Philosophy

Unlike a machine, which processes myriad data points yet remains detached from meaning, we humans instantly ascribe significance to our sensory perceptions. The colour red transcends mere visual data, morphing into a spectrum of experiences.

We do not operate like cameras, capturing a 1:1 replica of the external world. Our sensory faculties are not conduits of raw data; they are gateways to a world laden with meaning.

To me, phenomenology embodies the philosophical discourse on experience. It's not about a verbatim representation of the world, but rather an exploration of how experiences manifest. Phenomenology serves as a methodical lens through which we scrutinise social phenomena.

These three facets of attention—focus, panoptic, and hyper-reflection, are inherent human abilities, each vital in its own right. Their harmonious cultivation is instrumental in leading a fulfilling and meaningful life. They are not merely skills, but essential components that enrich our understanding and interaction with the world.

Tuning into these feeling tones reveals their powerful influence – they often control our lives in ways we're completely unaware of.

There's a moment when the unconscious crystallises into consciousness, leading to all our thoughts, feelings, and emotions. In ancient texts, this moment is referred to as 'vedana', and we describe them as 'feeling tones.'

The idea of time as something distinct from us, which we are then having to fight and struggle with all the time would simply not have existed to the mediaeval English peasant, who would have existed much more in what anthropologists call 'task orientation'.

Guardian columnist & author on psychology, time management, and happiness

The efficiency trap is very modern, but it's now become a holdover from the Industrial Revolution. If you only relate to time, as if it were a certain kind of 'thing', like a natural resource… something that you could maximise, then you're going to be in a perpetual state of psychological struggle because you won't be using the right conceptual tools to live in time.

Guardian columnist & author on psychology, time management, and happiness

It's the disadvantages that offer a more fertile ground for learning, albeit for a smaller cohort. The depth of learning and engagement derived from tackling difficulties is substantially richer compared to that gleaned from facing advantages.

Author of "The Tipping Point" & Popular Cultural Theorist

Consider a car with malfunctioning brakes; it's unsafe to let it on the street, as it could cause harm. You'd need to confine it, but you wouldn't punish it or moralize its malfunction. Instead, you'd seek to understand why its brakes failed.

Neuroscientist & primatologist known for stress research and public engagement

When you examine how these myriad factors intertwine, from genetics and evolution to the proteins synthesized mere minutes ago, you see a continuous arc. In my view, there's no room in this intricate web for free will.

Neuroscientist & primatologist known for stress research and public engagement

Intelligence and self-deception appear to have co-evolved, with the belief that we are fully in control of our destinies serving as a mental safeguard, despite its inaccuracy.

Neuroscientist & primatologist known for stress research and public engagement

This principle demands careful consideration of protection that must be given to civilians and civilian property, balancing military objectives against foreseeable collateral damage. This balance cannot be made by a formulaic algorithm – there isn't one – but by human judgment.

Prosecutor of Slobodan Milošević at the International Criminal Tribunal

A concept that has become prominent in recent discussions addressed to newspaper readers, media viewers, and radio listeners in the past seven weeks is 'proportionality'. This concept, while vital to have in mind in considering the lawfulness or otherwise of use of force in almost all armed conflicts, lacks a precise definition.

Prosecutor of Slobodan Milošević at the International Criminal Tribunal

They don't just dive into a project; they begin by exploring its purpose. This 'why' acts as a North Star, guiding every phase of the project. Having this North Star makes the process more efficient and significantly increases the likelihood of delivering the project effectively.

Leading researcher on megaprojects, planning, and governance expert

As a prosecutor, I recognize that our involvement typically begins when it's already too late: when prevention, humanity, and common sense have failed. Violence, whether in families, communities, or at an international level, signifies a failure of humanity.

Chief Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court for former Yugoslavia and Rwanda