The spooky sensation that someone or something else is right there haunts us all. But what does this felt presence mean?

Self-satisfaction

The ancient Cynics taught that masturbation is about more than pleasure: it suggests how to live simply and autonomously

M D Usher

A new paganism

Now is the time to revitalise our relationship with nature and immerse ourselves in the little wonders of the universe

Ed Simon

Disorient yourself

Now associated with childhood fun, the swing has a near-universal history of ritual transgression and transformation

Javier Moscoso

We may never settle the ‘free will’ debate, but tapping into it is still worthwhile

32 minutes

The virtue of discretion

When the rules break down, you must judge what to do on your own. Discretion is necessary for navigating the muddle of life

Lorraine Daston

An enigmatic ‘story of consciousness’ told through 19th-century engravings

7 minutes

Patterns of the lifeworld

Machine learning theory is shedding new light on how to think about the mysterious and ineffable nature of art

Peli Grietzer

Why Aristotle believed that philosophy was humanity’s highest purpose

9 minutes