# Humanities and Social Science **URL:** https://www.thephilosophyforum.com/c/humanities-and-social-science/15.md [Latest](https://www.thephilosophyforum.com/latest.md) · [Categories](https://www.thephilosophyforum.com/categories.md) · [Tags](https://www.thephilosophyforum.com/tags.md) --- ## [About the Humanities and Social Science category](https://www.thephilosophyforum.com/t/about-the-humanities-and-social-science-category/18)
**Author:** [@Jamal](https://www.thephilosophyforum.com/u/Jamal)\ **Replies:** 0\ **Last updated:** [November 13, 2025, 10:49am UTC](https://www.thephilosophyforum.com/t/about-the-humanities-and-social-science-category/18 "2025-11-13T10:49:01Z")
History, literature, law, economics, anthropology, sociology, psychology, etc. --- ## [Have we plateaued evolutionarily?](https://www.thephilosophyforum.com/t/have-we-plateaued-evolutionarily/3674)
**Author:** [@invicta](https://www.thephilosophyforum.com/u/invicta)\ **Replies:** 108\ **Last updated:** [October 23, 2026, 7:34pm UTC](https://www.thephilosophyforum.com/t/have-we-plateaued-evolutionarily/3674 "2026-10-23T19:34:20Z")
Has humanity plateaued evolutionarily? Evolution is simply the survival of those species better equipped at adapting to a changing environment. This blind process eventually produced man/woman who through their highly d… --- ## [Pointy Sticks and Equal Consideration](https://www.thephilosophyforum.com/t/pointy-sticks-and-equal-consideration/3641)
**Author:** [@Johnnywas](https://www.thephilosophyforum.com/u/Johnnywas)\ **Replies:** 17\ **Last updated:** [October 22, 2026, 12:27am UTC](https://www.thephilosophyforum.com/t/pointy-sticks-and-equal-consideration/3641 "2026-10-22T00:27:32Z")
Early humans were able to create a more equitable society partly due to weapons technology and better social organisation. Archaeologists have recently found evidence of a wound caused by a wooden spear in the remains … --- ## [Was Stonehenge caused unintentionally by natural forces?](https://www.thephilosophyforum.com/t/was-stonehenge-caused-unintentionally-by-natural-forces/3671)
**Author:** [@Drewpaul2000](https://www.thephilosophyforum.com/u/Drewpaul2000)\ **Replies:** 30\ **Last updated:** [October 20, 2026, 4:03pm UTC](https://www.thephilosophyforum.com/t/was-stonehenge-caused-unintentionally-by-natural-forces/3671 "2026-10-20T16:03:45Z")
I know just about everyone has been taught (indoctrinated) that Stonehenge was a structure intentionally caused by humans thousands of years ago. They have found a few tools that they claim had been used to create Stoneh… --- ## [Making present-day decisions based on philosophies of the past](https://www.thephilosophyforum.com/t/making-present-day-decisions-based-on-philosophies-of-the-past/3555)
**Author:** [@milksteak](https://www.thephilosophyforum.com/u/milksteak)\ **Replies:** 7\ **Last updated:** [October 12, 2026, 3:34am UTC](https://www.thephilosophyforum.com/t/making-present-day-decisions-based-on-philosophies-of-the-past/3555 "2026-10-12T03:34:27Z")
While reading In Praise of Idleness by Bertrand Russell I recognized that I connected with some of his presented ideas as if they were my own. I wouldn’t normally consider this a significant event, especially if I were r… --- ## [The Death of History](https://www.thephilosophyforum.com/t/the-death-of-history/2997)
**Author:** [@Number2018](https://www.thephilosophyforum.com/u/Number2018)\ **Replies:** 11\ **Last updated:** [September 15, 2026, 9:49pm UTC](https://www.thephilosophyforum.com/t/the-death-of-history/2997 "2026-09-15T21:49:31Z")
In the essay ’The Death of History,’ Niall Ferguson and John-Clark Levin pose a question about the state of contemporary historical consciousness. They investigate emerging patterns of Holocaust denial and distortion. Af… --- ## [Back to Orality](https://www.thephilosophyforum.com/t/back-to-orality/2643)
