Repository of problems worth solving
World Solve is a public institutional repository for identifying real unresolved problems across science, society, health, governance, economics, and local systems. Each entry is intended to be citable, inspectable, and actionable.
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4194Total
4194Open
0Solved
9Humans
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Physical pain, emotional distress, and existential anguish may all count as suffering, but it's unclear whether they deserve identical moral weight or should be treated as fundamentally different categories. This unresolved question complicates how we compare and prioritize different kinds of harm.
philosophy-ethics
global-unspecified
whether
all
suffering
don
know
possible
justify
treating
forms
ethically
resolved
haven
mathematics-logic
determine
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Some argue refusing to forgive certain wrongs preserves a person's dignity and sense of justice, while others see prolonged resentment as ultimately corrosive rather than protective. This unresolved tension shapes how we understand forgiveness and self-respect.
philosophy-ethics
global-unspecified
self-respect
rather
unresolved
haven
resolved
whether
ethical
hold
onto
grudges
know
determine
mathematics-logic
possible
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
A single serious lapse can overshadow a lifetime of otherwise decent conduct, and it remains unresolved how heavily isolated failures should weigh against consistent character. This tension shapes public judgment of both public figures and people in our personal lives.
philosophy-ethics
global-unspecified
character
don
have
agreed
way
determine
whether
fair
judge
someone
resolved
know
haven
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Grief looks very different depending on cultural context, and it's unclear whether some expressions should be considered more or less appropriate than others. This unresolved question touches on cross-cultural ethics and respect for differing emotional traditions.
philosophy-ethics
global-unspecified
whether
grief
don
know
ethical
allow
deeply
personal
expressed
processed
resolved
haven
determine
mathematics-logic
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Sometimes achieving broader social stability seems to require tolerating individual injustices in the short term, creating an unresolved ethical tension between collective and individual good. This tension appears in debates over transitional justice after conflict or political upheaval.
philosophy-ethics
global-unspecified
individual
stability
over
justice
haven
figured
out
whether
possible
justify
resolved
know
determine
ethical
mathematics-logic
don
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Relationships often require compromise, but it's unclear how much personal change can reasonably be expected before it undermines someone's genuine sense of self. This unresolved tension shapes debates in both personal relationships and broader social expectations.
philosophy-ethics
global-unspecified
relationships
change
don
have
resolved
way
determine
whether
fair
expect
know
haven
ethical
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Many deeply held beliefs about meaning and purpose fall outside what science can confirm or deny, and it's unclear whether this should affect how seriously we treat them. This unresolved tension underlies broader debates between faith, philosophy, and empirical inquiry.
philosophy-ethics
global-unspecified
whether
meaning
beliefs
don
know
ethical
allow
people
derive
never
resolved
haven
determine
mathematics-logic
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Institutions are made up of changing individuals over time, making it unclear whether blame can meaningfully persist against the institution itself rather than the specific people responsible. This unresolved question complicates debates over long-term institutional accountability.
society-governance
global-unspecified
against
whether
institutions
individuals
haven
resolved
possible
justify
holding
grudges
philosophy-ethics
know
mathematics-logic
determine
don
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
People sometimes hold personal beliefs that don't align with their public behavior, and it's unclear whether this represents a meaningful moral failing or simply a reasonable separation between private and public life. This unresolved tension shapes debates over hypocrisy and authenticity.
philosophy-ethics
global-unspecified
public
don
whether
between
private
beliefs
have
agreed
way
determine
resolved
haven
know
mathematics-logic
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Focusing resources and attention on the most vulnerable can come at some cost to overall group efficiency or advancement, creating an unresolved tension between compassion and collective progress. This tension appears throughout education, healthcare, and social policy.
philosophy-ethics
global-unspecified
group
vulnerable
progress
don
know
whether
ethical
prioritize
wellbeing
members
resolved
haven
determine
mathematics-logic
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Most people naturally apply different moral standards to close relationships versus strangers, but it's unclear whether this differential treatment is ethically justified or simply an ingrained bias. This unresolved question challenges the idea of a fully impartial ethical framework.
philosophy-ethics
global-unspecified
whether
moral
framework
haven
figured
out
possible
justify
applies
differently
resolved
know
mathematics-logic
determine
ethical
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Resilience is often praised as an admirable trait, but expecting it uniformly risks overlooking how unevenly life's hardships and support systems are actually distributed. This unresolved tension complicates how we judge people's responses to adversity.
philosophy-ethics
global-unspecified
resilience
people
don
have
resolved
way
determine
whether
fair
expect
haven
know
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Ambitious pursuits can sometimes indirectly disadvantage others even without any deliberate intention to cause harm, raising unresolved questions about how much responsibility ambition carries. This tension appears throughout competitive personal and professional life.
philosophy-ethics
global-unspecified
personal
ambition
others
harm
don
know
whether
ethical
allow
come
resolved
haven
determine
mathematics-logic
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Some emotions are broadly considered undesirable, but it's unclear whether they're inherently unethical to feel or simply uncomfortable, natural human responses that deserve less judgment. This unresolved question touches on the ethics of emotion itself.
philosophy-ethics
global-unspecified
whether
emotions
haven
resolved
possible
fully
justify
treating
certain
like
know
mathematics-logic
determine
don
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Public interest sometimes seems to justify exposing private information about individuals in positions of power, but where exactly this justification ends remains unresolved. This tension shapes ongoing debates about journalism, whistleblowing, and public trust.
philosophy-ethics
global-unspecified
public
don
know
whether
ethical
allow
personal
privacy
overridden
sake
haven
resolved
society-governance
determine
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Remaining silent while witnessing injustice can feel like a passive failure, but it's unclear how much active obligation silence actually violates, especially when speaking up carries real personal risk. This unresolved tension underlies debates about bystander responsibility.
society-governance
global-unspecified
silence
haven
figured
out
whether
possible
justify
treating
form
moral
philosophy-ethics
know
resolved
determine
mathematics-logic
ethical
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
People change considerably over time, and it's unclear whether commitments made at an earlier, less informed stage of life should remain fully binding later on. This unresolved tension appears in debates over long-term vows, career paths, and personal commitments.
philosophy-ethics
global-unspecified
whether
people
made
less
don
have
resolved
way
determine
fair
haven
know
mathematics-logic
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Justice and mercy can pull in opposite directions in specific cases, and no ethical framework has fully resolved which should take priority when they genuinely conflict. This unresolved tension remains central to debates in both personal ethics and criminal justice.
philosophy-ethics
global-unspecified
justice
ethical
mercy
don
know
whether
allow
pursuit
sometimes
come
resolved
haven
determine
mathematics-logic
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Mild self-deception can sometimes protect wellbeing or motivation, but it's unclear whether this ever fully escapes the broader ethical concern around avoiding false beliefs. This unresolved tension touches on both personal psychology and the ethics of belief.
philosophy-ethics
global-unspecified
whether
self-deception
haven
resolved
possible
justify
treating
certain
forms
harmless
know
mathematics-logic
determine
ethical
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Unsolicited help is often given with good intentions, but it's unclear whether the recipient owes any gratitude if the assistance wasn't specifically requested or wanted. This unresolved tension complicates everyday interactions around generosity and obligation.
philosophy-ethics
global-unspecified
whether
gratitude
don
have
agreed
way
determine
fair
expect
people
resolved
know
haven
mathematics-logic
