Ideas, opinions, politics, humanities
-
Zohran Mamdani: No distinction between radical and secular Islam
The election of New York City’s new mayor, Zohran Mamdani, once again exposed one of the biggest weaknesses of modern political debate. For many people, the word “Muslim” immediately evokes terrorism, religious extremism, the September 11 attacks, or authoritarian regimes. Others react in the opposite direction, refusing to acknowledge that Islamist extremism exists at all.…
-
When stealing accelerates progress: The AI race between the US and China
Artificial intelligence has become one of the defining technologies of the twenty-first century. It may transform medicine, education, science, transportation, manufacturing, finance, communication, and warfare. It may also change how people work, how governments exercise power, and how companies create wealth. Therefore, the race for leadership in artificial intelligence carries enormous economic and political importance.…
-
Pedophilia: “There’ll be a guillotine for this!” And Trump
Since I am open about my lifelong mental health struggles, I am also open about having been institutionalized in a mental hospital. I belong (fortunately) to the small minority of people who need this. So I completely understand people who don’t have a typical sexual orientation. And not everyone needs to be hospitalized (for example).…
-
Why Democrats and Republicans abandon ideology
Politics is supposed to be driven by ideas. Conservatives should defend conservative principles. Progressives should defend progressive ones. Parties should disagree because they genuinely see the world differently. Voters should know what they are supporting. That is the democratic ideal. Reality looks very different. Modern American politics increasingly resembles a contest of personalities, donors, and…
-
The Bible: Killing children, rape, homosexuality and much more
Few books have shaped human civilization as profoundly as the Bible. It has inspired magnificent works of art, transformed legal systems, motivated countless charitable movements, and provided meaning to billions of believers throughout history. Even many people who have never opened a Bible live in societies whose moral values have been influenced by its teachings.…
-
Will smartphones one day listen to us all the time?
Every few months, someone experiences the same unsettling coincidence. They discuss a holiday with a friend, mention a new car, or casually talk about buying a coffee machine. Hours later, advertisements for exactly those products appear on their phone. Many people immediately reach the same conclusion: the smartphone must have been listening. Despite countless anecdotes,…
-
Make Orwell Fiction Again
George Orwell never intended Nineteen Eighty-Four to become a prophecy. He wrote it as a warning. Published in 1949, the novel reflected his fears after witnessing fascism, Stalinism, and the rise of modern propaganda. Orwell believed that freedom could disappear not only through military conquest but also through gradual political and technological change. A society…
-
The forces that created Donald Trump
Donald Trump is one of the most polarizing political figures of the twenty-first century. To his supporters, he is the man who challenged a corrupt establishment, defended national interests, and gave a voice to ordinary Americans. To his critics, he represents populism, division, and an assault on democratic norms. Both camps often make the same…
-
How average IQ may have risen by 30 points: From medieval peasants to modern Europeans
Walk through a medieval European village. Most people cannot read. Childhood diseases are everywhere. Food shortages are common. Parasites, contaminated water, and recurring epidemics shape everyday life. Children work from an early age instead of attending school. Scientific thinking barely exists outside monasteries and a handful of universities. Now compare that world with modern Europe.…
-
Americans think the US spends 25% on foreign aid. It spends 1%
Ask the average American how much of the federal budget goes to foreign aid, and the answer will often be astonishing. Around one quarter. For decades, surveys have repeatedly found that Americans believe roughly 25% of the federal budget is spent helping other countries. The real number is nowhere close. Before the recent reductions in…