Room for Debate - NYTimes.com (original) (raw)

Does Empathy Guide or Hinder Moral Action?

Is empathy or rationality the key to being a good person?

Is Artificial Intelligence Taking Over Our Lives?

From driverless cars and smart robots to drones and computer chess champions, is technology making our lives better?

Is Digital Connectedness Good or Bad for People?

People of all ages are spending more and more time online. Does this trend improve lives or hurt them?

What’s Behind the Spreading Creepy Clown Hysteria?

Many of the recent menacing clown sightings are hoaxes, but they appear to be inspiring copy-cat pranks and occasional acts of violence.

Can a Meme Be a Hate Symbol?

The Anti-Defamation League has added a once innocuous frog meme to its list of hate symbols.

Marie Kondo Mania

Are we overly obsessed with organization, or is a tidy life a happy life?

Should Jurors Decide What’s Newsworthy?

Does letting judges or juries decide what is newsworthy and what is an invasion of privacy, as in the Gawker-Hulk Hogan case, …

The Power of New Year’s Resolutions

Goals set on Jan. 1, can be memorable because they are either life changing or repeated every 365 days. Tell us one …

The Charm in Our Stars

Why do people read horoscopes, even while they say they don't believe in astrology?

Are Americans’ Fears Legitimate?

Since the San Bernardino shootings, people seem afraid — guns, crime, terrorism, you name it — some have responded in hateful ways.

Pilgrims and Pumpkin Pie

Do we need to rethink the way we teach children about Thanksgiving?

Are We Raising Sexist Sons?

We've come so far in redefining gender roles and raising our daughters' expectations, but have we failed to teach inclusion to our …

Is Honesty for Suckers?

Has the pervasiveness of cheating made moral behavior passé?

Is There Too Much TV to Choose From?

If there's too much for viewers to watch, what happens to the "morning after, water-cooler conversation"?

Whose Culture Is It, Anyhow?

Can one group's music, art and dress be 'borrowed' without exploitation?

The Relentless Pursuit of Happiness

Is satisfaction quantifiable? Some say measuring it actually creates anxiety.

Does the law need to be updated to reflect changes in modern music?

Are Same-Sex Colleges Still Relevant?

Do same-sex colleges play an important role in education, or are they outdated?

When the Elephants Exit the Big Top

Was Ringling Brothers right to ban the elephants from their shows?

Digital Friendships

Can real relationships be forged between people who never meet?

The Future of Wearable Tech

Will consumers ever embrace wearable technology, or are the devices too intrusive?

When Geeks Rule

What does it mean when the culture of nerds and techies becomes mainstream?

Is Tennis Strung Too Tight?

Some top tennis players say fans should be allowed to be more exuberant. Maybe other changes in etiquette can be considered.

The War Against Online Trolls

Does anonymity on the web give people too much license to heckle and torment others?

Reinventing the World’s Fair

Is there a way to give the fairs of years past new life? And if so what would they look like?

The Power of Climate Change Fiction

Will movies and novels about the effects of climate change make a difference in how people react to global warming?

Does Poetry Matter?

Sunday's New York Times Book Review featured several new collections of poems. But does poetry matter? Is it relevant?

Changing the Way Tony Awards Are Picked

What improvements could be made in the way Broadway decides who receives its top honor?

How Should E-Cigarettes Be Regulated?

What should the F.D.A. do to regulate e-cigarettes, or is it overstepping in treating them like traditional cigarettes?

Can Voluntourism Make a Difference?

As students, retirees and others head abroad this summer in search of experiences volunteering, are they really looking to help others or …