Today, the Dutch philosopher Spinoza - father of the Enlightenment - is revered, but in the mid-17th century, he was branded a heretic by his Jewish congregation in Amsterdam. Recently, philosopher Steve Nadler was asked if Spinoza should be exonerated. He explains why he said no.
Intelligent. Optimistic. Curious.
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One way to live dangerously is to stand up for your principles, especially if it means challenging those closest to you. Documentary filmmaker Kendall Wilcox and feminist activist Kate Kelly both exposed themselves to enormous risk when they pushed for change within the LDS Church and community.
Rob Knight is one of the rising stars in the new science of the microbiome. He tells us what he and his colleagues are up to at his Boulder, Colorado lab.
The relationship between poets William Wordsworth and Samuel Taylor Coleridge is discussed by Steve Paulson and Adam Sisman.
Memory is a hot topic in neuroscience, and it turns out the context of our memories is as important as the event itself. Dartmouth neuroscientist Jeremy Manning has found that people can intentionally forget past experiences by changing how they think about the context of their memories.
Sherman Alexie wrote a novel in response to 9/11. He thinks the fanaticism of flying planes into buildings is the end game of tribalism and he wanted to teach his sons something else.
Jules Pretty spent a year circumnavigating England's southeastern coast on foot. He discovered tidal paths, secret roads, and beaches covered in tiny fragments of 18th century human bones.
Ever feel overwhelmed by digital technology? You're not alone. Media theorist Douglas Rushkoff says it's changing our relationship to time, and we're having trouble adapting.
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