AI is advancing at such speed that speculative moral questions, once the province of science fiction, are suddenly real and pressing, says Finnish philosopher and psychology researcher Frank Martela Martela’s latest study finds that generative AI meets all three of the philosophical conditions of free will — the ability to have goal-directed agency, make genuine...
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From Defenders to Skeptics: the Sharp Decline in Young Americans’ Support for Free Speech
For much of the 20th century, young Americans were seen as free speech’s fiercest defenders. But now, young Americans are growing more skeptical of free speech. According to a March 2025 report by The Future of Free Speech, a nonpartisan think tank where I am executive director, support among 18- to 34-year-olds for allowing controversial...
A Dancer’s Eye on Carmen: Miami City Ballet’s Fierce Reimagining at the Broward Center
As a professional ballerina, I experience dance differently than most. I look at lines, weight shifts, the stories bodies tell even before the music begins. So when I sat in the audience at the Broward Center to see Miami City Ballet’s latest production of Carmen, choreographed by Annabelle Lopez Ochoa, I didn’t expect to be...
‘Agreeing to Disagree’ Is Hurting Your Relationships – Here’s What to Do Instead
As Americans become more polarized, even family dinners can feel fraught, surfacing differences that could spark out-and-out conflict. Tense conversations often end with a familiar refrain: “Let’s just drop it.” As a communications educator and trainer, I am frequently asked how to handle these conversations, especially when they involve social and political issues. One piece...
From the Chinese Exclusion Act to Pro-Palestinian Activists: the Evolution of Politically Motivated Deportations
The recent deportation orders targeting foreign students in the U.S. have prompted a heated debate about the legality of these actions. The Trump administration made no secret that many individuals were facing removal because of their pro-Palestinian advocacy. In recent months, the State Department has revoked hundreds of visas of foreign students with little explanation....
In the $250B Influencer Industry, Being a Hater Can Be the Only Way to Rein in Bad Behavior
Since 2020, content creator Remi Bader had accumulated millions of TikTok followers by offering her opinions on the fits of popular clothing brands as a plus-size woman. In 2023, however, Bader appeared noticeably thinner. When some fans asked her whether she’d undergone a procedure, she blocked them. Later that year, she announced that she would...
The Center Can Hold — States’ Rights and Local Privilege in a Climate of Federal Overreach
“Things fall apart; the centre cannot hold; Mere anarchy is loosed upon the world…” — W.B. Yeats, The Second Coming In moments of political upheaval, Yeats’s words echo with an almost prophetic clarity. As American institutions weather the storms of executive disruption, legal ambiguity, and polarized governance, we must reexamine what it means for “the...
A Bold New Vision: Miami City Ballet’s Carmen Redefines Power and Style
On Friday, April 25, Miami City Ballet unveiled its daring new take on Carmen, choreographed by the visionary Annabelle Lopez Ochoa. Known for her modern, sharp-edged storytelling, Ochoa brings a distinctly fresh energy to the legendary tale, one that celebrates female autonomy with fierce elegance—and, fittingly, style was at the heart of it all. From...
Swiss üBer Collector Michael Ringier Reflects on an Art-Fueled Life
As the Ringier Collection takes over Germany’s Langen Foundation, the publisher ponders decades of curiosity, collaboration – and mixing business with pleasure ‘I gave up on asking myself why I have this drive to collect so many pieces of art,’ says Michael Ringier. Despite initially claiming ‘there is no real answer,’ when pressed, the chairman...
No Nation Is an Island: The Dangers of Modern U.S. Isolationism
“No man is an island, entire of itself; every man is a piece of the continent, a part of the main.” — John Donne, Meditation XVII In an era defined by global interdependence, the United States stands at a pivotal juncture. Under President Donald Trump’s leadership, a renewed emphasis on “America First” policies has signaled...