Wide Open Ideas explores culture, creativity, and thought with fearless curiosity — tackling both the inspiring and uncomfortable truths with honesty, depth, and balance.
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The Complicated Case of Jordan Peterson
Jordan Peterson is usually treated as either a prophet or a monster. To his admirers, he is one of the few public figures willing to defend responsibility, meaning, free speech, and psychological seriousness in a…
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When Hope Becomes Procrastination
Hope Is Not a Plan Hope is usually treated as a virtue. We admire it. We romanticize it. We tell people not to lose it. And for good reason: hope can keep people alive through…
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The Problem With Treating Animals Like People
Many people love animals. That is not the problem. Pets can bring comfort, joy, routine, affection, and meaning. A dog waiting at the door, a cat curling beside you, a horse recognizing your presence —…
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AI as the Final Call for Universal Basic Income
What is the purpose of technology? A simple answer is that technology exists to make life easier. It helps us do more with less effort. It makes work more efficient, expands what humans can accomplish,…
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The Outrageousness of the Billionaire
Imagine you are living in hunter-gatherer times. You are walking through a forest with your tribe. You are surviving, but only barely. You are hungry, thirsty, tired, and always aware that survival is not guaranteed.…
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What Really Makes a Hero or Villain?
What makes someone a hero? The obvious answers are usually wrong. A hero does not need to be brilliant, beautiful, polite, charming, confident, or morally perfect. A hero does not even need to be especially…
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The Origins of Horror: Why Monsters Feel So Familiar
Where do horror stories come from? At first, the answer seems obvious: horror comes from imagination. From strange, creative, and sometimes disturbed minds. Someone dreams up a monster, gives it claws or fangs or a…
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From Monsters to Mirrors: The Four Levels of Villains
Villains are one of the most important parts of any story. Without villains, heroes have nothing to struggle against, stories lose tension, and moral conflict disappears. Villains create obstacles, force difficult decisions, and often make…
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Movies Are Modern Mythology
I love movies as a form of art and entertainment. They can be beautiful, emotional, inspiring, and unforgettable. Movies can make us feel things that real life rarely does. They compress entire lifetimes into two…