Thought experiment

Thought experiments are mental concepts or hypotheses, often resembling riddles, which are used by philosophers and scientists as simple ways of

Milgram experiment, controversial series of experiments examining obedience to authority conducted by social psychologist Stanley Milgram.

In philosophy, the brain in a vat (BIV; alternately known as brain in a jar) is a scenario used in a variety of thought experiments intended to draw out certain features of human conceptions of knowledge, reality, truth, mind, consciousness, and meaning. So what happens when the BIV reads, understands and quotes Descartes? With #transhumanist applications close at hand the BIV thought experiments might soon be more related to science than to fiction.

Philosopher Robert Nozick's experiment machine thought experiment shows that we don’t just want the perception of experiences; we want to act and live out those experiences. Our physical bodies and actions are essential to the lives we want to live. And we need them in order to understand and practice morality.

From "Thompson's violinist" to the "Experience Machine," these thought experiments will throw your mind for a loop.

A weird thought experiment has shaken up the world of quantum physics by calling into question our assumptions about how the world works.

If you’re going to use the Law of Attraction as an effective tool, one of the most important things that you need to do is truly believe that you can

This rice experiment is proof the power of positivity alters our reality and conversely, the power of negative thinking. See scientific proof

The Economist offers authoritative insight and opinion on international news, politics, business, finance, science, technology and the connections between them.