Why social science needs stories
Statistics can illuminate the world, but narratives explain why the numbers matter.
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Agora
Agora is the New Statesman’s philosophy column: a space for academics to address contemporary social, political and cultural issues from a philosophical point of view.
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Agora
Reimagining political philosophy: on Charles Mills
Charles Mills, who died earlier this year, was a model for a political philosophy engaged with subjects the discipline had…
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The political risks of Big Data dominance
Big Data’s hubristic claim that it understands humanity opens the door to dangerous manipulation.
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Why nation states struggle with social care
Love and care are at the heart of our moral commitments, but they do not fit neatly into the social…
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Are Islamic philosophers critical of authority?
Irreverence is a feature of Western thought, but in Islamic philosophy failing to question power is an intellectual sin.
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Can authoritarianism ever be justified?
China may have performed better than many democratic countries on Covid-19, but good government can’t be sustained without public scrutiny.
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Would extinction be so bad?
Given the amount of suffering on Earth, the value of the continued existence of the planet is an open question.
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What we’ve lost with the rise of TV streaming
Binge-watching robs us of an opportunity to cultivate our moral sensitivities.