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Find your way around

You can read the whole site without an account. When you want to take part, join for free. You do not need to know any philosophy. If you can say clearly what puzzles you, you can take part.

Philosophy here is arranged as one map. There are three main ways in:

• By question. Categories holds nine large areas, such as Metaphysics, Ethics, and Mind & Self. Each is divided into smaller parts, such as Free will or Skepticism.
• By tradition. Traditions gathers Greek & Roman, Indian, Chinese, Islamic, African & Africana, Latin American, American and many more.
• By person. Thinkers A–Z has a profile for each thinker, listing every topic and essay that names them.

Search covers topics, essays and thinkers together. A name works in any common spelling or script, so Avicenna also finds Ibn Sina.

A good first step: open a category you care about and read three threads. Notice which arguments you find yourself defending. That is the beginning of knowing where you stand.

The four formats

Every topic has a format. Choose the one that fits what you want from other people.

Question

Use a Question when you want answers. There are two kinds:

• Explain asks what a term, idea or text means. The person who asked, or an editor, can mark one reply as the accepted answer.
• Open asks something people will answer in different ways. There is no single winner, and several argued answers stand side by side.

If you are new, tick I'm new to philosophy. People will know you want clarity, not a lecture.

Discussion

Use a Discussion for an open conversation. It suits ideas you are still working out, and questions that have no clear sides yet.

Debate

Use a Debate to test a position. The title is a thesis: one clear claim, such as "The self is not the body." Every reply must take a side, For or Against. The person who started the debate may also post a revision of the thesis, or a response to an objection.

Reading group

Use a Reading group to read one text together, section by section. Say which edition or translation you use, and propose a simple plan. On any book in the Book corner, Discuss this book sets up a reading group for you.

How to ask a good question

Good questions get good answers. Before you post:

1. Look first. As you type a title, we show topics that may already answer it.
2. Write a clear title. "What did Kant mean by synthetic a priori?" is better than "Kant help".
3. Say what you already think, and why. Even a rough view helps others reply to you.
4. Show where you met the idea. Name the book, chapter, lecture or video.
5. Ask one thing. If you have two questions, start two topics.
6. Choose a category and labels. Add traditions and thinkers when they apply, so your topic sits in the right place on the map.

Start from New topic. While you are signed in, your draft saves itself, so you can finish it later from Your page.

Replies, sides and helpful marks

Any member can reply. Replies usually appear at once. A reply may wait for an editor if it contains several links, or a word on our blocked list.

In a Debate, choose For or Against before you reply. If you partly agree with the other side, say so in your reply. Honest concessions make the best debates.

When a reply helps you, mark it Helpful. Helpful marks help readers find good replies; they never decide who is right. You can also like topics and essays, and share them.

To bring someone into a conversation, type @ and their profile name, for example @amina. They are notified once the post is public.

Levels: from Reader to Fellow

Everyone starts as a Reader. Your topics are read by an editor before they appear. This is not a judgement on you. An editor normally publishes a topic within a day, and you are notified.

After your first approved topic, you are shown as a Contributor.

You become a Fellow automatically when all three of these are true:

• at least three of your topics have been approved
• your account is at least 30 days old
• you have no moderation warnings

Fellows' topics appear straight away, and Fellows can add new tags. A Fellow who receives a warning goes back to Reader.

Editors are appointed by the site's administrators. Journal essays are always read by an editor first, whatever your level.

Following and notifications

You can follow a topic, a thinker, a category, a tradition, a school, a tag or a member. You follow your own topics automatically, and any topic you reply to. The Following tab on the home page shows new posts from everything you follow.

You get a notification on the site when:

• someone replies in a topic you follow
• someone mentions you
• a new topic names a thinker, label or member you follow
• your topic or essay is published, or your answer is accepted

Emails

You choose how often we email you, in Your page → Settings. The default sends an email when something is about you, such as a reply or a mention, plus a short summary every Monday. You can choose a daily, weekly or monthly summary instead, everything as it happens, or no activity email at all. Every email has a one-click unsubscribe link.

Private messages

You can write to a member from their profile, and read your messages in Your page → Inbox. In Settings you choose who can start a conversation with you. You can block any member, and editors never browse private messages.

The Book corner and the Journal

The Book corner holds classic books of philosophy, each with a short guide: what it is, why read it, and where to start.

• Shelve books as Want to read, Reading or Read. Your shelf appears on your public profile.
• Review a book and give it a rating. You write one review per book, and you can change it later.
• Add a book that is missing, perhaps one you love or one you wrote. An editor checks it, then it gets its own page.

The Journal publishes longer essays by members, of at least 300 words. To write one, go to Your page → Journal → Write an essay. Write for the Journal explains what the editors look for.

Questions newcomers ask

Is this only Western philosophy?

No. Every tradition is welcome, and every tradition is on the same map. You will often find Chinese, Indian, Islamic, African and European thinkers in the same thread.

I believe in God, or I don't. Will I be welcome?

Yes, either way. Believers, sceptics and the undecided argue here with respect. The rule is the same everywhere: argue with the idea, never with the person.

Can I use AI to help me write?

Only for spelling, grammar or translation, and you must say so in your post. AI must never write your argument. We want to hear how you think.

Why has my topic not appeared yet?

Topics from Readers wait for an editor, usually for less than a day. You will be notified when it is published. You can see it in Your page → My topics meanwhile.

How do I change my name, photo or email address?

Your name and photo are in Your page → Profile. Your email address, password and email choices are in Your page → Settings. You can also delete your account there.

Where do I get help?

Read the House rules before your first post. For anything else, write to the editors through the Contact page.

When you are ready, join for free and ask your first question.