**Author:** [@Jamal](https://www.thephilosophyforum.com/u/Jamal)\ **Replies:** 33\ **Last updated:** [September 15, 2026, 8:22pm UTC](https://www.thephilosophyforum.com/t/back-to-orality/2643 "2026-09-15T20:22:35Z")
The idea, not an original one of mine, is that mass literacy may turn out to have been a historical blip, and orality the enduring form of knowledge and culture. At least, this seems likely to be the case if we mean lite… --- ## [The Banker’s Paradox: Why Do We Have Friends?](https://www.thephilosophyforum.com/t/the-banker-s-paradox-why-do-we-have-friends/2778)
**Author:** [@Johnnywas](https://www.thephilosophyforum.com/u/Johnnywas)\ **Replies:** 18\ **Last updated:** [August 29, 2026, 5:59pm UTC](https://www.thephilosophyforum.com/t/the-banker-s-paradox-why-do-we-have-friends/2778 "2026-08-29T17:59:47Z")
Hi, here is a question that interests me. The Banker’s Paradox is that a bank is least willing to help the person who genuinely needs help, because that person may be least able to repay. However, a friend may help pre… --- ## [Adornian Ahistoricity via Zorba the Greek](https://www.thephilosophyforum.com/t/adornian-ahistoricity-via-zorba-the-greek/2688)
**Author:** [@Baden](https://www.thephilosophyforum.com/u/Baden)\ **Replies:** 20\ **Last updated:** [August 25, 2026, 7:11am UTC](https://www.thephilosophyforum.com/t/adornian-ahistoricity-via-zorba-the-greek/2688 "2026-08-25T07:11:29Z")
The following is an attempt to explore Adorno’s idea of ahistoricity through the lens of the novel Zorba the Greek. Neither a deep knowledge of Adorno nor familiarity with the novel should be necessary in understanding t… --- ## [Marxist Labor Theory of Value](https://www.thephilosophyforum.com/t/marxist-labor-theory-of-value/2054)
**Author:** [@TheEudemian](https://www.thephilosophyforum.com/u/TheEudemian)\ **Replies:** 24\ **Last updated:** [August 13, 2026, 5:45pm UTC](https://www.thephilosophyforum.com/t/marxist-labor-theory-of-value/2054 "2026-08-13T17:45:53Z")
I am not that familiar with marxism and would like to learn about it more through dialogue; so, in an effort to do so, I would like to elucidate my issues with Marx’s Labor Theory of Value (LTV) and hear everyone’s thoug… --- ## [American/Western Values](https://www.thephilosophyforum.com/t/american-western-values/2099)
**Author:** [@Hanover](https://www.thephilosophyforum.com/u/Hanover)\ **Replies:** 64\ **Last updated:** [August 11, 2026, 10:19pm UTC](https://www.thephilosophyforum.com/t/american-western-values/2099 "2026-08-11T22:19:47Z")
No major religion or philosophy suggests happiness obtains from the gathering of material possession, but that is the ubiquitous message of every mass media advertisement. The deprivation of wealth, assuming basic need… --- ## [What is behind our eyes](https://www.thephilosophyforum.com/t/what-is-behind-our-eyes/2131)
**Author:** [@Johnnywas](https://www.thephilosophyforum.com/u/Johnnywas)\ **Replies:** 45\ **Last updated:** [August 10, 2026, 2:27pm UTC](https://www.thephilosophyforum.com/t/what-is-behind-our-eyes/2131 "2026-08-10T14:27:17Z")
For an idealist, this question is not especially difficult. The self exists independently of physical reality, and the observer is fundamental. Whatever the strengths or weaknesses of that position, it is not the one tha… --- ## [Selfishness is not a proper function](https://www.thephilosophyforum.com/t/selfishness-is-not-a-proper-function/1601)
**Author:** [@Johnnywas](https://www.thephilosophyforum.com/u/Johnnywas)\ **Replies:** 56\ **Last updated:** [July 24, 2026, 7:24am UTC](https://www.thephilosophyforum.com/t/selfishness-is-not-a-proper-function/1601 "2026-07-24T07:24:01Z")
This is my answer to those who claim rationality is always self directed amd who promote naive versions of moral nihiism Humans were not designed by evolution to be selfish. Instead, evolution has equipped us with a su… --- ## [Philosophy of emasculation](https://www.thephilosophyforum.com/t/philosophy-of-emasculation/834)
