Jonny Thomson

Jonny Thomson

Jonny Thomson taught philosophy in Oxford for more than a decade before turning to writing full-time. He’s a columnist at Big Think and is the award-winning, bestselling author of three books that have been translated into 22 languages.

Jonny is also the founder of Mini Philosophy, a social network of around two million curious, intelligent minds. He's known all over the world for making philosophy accessible, relatable, and fun. 

A secularized church with ornate paintings on the walls.
Many countries' histories are governed by the familiar demographic story of growth, industrialization, and decline. But not France.
A painting of a group of men examining a cadaver
"Burke's the butcher, Hare's the thief, and Knox the man who buys the beef." Read the story of 19th-century Scotland's corpse dealers.
A group of people, part of a doomsday cult, in white robes standing in front of a white chair.
If someone can make you feel insecure, incomplete, and inadequate, they then can present themselves as the solution you need.
A painting of a monk reading a book.
Discover how the threads of myth, legend, and artistry have been woven together by storytellers to craft history.
A group of people hugging in front of a secret camera.
Intrinsic motivation cannot be imposed on a team — but you can provide the right culture for it to flourish.
A photo of an astronaut on the moon and a signed letter from Apollo 11.
Considering the astronomical occupational risks, life insurance was prohibitively expensive for the first NASA astronauts.
A group of artistic men in suits playing saxophones with genius skill.
The answer may lie in the power to see far, far beyond yourself.
Two black and yellow strips of string in a plastic container.
You can’t farm spiders — but putting spider genes into silkworms works even better.
A bricolage of a watercolor painting of a watermelon.
If you give yourself and others space to tinker and experiment, then you might create something incredible. Here's how to do it well.
A burning car on the side of the road.
You are much more likely to die in a car crash than from terrorism. Yet, philosopher Eran Fish says fearing terrorism more is justified.
A painting exploring the philosophy of sex through a woman holding a shell.
The philosophy of sex is going through a recalibration period.
Anupalabdhi on stage at SXSW.
Rooted in Vedic philosophy, "anupalabdhi" — or "non-apprehension" — can help you exploit gaps in the market.
Aliens contemplating the apocalypse in a field with a castle in the background.
There's nothing like the end of the world to make you a philosopher.
Three men in suits and hats talking to each other, uncovering plot holes.
Want to write a time-travel story? Do so at your own risk.
A man and a monkey named Ivanov kissing in the ocean.
In an attempt to prove Christianity inferior to communism, a Soviet scientist hoped to play God.
A painting challenging perception with the words 'c'est pas une pipe'.
Defamiliarization is a common tool in the arts. Here we learn how seeing things from a different angle can lead to billion-dollar success.
A man surrounded by clocks in a room.
In a world without clocks, people used common activities in place of time units. How long it took you to go to the toilet mattered.
A group of people sitting around a desk signing papers during a Kinsey study.
There are issues with Kinsey's data, but his books revolutionized Americans' thinking about sex and sexuality.