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
Some ethical traditions treat honesty as an unconditional duty, while others argue truth should only be shared when it serves some positive purpose. This unresolved question complicates situations where truth offers little value beyond discomfort.
philosophy-ethics
global-unspecified
truth
serves
don
know
whether
humans
obligated
tell
even
benefit
haven
resolved
determine
mathematics-logic
ethical
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Judging historical figures by modern values can feel necessary for moral clarity, but it also risks ignoring the very different context they lived in. This unresolved tension continues to shape debates over monuments, legacies, and historical memory.
philosophy-ethics
global-unspecified
moral
haven
resolved
whether
ethical
hold
people
past
today
standards
know
determine
mathematics-logic
don
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Descendants of those who committed historical injustices, or who benefited from them, didn't choose their circumstances, yet many argue some moral responsibility still transfers across generations. This unresolved question underlies major debates about reparations and generational privilege.
society-governance
global-unspecified
moral
generations
don
have
agreed
way
determine
whether
fair
inherit
philosophy-ethics
resolved
know
haven
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Certain forms of deception are broadly accepted as part of specific social contexts, but this creates unresolved tension with the general principle that honesty is a core moral virtue. Where exactly context excuses deception remains unclear.
philosophy-ethics
global-unspecified
deception
don
know
whether
ethical
situations
widely
understood
ethically
acceptable
resolved
haven
mathematics-logic
determine
possible
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Some beings, whether animals, future AI, or even certain medical patients, might have rich inner experiences without any reliable way of expressing them. This unresolved uncertainty creates serious ethical risk of overlooking real suffering.
philosophy-ethics
global-unspecified
whether
any
might
haven
figured
out
humans
owe
moral
consideration
resolved
know
determine
mathematics-logic
don
possible
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Some argue outcomes matter most regardless of how they were achieved, while others believe the means used fundamentally taint the value of the result. This unresolved tension appears throughout debates in both personal ethics and public policy.
philosophy-ethics
global-unspecified
achieved
means
value
don
have
resolved
way
determine
whether
good
know
haven
mathematics-logic
ethical
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Medical ethics constantly requires weighing longer survival against potential suffering, and no single framework has fully resolved how this tradeoff should be decided. This unresolved question remains deeply relevant in end-of-life care.
philosophy-ethics
global-unspecified
life
medical
don
know
whether
possible
justify
prioritizing
quality
over
resolved
haven
mathematics-logic
determine
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Respecting cultural autonomy suggests restraint, but some practices are considered so harmful that many argue intervention becomes a moral obligation despite this respect. This unresolved tension complicates international human rights advocacy.
philosophy-ethics
global-unspecified
moral
haven
resolved
whether
humans
have
duty
intervene
failings
know
determine
mathematics-logic
don
ethical
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Beliefs are often shaped by upbringing, culture, and circumstance rather than deliberate choice, raising doubt about whether people can be fairly held responsible for holding them. This unresolved question complicates debates over prejudice and moral accountability.
philosophy-ethics
global-unspecified
whether
people
beliefs
don
have
agreed
way
determine
blamed
didn
resolved
know
haven
mathematics-logic
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Some long-term ethical frameworks argue humanity's continued existence matters more than any individual's current suffering, while others reject sacrificing real people for abstract future outcomes. This unresolved tension is increasingly relevant to debates on existential risk.
philosophy-ethics
global-unspecified
ethical
humanity
don
know
whether
prioritize
survival
species
over
wellbeing
resolved
haven
determine
mathematics-logic
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
People often continue traditions or habits even when better alternatives clearly exist, and it's unclear whether familiarity alone provides any genuine moral justification for this preference. This unresolved question touches on the nature of rational choice itself.
philosophy-ethics
global-unspecified
familiar
whether
better
alternatives
haven
figured
out
possible
fully
justify
resolved
know
mathematics-logic
determine
ethical
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Emerging technologies might dramatically reduce suffering but also carry serious unknown risks, and it remains unresolved how to weigh potential benefit against potential harm. This tension underlies debates in bioethics and existential risk.
philosophy-ethics
global-unspecified
have
technologies
reduce
suffering
don
resolved
way
determine
whether
humans
agreed
know
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Some frameworks emphasize the intentions behind an act, while others focus purely on the actual consequences, leading to very different moral judgments in identical situations. This unresolved tension remains a foundational issue in ethical theory.
philosophy-ethics
global-unspecified
act
intentions
don
know
whether
done
good
but
bad
outcome
resolved
haven
mathematics-logic
determine
possible
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Protecting children's emotional wellbeing seems intuitively right, but doing so can also delay their ability to understand and navigate the real world accurately. This unresolved tension appears constantly in parenting and education.
philosophy-ethics
global-unspecified
children
world
wellbeing
haven
resolved
whether
ethical
shield
difficult
truths
know
determine
mathematics-logic
possible
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Decisions made today, like saving money or maintaining health, assume some obligation to a future self who may have very different preferences and values. This unresolved question touches on both personal identity and long-term ethical responsibility.
philosophy-ethics
global-unspecified
have
obligation
future
don
agreed
way
determine
whether
humans
any
resolved
know
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Methane traps far more heat than carbon dioxide in the short term, yet nearly all climate technology focuses on capturing carbon dioxide instead. A cheap way to actively remove atmospheric methane could meaningfully slow near-term warming.
climate-environment
global-unspecified
methane
way
remove
don
have
affordable
already
accumulated
atmosphere
carbon
philosophy-ethics
whether
determine
agreed
resolved
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Parts of the Greenland ice sheet may have already crossed tipping points where melting continues regardless of future emissions cuts. Understanding and potentially slowing this process remains one of climate science's most urgent unresolved challenges.
climate-environment
global-unspecified
greenland
ice
sheet
yet
stop
accelerating
melt
once
passes
certain
whether
philosophy-ethics
don
determine
way
resolved
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Sea walls and barriers can protect some areas but often shift flooding risk elsewhere or fail to address long-term relocation needs. A truly sustainable coastal adaptation strategy remains incomplete in most vulnerable regions.
climate-environment
global-unspecified
protect
coastal
sea
haven
found
way
cities
level
rise
displacing
whether
philosophy-ethics
mathematics-logic
resolved
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Deforestation and rising temperatures are pushing parts of the Amazon toward a state where it can no longer sustain itself as rainforest. Preventing this shift before it becomes irreversible remains an urgent, unresolved challenge.
climate-environment
global-unspecified
deforestation
amazon
rainforest
don
have
scalable
way
prevent
crossing
tipping
point
philosophy-ethics
whether
determine
resolved
agreed
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Vast amounts of carbon and methane are locked in frozen Arctic soil, and as it thaws, it could release gases faster than current climate models predict. Better prediction tools are needed to understand how much this will accelerate warming.
climate-environment
global-unspecified
predict
will
release
gases
reliably
quickly
permafrost
thaw
trapped
greenhouse
philosophy-ethics
whether
health-biology
climate
mathematics-logic
carbon
