History Archives

Taiwan and China Relations: Past and Present Conflicts

Why have Taiwan and China relations deteriorated recently? Will the conflict lead to war? What will be the United States’ role? Decades of tension between China and Taiwan have reached a boiling point recently, leading to a higher probability of war. Many expect the United States to defend Taiwan if China launches a full-on invasion, but some aren’t sure if military intervention is worth the risks. Keep reading to learn about the status of Taiwan and China’s relations and the consequences of the conflict.

Heuristics Theory: A Revolutionary View of Decision-Making

What’s heuristics theory? How was it developed? What are the three original heuristics? Between 1969 and 1979, psychologists Daniel Kahneman and Amos Tversky overturned our understanding of how we make decisions. The lessons from that decade of research call into question much of what we think about how we think. Read more to learn how Tversky and Kahneman revealed through heuristics theory that the mind relies on impressions over logic.

What Is Prospect Theory? How a War Led to a Breakthrough

What is prospect theory? How was it developed? What does it explain in regard to how people make decisions and take risks? In 1973, the Yom Kippur War led Israeli psychologists Daniel Kahneman and Amos Tversky to shift their focus of study. Their ensuing examination of the decision-making process birthed a theory that transformed the way we understand not only decision-making but behavior in general. Keep reading to learn the background and development of prospect theory as well as what the theory explains.

What Is Political Development? How Countries Evolve

What is political development? What drives a country to evolve? Authors Daron Acemoglu and James A. Robinson argue that failing nations follow an “exclusive” structure (exploiting citizens to benefit national leaders). In How Nations Fail, they explain how political development can drive exclusive countries to become free, fair, and accessible to society at large. Read on to learn how political development can change a failing nation into a successful one, or vice versa.

Enlightenment Values: The Driving Forces of Progress?

What are Enlightenment values? How are they relevant today? In his book Enlightenment Now, Steven Pinker provides statistics to show that life has improved over time, all around the world. And he says the driving forces of this progress are reason, science, and humanism—values that are derived from the European Enlightenment. Continue reading to learn more about these Enlightenment values from Pinker’s perspective.

The Big Short by Michael Lewis: Discussion Questions

The Millionaire Next Door and Wealth Building

Are you looking for exercises and discussion questions for The Big Short? How can you apply the lessons in the book to your own life? The Big Short by Michael Lewis explores the origins of and fallout from the 2007-2008 financial crisis through the eyes of a handful of eccentric and oddball investors who saw that the U.S. housing market—and, by extension, the entire financial system—was built on a foundation of sand. Continue reading for The Big Short discussion questions and exercises.

Leonardo’s Vitruvian Man: How Science Influenced Art

What does “Vitruvian Man” by Leonardo da Vinci represent? How did Leonardo use science to create art? Leonardo da Vinci was more than just an artist—he was an architect, engineer, and scientist. For “Vitruvian Man,” Leonardo da Vinci uses science and art to capture the human body’s relationship with the cosmos. Find out how Leonardo’s “Vitruvian Man” painting was influenced by his studies.

What Is Voter ID? A Historical & Global Analysis

What is voter ID? Why is this requirement a much-debated topic in the U.S.? Opponents of voter ID laws argue that it’s a “solution” to a nonexistent problem, yet supporters say it prevents fraud. While showing a form of identification is required of everyone for a wide range of common activities, like driving, flying, or cashing a check, some say requiring voter ID leads to discrimination. Read on to learn what voter ID is and why it’s controversial, based on historical and global analysis.

Leonardo da Vinci’s Patrons: Who Paid for His Art?

Who were Leonardo da Vinci’s patrons? Who paid Leonardo for his art? Throughout his career, many people commissioned Leonardo da Vinci for his art. Some of them included the Medici, Cesare Borgia, and King Francis I. Let’s look at Leonardo da Vinci’s patrons that are listed in his biography by Walter Isaacson.

Was Leonardo da Vinci a Genius? The Truth Revealed

Was Leonardo da Vinci a genius? Is calling him a genius an exaggeration? Walter Isaacson, the author of the biography Leonardo da Vinci, says it’s not an exaggeration to call him a genius. Leonardo’s genius can be defined by three qualities: his universal curiosity, creativity, and flaws. Keep reading to learn why Leonardo da Vinci is considered a genius.