/r/Freethought
Freethought is an open forum dedicated to rational, logical and scientific examination of culture, politics, religion, science, business and more!
We are now private in protest of Reddit's unfair exploitation of the community that made it what it is today. Here's our Discord: https://discord.gg/25puhg6d
More than atheism: dedicated to rational, logical and scientific examination of culture, politics, religion, science, business and more!
See the definition of Freethought and Freethinker.
This subreddit is not about:
- Philosophy
- Libertarianism
- "free thoughts" in any literal sense. (use /r/SomeThought for random free thoughts)
Please note these rules:
- See the main rules, specifically the rule that Opinions are useless without details and evidence. If you have an opinion, bring something along with it to justify why anybody else should pay attention to it.
- Off-topic posts will be deleted. Repeat offenders will be banned.
- Astroturfers will be banned - If your account history centers around posting specific stories, without engaging people in debate, you are an astroturfer and will be banned. We aren't here to promote your YT channel.
- Trolls and their minions are subject to immediate banning.
- Accounts that were obviously created to spam/promote off-topic content will be banned.
- Personal attacks are prohibited. State your point without having to denigrate another user.
- No Tu Quoque fallacies (appeals to hypocrisy) or attacking the messenger and ignoring the message.
- While we know it's impossible to curtail editorial, we want to focus mostly on news from credible sources and will be temporarily blocking certain blog sites that have been recently used to spam and karma-farm.
- No wide-sweeping, binary-type generalizations allowed. i.e. "xxx is safe/unsafe/good/bad/all-the-same/" where xxx is any large field of study (terrorists, antifa, vaccines, GMOs, capitalism, conservatives, liberals, political parties etc.) Argue specifics, not huge generalizations that are impossible to scientifically prove true.
*The term "freethought" (one word) has a specific meaning and does not imply whatever you feel you should talk about. *
/r/Freethought is an open forum dedicated to rational, logical and scientific examination of culture, politics, religion, science, business and more!
Freethinkers reject claims and beliefs which are not testable and verifiable using established scientific methods, and encourage a society that espouses the priority of rationality and reason over dogma, emotion and pop doctrine.
Reddit Hivemind not welcome here! Just because you personally disagree with something doesn't mean it should be marginalized. All arguments require evidence.
This forum is focused on examining issues to, as best we can, identify truth from a pure science perspective, with an acknowledgement that we as humans are inherently biased and must celebrate and respect skepticism and be aware of emotion and peer pressure and how it affects our ability to identify and recognize that which is objectively true.
The scientific method always leaves room for re-adjustment if evidence indicates such. As a result, dogmatic behavior (subscribing to passionate viewpoints in lieu of evidence) is antithetical to our ideals.
- What is Freethought?
- Freethinker F.A.Q.
Remember, downvote stories based on the quality of the content, not whether you agree or disagree with the statement. For more info on Reddiquitte, see voting guidelines.
Rules regarding debate and discussion
/r/Freethought endeavors to be a Logical Fallacy Free Zone - What this means is that we encourage debate on the merits of an issue, without resorting to personal attacks or dismissing the messenger by applying some kind of politically-incorrect label, or using dishonest debate tactics that distract from, rather than address the cogent parts of an issue. If you cannot successfully argue your point without using personal indictments, sweeping generalizations or false-dichotomies/equivalences, we will encourage (if not facilitate) your non-participation.
We also strongly condemn the over-simplification of complex issues, or the deviation from an argument by drilling down into semantics or the "two wrongs make a right" fallacy (pointing out hypocrisy needs to be relevant to the debate beyond simply an attempt to discredit someone or something) . As we debate issues, be aware of staying on point, arguing the position raised, not the position you've assumed that isn't clearly specified -- so if you're unsure, ask what the other person means before you go off on a tirade attacking an argument they did not make.
And last but not least: Not all references are of equal weight. Citations should be individually-assessed based on: 1. The depth of their details and how this specifically relates to the issue at hand, 2. The objectivity of the source and the degree to which there is not a conflict-of-interest.
Notice: There will be a zero-tolerance policy for muck-raking, trolling and trying to create drama. If you participate in any threads trying to attack mods or the subreddit you will be banned. /r/Freethought is the subreddit, NOT the topic of threads. If you don't want to participate, feel free to unsubscribe. In the meantime, bear with us while we "cleanse" the forum of disruptive influences.
