Light appears most frequently as a metaphor for truth, knowledge, and light. Western philosophy since Plato's cave has employed light as a representation of knowledge and darkness for ignorance or confusion. But shadows, those dark and shadowy things that appear only...

Happiness has been the most fundamental human desire across the globe. All philosophy, religion, and culture have grappled with how to live well and how to become happy in some way. Yet, a paradox is formed when one asks: does the search for happiness actually hinder...

Tragedy has always been strangely attractive. From Greek and Shakespearean tragedy to opera and film, people hunger for tales of pain, loss, and misery. But why do we value ugliness? Why is labor born of suffering so much more real than labor born of happiness?...