Ideas 2018
Dispatches from the Aspen Ideas Festival/Spotlight Health
America Misunderstands the Declaration of Independence Because of a Typo
A frequently printed error has caused widespread misreadings of the seminal text—and the interpretation of democracy.
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Men Are Socialized to ‘Act Inhumanely’
A trans man offers a unique perspective on the internalization of masculinity.
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The ‘Special Genius’ of Dogs
An expert on dog psychology reveals the unique features of canine intelligence.
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The Philosophy of ‘Circular Design’
Eileen Fisher explains how her design philosophy promotes sustainability.
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The Seismic Power of Women’s Rage
In the history of America, female anger is political fuel.
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The ‘Nightmare’ of a Tweeting President
The Founding Fathers designed America to be impervious to demagogues, but social media has derailed the system.
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Can Puerto Rico Rebuild Itself?
Governor Ricardo Rosselló describes how opportunity can be created for the island in the wake of Hurricane Maria.
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‘America Has Always Been a Tribal Society’
Some of tribalism's worst impulses, such as demagoguery and scapegoating, are beginning to permeate American politics.
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A Great Social Experiment of the 21st Century
There was no rulebook for Colorado Governor John Hickenlooper when his state voted to legalize marijuana.
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How ‘LOL’ Changed the Way We Talk
The acronym has ushered in a new era of informal communication.
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Why Social Media Shouldn’t Censor Hate Speech
The former president of the ACLU believes censorship—including on Facebook and other platforms—is ineffective.
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‘I’m an Undocumented Citizen of This Country’
Jose Antonio Vargas explains why his lack of papers shouldn’t disqualify him from being regarded as an American.
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‘It’s Not About Sex; It’s About Power’
Oregon State Senator Sara Gelser reflects on the cost of workplace harassment.
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How Video Can Create a Just Society
Filming bystander footage can help protect human rights.
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Comey Is ‘Really Concerned’ About Trump’s Attacks on the FBI
James Comey reveals why the president’s criticism of the country’s legal institutions is corrosive.
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Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for Coachella The Grandeur of Great Protest Music
Political art that outlasts its times needs more than just a powerful message.
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Denis Balibouse / Reuters Is Empathy the Essence of Soul Music?
The genre’s sound, sentiments, and politics all aim for the same connection.
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Clodagh Kilcoyne / Reuters James Comey Continues to Argue With Himself
In an interview with Katie Couric, the ousted FBI director excoriated Trump for undoing America’s norms—but let himself off the hook for slipping out of the FBI’s.
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Yusuf Ahmad / Reuters Could Quantum Computing Be the End of Free Will?
On the fear that too much processing power will make us cease to be human
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Francois Lenoir / Reuters Can Sacrificing Privacy Stomp Out Disinformation Online?
One way to ward off bad actors could be more information sharing between social-media platforms, researchers, and governments.
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Courtesy of Robhat Labs A Web Tool That Lets People Choose Their Own ‘Sources of Truth’
Two 21-year-olds believe they have a way to bring consumers of unreliable news closer to objectivity.