NOTE: This is not a "philosophy forum" unless it specifically relates to science and skepticism. Do not confuse "free thought" with "freethought".
Subreddits worthy of checking out:
/r/Freethought
51,020 Subscribers
An amusing, updated version of "I'm just a Bill" from Schoolhouse Rock.
21:58 UTC
1 Atheist vs 25 Christians - Can the 25 Christians convince the atheist to change his mind?
15:29 UTC
The Hidden Pattern Behind All Financial Bubbles
23:32 UTC
Attention Mods: Join the movement to restrict traffic to oligarch-controlled propaganda sites by using this Automod code.
15:42 UTC
Charlie Chaplin's final speech from "The Great Dictator", 1940.
21:30 UTC
Where do combative and confrontational personalities come from?
This is something we can find both in physical and internet communication.
Something which no doubt makes money for certain folks and hence the term "rage-baiting" and "rage-farming"
Why do some folks take everything as an affront to them?
For example, many people would explode over the mere existence of the Barbie film back in 2023, or we can see how "Karens" are always ticked off by the slightest inconvenience at a store or restaurant.
Another common type are these young men who fail to get along with women and so live life in this perpetual mode of anger and hatred, devouring content against them.
Also, plenty of people who love to consume negative news, living in this constant reactionary mode against their enemy political party.
The NY Post and Daily Mail together with Sky and Fox News are quite good at luring the elderly with sensational hysteria which excited their rage.
But even before the printing press, such folks existed, in Greek and Roman comedy we often see the stereotype of the grumpy old man or the boor who is always giving people mean answers.
On the other hand, we have plenty of people who are very much "live laugh love" and who love to use playful phrases and onomatopoeias. Perhaps unfortunately for me I dont come across these people as much. I wonder if its a symptom of aging.
16:10 UTC
Joseph Goebbels delivering the Nazi salute with Catholic clergy. Germany. 1930s.
20:52 UTC
Noam Chomsky: There's been a near total collapse of rational discourse in the mainstream
15:35 UTC
Why Do People Seemingly Vote Against Their Own Interests?
I have often wondered why millions of middle-class and lower-middle-class voters consistently cast their ballots for right-wing candidates and policies, even though left-leaning platforms often promise direct benefits to their economic well-being. Social programs, affordable healthcare, education funding, and worker protections are cornerstones of progressive agendas - programs that would seemingly improve the lives of many who instead align with a political ideology that opposes them. Yet, across the world, people seem to be moving more and more to the right.
There are several interesting modern theories that I have studied that explain this. A recent one I studied in a course on politics, which I thought was quite compelling for America, was what Hochschild talks about in her book "Strangers in Their Own Land".
Summary: imagine a white American male waiting in a long queue for the American Dream - steady jobs, homeownership, and good schools for children. They have worked hard, played by the rules, patiently waited, and yet, feel stuck in place. Then, they see others or "outsiders" - women, minorities, or immigrants - starting to "cut ahead" of them in line. They feel that the "outsiders" are taking their rightful place, and the government appears to be helping them do so.
For these voters, the left’s promises of social programs feel like a betrayal. Instead of recognizing these policies as a safety net for everyone, they are perceived as unfair advantages for the undeserving. The emotional response is powerful: resentment, frustration, and a deepening sense of alienation. Voting for the right becomes an act of defiance, a way to restore a sense of fairness and reclaim a cultural identity that feels under siege.
This dynamic highlights a key reason why people stop thinking logically about their material self-interest. For many, voting isn’t just a transaction; it’s a declaration of values. And the right - with its rhetoric of personal responsibility, patriotism, and cultural preservation - offers a narrative that resonates emotionally, even if it contradicts with their economic realities.
Hochschild suggests that the roots of this paradox lie not in economic calculation but in deeply felt emotions and perceptions of fairness. Her book covers this in detail, and there youtube videos that talk about this in case you are interested.
05:50 UTC
A picture is worth a thousand words: Reddit artist’s 6’x7’ portrait of slain CEO by stamping “DENIED” in red ink thousands of times
13:58 UTC