Curated Video
Global Morality
Political scientist Mark Bevir (UC Berkeley) describes the inevitable moral questions that arise when taking global governance seriously.
Curated Video
Examining Networks
Political scientist Mark Bevir (UC Berkeley) describes a network form of social organization and governance.
Curated Video
Exploring Punishment
Legal scholar Nita Farahany (Duke) discusses the different rationales we have for criminal punishment, along with some alternatives.
Curated Video
Denying Death
Poet and independent scholar Jennifer Michael Hecht describes how our modern society is “putting away death” and the negative aspects that has on community.
Weird History
Weirdest Elizabethan Era Manners
England was the clear winner of the latter half of the 16th century. Flourishing under the reign of their industrious and stylish monarch, Queen Elizabeth I, it was between 1558 and 1603 that England emerged as the world’s first real...
Curated Video
Should You Watch The Social Dilemma? | The Social Dilemma (Netflix 2020) Review
In a channel first, we're watching the docu-drama The Social Dilemma and discussing how it portrays tech ethics, artificial intelligence, and more!
Curated Video
Exploring Themes in The Scarlet Letter
"The Scarlet Letter" by Nathaniel Hawthorne is a dark novel set in Puritan Massachusetts. It explores themes of sin, guilt, and the corrupting influence of society on individuals. Through the characters of Hester Prynne, Reverend Arthur...
Curated Video
Understanding American Religiosity
Historian David Hollinger (UC Berkeley) gives his perspective on why the United States appears to be internationally unique in its contemporary attitude towards religion.
Curated Video
Non-barking Dogs
University of Oxford historian John Elliott describes how one intriguing avenue of historical scholarship lies in trying to develop an understanding for why some historical events didn’t happen.
Curated Video
Religion in America
Author and independent scholar Matthew Stewart discusses the role religion plays in American society, and how religious practice gibes with the ideals of the Founding Fathers.
Curated Video
Challenging Clichés
Cambridge intellectual historian Stefan Collini tangibly demonstrates his critical thinking skills in examining the role of universities in contemporary society.
Curated Video
Democratic Misconceptions
Political scientist John Dunn, University of Cambridge, describes how the typical American view of democracy is incorrect, describing how America’s Founders were generally extremely sceptical of the idea of a democratic republic.
Curated Video
A Historian's Toolbox
UC Berkeley historian Martin Jay describes how he is constantly looking to demonstrate how our contemporary views are far less black and white than many suppose, and how focusing on the evolution of language helps puts things into their...
Curated Video
History and Morality
Historian Martin Jay, UC Berkeley, describes how a study of history can sharpen our moral understanding, showing that, rather than adhering to inflexible rules of behaviour, each situation presents a unique set of “competing moral...
Curated Video
Deceptive Language and Theatrical Metaphors
Historian Martin Jay (UC Berkeley) highlights the importance of wrestling with the subtle and often deceptive nature of language in order to fully appreciate the cultural values of any particular society.
Curated Video
Seeking a Balance
Historian John Elliott, University of Oxford, describes how historians studying societies other than their own need to balance objective assessment and societal assimilation, a balancing act that invariably brings with it a multitude of...
Curated Video
Unintended Consequences from Technology
Unintended Consequences from Technology describes how the use of technology can have unintended consequences on society and the environment.
Professor Dave Explains
Free Trade vs. Protectionism
More trade tends to lead to more prosperity for a society. So everyone should favor completely free international trade, right? Well not exactly. Some economists promote protectionism, which restricts trade with other countries to...
Curated Video
Save The Boy? 4 Moral Thinkers Have Different Opinions
Would you save a boy who is drowning in front of your eyes? And thinking about this question, do you base your answer on the character you strive to become, on the behavior you want to see in the world, a costs and benefit analysis, your...
Curated Video
Today's Cigarettes
Sleep scientist Matthew Walker (UC Berkeley) makes the analogy of today's attitudes towards sleep and yesterday's views of cigarettes.
Tom Nicholas
Postmodernism - WTF? An introduction to Postmodernist Theory
What is postmodernism? This is certainly my most requested What the Theory? video yet. In it, I hope to provide an introduction to postmodernist theory and postmodernist philosophy. Along the way, we'll look at simulacra and...
Curated Video
Optimism, Confirmed
Emory University anthropologist and bestselling author Frans de Waal relates how many aspects of his intuitively optimistic view of human and animal nature became confirmed through his many concrete experimental tests.
Curated Video
Individuals and Community
Anthropologist Frans de Waal, Emory University, describes his distinction between so-called "one-on-one morality" and "community concern", and highlighting the differences, and similarities, between humans and other animals regarding the...
Brainwaves Video Anthology
José Gustavo Calderón De Anda - Building Character Using Maker Spaces
Gustavo is a Global Teacher Prize 2020 Top 50 Finalist. He is passionate about education, technology and innovation. At his School in the City of Guadalajara, México, he works on projects with disadvantaged communities who deal with very...