**Author:** [@Frank](https://www.thephilosophyforum.com/u/Frank)\ **Replies:** 24\ **Last updated:** [July 24, 2026, 2:44am UTC](https://www.thephilosophyforum.com/t/philosophy-of-emasculation/834 "2026-07-24T02:44:32Z")
Emasculation is basically a sentiment. As opposed to a clear objective status, it’s a feeling of being stripped of power and authority. It’s a sense of being alienated from a role central to one’s identity as a man. Thi… --- ## [Why are farmers not in charge?](https://www.thephilosophyforum.com/t/why-are-farmers-not-in-charge/770)
**Author:** [@thebrilliot](https://www.thephilosophyforum.com/u/thebrilliot)\ **Replies:** 3\ **Last updated:** [April 22, 2026, 5:50pm UTC](https://www.thephilosophyforum.com/t/why-are-farmers-not-in-charge/770 "2026-04-22T17:50:20Z")
I am sure this is a question that has been asked for ages, but I think putting this to public discussion would help me organize my thoughts around it. I worded my question this way because I am not looking for a critiqu… --- ## [The Lure of Apocalyptic Stories](https://www.thephilosophyforum.com/t/the-lure-of-apocalyptic-stories/396)
**Author:** [@questioner](https://www.thephilosophyforum.com/u/questioner)\ **Replies:** 44\ **Last updated:** [April 19, 2026, 9:51pm UTC](https://www.thephilosophyforum.com/t/the-lure-of-apocalyptic-stories/396 "2026-04-19T21:51:46Z")
We understand reality through stories. Humans are, at heart, storytellers, eking out a living in the setting of a chaotic and unpredictable (meaningless?) universe. Having it end in an apocalypse seems a fitting end to t… --- ## [Do you mind if I mind?](https://www.thephilosophyforum.com/t/do-you-mind-if-i-mind/670)
**Author:** [@Baden](https://www.thephilosophyforum.com/u/Baden)\ **Replies:** 39\ **Last updated:** [April 15, 2026, 7:26pm UTC](https://www.thephilosophyforum.com/t/do-you-mind-if-i-mind/670 "2026-04-15T19:26:25Z")
Suppose you are sitting at a table in a restaurant. There are two seats at the table, which is next to the window. You are occupying one and the other is empty. It is a good table and you want to be alone. There are oth… --- ## [The Inversion of the House](https://www.thephilosophyforum.com/t/the-inversion-of-the-house/424)
**Author:** [@Astorre](https://www.thephilosophyforum.com/u/Astorre)\ **Replies:** 26\ **Last updated:** [March 27, 2026, 7:05am UTC](https://www.thephilosophyforum.com/t/the-inversion-of-the-house/424 "2026-03-27T07:05:34Z")
Travel, especially through the eyes of a yearning onlooker like myself, is always a philosophical cross-section—an attempt to discern something greater behind the mundane reality (however speculative that may often be). … --- ## [An explanation for the repeated failure of socialism](https://www.thephilosophyforum.com/t/an-explanation-for-the-repeated-failure-of-socialism/263)
**Author:** [@Frank](https://www.thephilosophyforum.com/u/Frank)\ **Replies:** 25\ **Last updated:** [March 15, 2026, 3:02am UTC](https://www.thephilosophyforum.com/t/an-explanation-for-the-repeated-failure-of-socialism/263 "2026-03-15T03:02:58Z")
Money is power. Whoever controls your source of money, controls you. They control your actions during most of your waking hours. They control how you dress and how you communicate. Your source of money is your maste… --- ## ["Capitalism drives people mad"](https://www.thephilosophyforum.com/t/capitalism-drives-people-mad/127)
**Author:** [@woof](https://www.thephilosophyforum.com/u/woof)\ **Replies:** 22\ **Last updated:** [February 24, 2026, 9:18pm UTC](https://www.thephilosophyforum.com/t/capitalism-drives-people-mad/127 "2026-02-24T21:18:59Z")
Testing the water of the new format and receptivity, an opened-ended question in response to psychoanalyst Adam Phillips’ crudely put claim that “I think that capitalism drives people mad” expressed in an interview conce…