Society Archives

Atul Gawande: How to Help the Dying in Their Final Days

What’s most important to people who are close to death? How can we infuse the final days of the dying with meaning and dignity? According to Atul Gawande, the author of Being Mortal, we can improve our care for the dying by giving them autonomy, or the ability to direct their lives as they wish. This freedom is crucial for those facing death, as it allows them to live according to their values and retain meaning in spite of limitations. Here’s how to help the dying retain their autonomy so they can die with peace and dignity.

Rupi Kaur’s Poems About Culture & Heritage in South Asia

What are some of the best poems about culture and heritage? What is poet Rupi Kaur’s perspective on her South Asian heritage? Rupi Kaur is a poet and visual artist who emigrated to Canada from India as a young girl. Kaur’s poems offer insight into her cultural background, including why she criticizes certain aspects of her Indian heritage. Keep reading for a look at Kaur’s poems about culture and heritage in South Asia.

Heat of Passion Crimes: Psychology Says They Aren’t Credible

What are heat of passion crimes? Why aren’t heat of passion crimes a credible defense, according to psychology? Psychologist Lisa Feldman Barrett created a new theory of emotions in psychology to determine how human emotions are really made. According to Barrett’s new theory of constructed emotion, heat of passion crimes create inequity in the legal system. Read on to find out why Barrett says heat of passion crimes aren’t credible, according to psychology.

Why the U.S. Should Reform the Supreme Court

Why should the United States reform the Supreme Court? What are the three possible reformation strategies? Recently, several of the Supreme Court’s decisions have left many Americans to question whether the institution is still non-partisan. To stop the Supreme Court from overstepping its power, many are pushing for a Supreme Court reform. Here’s a look at the most common arguments for reforming the Supreme Court, and the strategies that could be used to carry it out.

Caring for the Dying: We Are Doing It Wrong

What matters most at the end of life? How can we align our approach to end-of-life care with the priorities of the dying? According to Atul Gawande, how we approach caring for the dying is at odds with what’s most important to people close to death. For the dying, living well in the present is more important than hoping for a better future. However, modern-day end-of-life care is designed with a future-oriented outlook in mind. Here’s why we need to reorient our priorities from the future to the present, according to Gawande.

Rupi Kaur on Sexual Abuse: “This Home Is Empty Now”

How did Rupi Kaur’s experience of sexual abuse shape her poetry? What do Kaur’s poems express about trauma? In one of her bestselling books of poetry, The Sun and Her Flowers, Rupi Kaur gives readers a raw, painful glimpse into her experience with sexual abuse. Her writing reveals three different perspectives on this traumatic experience. Read on for an explanation of the three perspectives on Rupi Kaur’s sexual abuse.

Culture & Depression: You’re Primed for Pessimism

How are culture and depression connected? Which cultural influences predispose you to depression? According to Martin Seligman’s studies in psychology, modern culture has primed you to be at risk of developing depression. Seligman advocates for overcoming cultural pessimism and embracing optimism while keeping a balanced (realist) perspective. Read on to learn why culture and depression are so closely connected, according to Seligman.

3 Pros of Adopting Nuclear Power in the U.S.

Should the United States adopt nuclear power as a source of sustainable energy? What are the pros of nuclear energy? Nuclear energy is getting renewed attention worldwide as a potential answer to two pressing problems: energy supply disruption by Russia and worsening climate change from fossil fuels. But it remains an especially divisive topic in the United States. Let’s take a closer look at the pros of nuclear power.

Frailty Due to Aging: Why We Should Manage (Not Cure) It

Is frailty a normal part of aging? How can we ease the elderly’s burden of living with frailty? Because more of us reach old age than ever before, we live longer with its frailty. Worn out from long use, our bones lose density, our skin thins, and our organs begin to malfunction. Accustomed to medicine’s ability to restore our health, we aren’t prepared to live with these inevitable infirmities. Here’s why we should redirect our efforts to managing aging and frailty instead of attempting to cure the incurable.

What Is Second-Order Thinking? Considering the Consequences

What is second-order thinking? How can it help you make better decisions? Because we live and act within large, interconnected systems—such as our workplaces or professional communities—our actions have consequences that ripple outward. Since anything you do has downstream effects, you should consider the immediate and secondary effects of any choice. Read more to learn how to use second-order thinking to everyone’s advantage.