Philosophical
11 perspectives
Concepts, categories, and first principles. What assumptions does this story rest on, and do they hold under scrutiny?
North Korea unveils nuclear facility, pledges exponential arsenal expansion
If this claim is true, what follows? If it is false, what changes? If neither answer produces a concrete difference in the conduct of your …
President Donald Trump threatened to "blow up" Oman if it did not behave.
The claim is that a nation-state possesses the sovereign authority to threaten the physical annihilation of another sovereign entity, …
Mahmoud Khalil’s attorneys plan to appeal to the US Supreme Court after a federal appeals court upheld a ruling allowing his detention and deportation.
The claim is that the detention and deportation of Mahmoud Khalil is a matter of settled law, presented as self-standing. The conditions on …
The US military conducted strikes on Iranian military facilities in response to an Iranian attack on three US destroyers.
The situation is described as a response. Beneath the description, two forces are in tension: the impulse to strike and the impulse to …
The US announced the withdrawal of thousands of troops from Germany, prompting Guardian editorial calls for a pan-European defence strategy.
The claim is that European security is a self-standing entity, a permanent architecture that exists independently of the specific political …
Mojtaba Khamenei stated there will be a "change" in the "management" of the Strait of Hormuz, while Iran's supreme leader signaled intent to retain the nuclear program and possibly impose tolls on the strait.
The situation is described as a period of geopolitical posturing and administrative uncertainty. Beneath the description, two forces are in …
The World Health Organization approved the first malaria drug formulated for babies and very young children.
This arrangement is presented as a triumph of humanitarian progress, a sudden flowering of benevolence in a desert of neglect. Let us ask …
Iran has re-closed the Strait of Hormuz to commercial vessels after briefly reopening it, amid ongoing tensions.
This arrangement is presented as a sudden rupture, a spontaneous eruption of geopolitical friction, an unpredictable spasm of regional …
Russian missile and drone strikes hit multiple Ukrainian cities, killing several people including a 12-year-old child.
The situation is described as a series of strikes, a sudden rupture in the lives of those in Kyiv, Odesa, and Dnipro. Beneath the …
Iran has condemned a US blockade of its ports as a "grave violation" of its sovereignty, while US President Trump claims Iranian representatives have requested a deal after failed peace talks.
This arrangement is presented as a clash of sovereign rights and legal violations. Let us ask when it became so, and who profits from the …