Welcome to 1000-Word Philosophy: An Introductory Anthology, an ever-growing set of over 170 original 1000-word essays on philosophical questions, theories, figures, and arguments.
New to philosophy?! Perhaps begin with our essays What is Philosophy? by Thomas Metcalf, Critical Thinking: What is it to be a Critical Thinker? by Carolina Flores, Arguments: Why Do You Believe What You Believe? by Thomas Metcalf, and Is it Wrong to Believe Without Sufficient Evidence? W.K. Clifford’s “The Ethics of Belief” by Spencer Case.
Many of our most popular essays are available as audio recordings and some are available as videos.
We publish new essays frequently, so please check back for updates, follow us on Facebook and Twitter, and subscribe by email on this page to receive notifications of new essays.
We have new resources for students on How to Write a Philosophical Essay and How to Read Philosophy by the Editors of 1000-Word Philosophy. A teaching units page has resources to help instructors develop course modules.
A 2022 End of Year Report is available here.
Select Recent Essays
Epistemic Justification: What is Rational Belief? by Todd R. Long
The Doctrine of Double Effect: Do Intentions Matter to Ethics? by Gabriel Andrade
The Buddhist Theory of No-Self (Anātman/Anattā) by Daniel Weltman
Self-Knowledge: Knowing Your Own Mind by Benjamin Winokur
The Meaning of Life: What’s the Point? and Meaning in Life: What Makes Our Lives Meaningful? by Matthew Pianalto
The Philosophy of Humor: What Makes Something Funny? by Chris A. Kramer
Karl Marx’s Theory of History by Angus Taylor
Modal Logic: Axioms and Systems for Alethic Modal Logic by Tom Metcalf
Contemporary Syllogisms by Timothy Eshing
Saving the Many or the Few: The Moral Relevance of Numbers by Theron Pummer
Philosophy of Space and Time: What is Space? and Philosophy of Space and Time: Are the Past and Future Real? by Dan Peterson
What Is Misogyny? by Odelia Zuckerman and Clair Morrissey
Philosophy and Race: An Introduction to Philosophy of Race by Thomas Metcalf
“Can They Suffer?”: Bentham on our Obligations to Animals by Daniel Weltman
Ursula Le Guin’s “The Ones who Walk Away from Omelas”: Would You Walk Away? by Spencer Case
Indoctrination: What is it to Indoctrinate Someone? by Chris Ranalli
Agnosticism about God’s Existence by Sylwia Wilczewska
African American Existentialism: DuBois, Locke, Thurman, and King by Anthony Sean Neal
Conspiracy Theories by Jared Millson
Philosophical Inquiry in Childhood by Jana Mohr Lone
Essay Categories
- Aesthetics and Philosophy of Art
- Africana Philosophy
- Buddhist Philosophy
- Chinese Philosophy
- Ethics
- Epistemology, or Theory of Knowledge
- Historical Philosophy
- Islamic Philosophy
- Logic and Reasoning
- Metaphilosophy, or Philosophy of Philosophy
- Metaphysics
- Phenomenology and Existentialism
- Philosophy of Education
- Philosophy of Law
- Philosophy of Mind and Language
- Philosophy of Race
- Philosophy of Religion
- Philosophy of Science
- Philosophy of Sex and Gender
- Social and Political Philosophy
* New categories are added as the project expands.
Popular Essays
* This is a selection of some of our most popular essays.
Descartes’ “I think, therefore I am” by Charles Miceli and Descartes’ Meditations by Marc Bobro
Marx’s Conception of Alienation by Dan Lowe
John Rawls’ ‘A Theory of Justice’ by Ben Davies
The Ethics of Abortion by Nathan Nobis
Aristotle’s Defense of Slavery by Dan Lowe
“God is Dead”: Nietzsche and the Death of God by Justin Remhof
Philosophy and Its Contrast with Science: Comparing Philosophical and Scientific Understanding by Thomas Metcalf
Happiness: What is it to be Happy? by Kiki Berk
Pascal’s Wager: A Pragmatic Argument for Belief in God by Liz Jackson
The African Ethic of Ubuntu by Thaddeus Metz
1000-Word Philosophy: An Introductory Anthology 