Interference and noise
Signals are information worth attending to. Noise is interference you ought to ignore. When I’m talking to you on the phone, the sound of your voice is the signal, while the static hiss of the line is the…
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Received wisdom
It’s difficult to say when and how my children first became aware of the concept of a prison. It was certainly very early, well…
A property crisis: interview with Thomas Piketty
“Over a certain wealth level, particularly if you are Bill Gates, if you have several dozen billion dollars, you know it’s not very useful…
Property’s principal corruption
In the lead-up to the general election in the UK, everyone was talking about property. In the crowded south of our archipelago, it’s an…
From Society & Culture
Winners of the 50 prizes for our 50th edition
To celebrate the publication of our 50th edition, we're giving away 50 prizes to subscribers, with first prize a 50-edition subscription (up to our…
Travelling identities
Over the last few years Scott had vacationed to countries like Thailand, Nepal, Cambodia and other destinations in Asia. He hunted out new vistas…
News from nowhere: Stealing the moment
Many of the great artists were travellers. Gauguin travelled to the islands of Martinique and Tahiti for inspiration; Van Gogh hopped all over Europe;…
Lessons from stupidity
It is unclear just how the “Man from Song” (Songren) acquired his reputation, but classical literature is replete with stories of his stupidity. These…
Fixing the living to make a killing
Do you trust your doctor? Should you trust your doctor? A recent op-ed in The New York Times suggests that doctor-patient trust is wavering.…
Being mortal
Editor of New Philosopher Zan Boag interviews Hilde Lindemann, Professor of Philosophy at Michigan State University and the former editor of Hypatia. Zan Boag:…
Word to the wise
The 21st century has created a whole range of new types of professional that we have never had before – or if not quite…
A clear look
“What we can know, and what we can understand, is so influenced by our location in time that it is impossible for us to…
Seen and unseen
There’s something deflating about the first time you spot a nebula through a telescope. You’re standing outside in the dark and the cold, squinting…
