortune-telling since ancient times, and it has persisted into the modern day. There are many who believe in fortune-telling whole-heartedly, while others don't believe it's real. Does fortune-telling really work, or is it the longest-running hoax in human history?
Does God exist?
For much of time people have questioned the existence of God. This question understands God as ‘Supreme Being and Creator of the Universe’, not a specific God (Christian, Islamic, Jewish, or other), and explores the various positions and arguments for and against the existence.
Does grammar matter?
Grammar can often seem to be an annoyance to be aware of when we write or speak. In comment sections all over the internet we might observe someone making a grammatical mistake such as using “your” instead of “you’re”, and people indignantly pointing out the error. In the end, those who read that comment understand what the writer meant - so does it really matter at all?
Does History repeat itself ?
Everyone knows the old saying, "history repeats itself," but is there any truth to this? Do people really never learn from history, or is this just a convenient way to explain away bad the things that have happened? Does history really repeat itself, and are we helpless to stop it?
Does homeopathy work?
Homeopathy is a commonly practiced, pseudoscientific form of medicine used since the late 18th Century. Many medical professionals, spiritual guides, and an assortment of other people on both sides of the debate have weighed in on the issue of whether homeopathy is actually effective in positively influencing the health of those who adhere to it.
Does humanitarian intervention work?
Humanitarian intervention, or the military involvement in a foreign nation to protect human rights, has been a hotly debated topic for the past 75 years. Since the end of World War II, human rights and international peace have become paramount to the foreign policies of many countries. However, there is no consistent methodology for how to address human rights abuses, genocide, and conflict abroad. The challenges of sovereignty, international policing, and the efficacy of intervening have plagued the diplomatic minds in the aftermath of the Holocaust.
Does language influence worldview?
Over the years, linguists have observed that some languages have a differing vocabulary for colors, numbers, directions, and more, not to mention variations in structure. Researchers wonder whether or not these differences affect how speakers of these languages view the world.
Does morality create more suffering than it relieves?
Morality can cause suffering, and can also relieve suffering. But where exactly is the balance? Does morality create more suffering than it relieves, or relieve more suffering than it creates?
Does multiculturalism help societies?
While countries used to be united by commonalities - a common culture, religion, or even ethnicity - immigration and globalization have created blended societies, ones that are culturally heterogeneous. Increasingly, this diversity of culture is being celebrated, rather than focusing on assimilating. Does cultural heterogeneity benefit society? And at what—if any—cost?
Does nuclear energy contribute to the proliferation of nuclear weapons?
A growing number of nations are gaining the tools and abilities to utilize nuclear power. Should we concerned about the possibility of those tools being used for nuclear war?
Does Persuasion present more ethical dilemmas than Argumentation?
Does persuasion raise thornier ethical questions than reasoned argumentation? This entry maps the positions on the question — that persuasion presents more ethical dilemmas, that the dilemmas are the same, and that persuasion in fact presents fewer.
Does political correctness harm society?
Politically correct refers to the avoidance or censorship of words, actions, and policies that could offend disadvantaged groups. In modern discussions, the word is loaded, with commentators divided concerning its influence. Many people use this term disparagingly, and see it as a reflection of our culture's hypersensitivity. Others argue that political correctness reflects respect for diversity. Does political correctness disrupt honest public discourse, or show concern for the marginalized?
Does pornography lead to violence against women?
Does pornography contribute to violence against women? This entry sets out the two positions on the contested question — that pornography leads to violence against women, and that it does not.
Does punishing pedophiles count as discrimination?
This entry maps the debate over whether punishing paedophiles amounts to discrimination, setting out the opposing positions on the question — that it does, and that it does not.
Does recycling work?
Recycling is increasingly encouraged by environmentalists and society as a whole. It helps people throw away less trash and reduces waste in the environment. However, not all items can be recycled and still end up in landfills for decades. Does this mean that recycling works or is it blown out of proportion? What are the benefits of recycling?
Does the CIA run the international drug trade?
This entry maps the contested claim that the CIA runs the international drug trade, setting out the positions that the agency operates such a trade, and that it does not — a charge long debated since Cold War-era allegations.