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.
Publicly citable
Every problem has a stable citation code for reference and discussion.
Filtered by relevance
Search by category, geography, status, and keywords.
Builder-oriented
Use the repository to find startup ideas, policy leads, and research agendas.
4094Total
4094Open
0Solved
9Humans
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Skeptical arguments suggest we can never be fully certain the external world matches our perceptions of it, and no response has fully silenced this doubt. This ancient problem remains foundational to epistemology.
mathematics-logic
global-unspecified
our
haven
resolved
whether
possible
have
genuine
knowledge
anything
beyond
philosophy-ethics
know
every
mathematical
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Consequentialist and deontological ethics offer fundamentally different answers, and thought experiments pitting them against each other rarely produce consensus. This tension underlies many real-world moral dilemmas.
philosophy-ethics
global-unspecified
its
don
have
agreed
way
determine
whether
action
wrong
because
resolved
know
haven
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Common moral intuition treats strangers as owed some consideration, but the philosophical basis for this duty, especially toward those far away, remains contested. This affects debates about charity, foreign aid, and global responsibility.
philosophy-ethics
global-unspecified
don
know
justify
our
obligations
people
never
meet
interact
common
whether
resolved
determine
haven
mathematics-logic
ethical
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
If aesthetic judgments are purely subjective, calling any art objectively better than another becomes philosophically difficult to defend. Yet most people act as though some works are genuinely superior, not just differently liked.
philosophy-ethics
global-unspecified
aesthetic
haven
figured
out
whether
beauty
value
objective
entirely
dependent
resolved
know
mathematics-logic
determine
possible
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Some philosophers argue that creating new life is never straightforwardly good given the guaranteed hardships of existence, while most people reject this conclusion intuitively. This unresolved tension underlies debates in population ethics.
philosophy-ethics
global-unspecified
new
people
existence
given
don
have
resolved
answer
whether
ethical
determine
know
haven
mathematics-logic
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
From childhood to old age, nearly everything about a person changes, yet we treat them as a single continuous identity, and no philosophical account of why has settled the matter. This affects questions about responsibility for past actions.
mathematics-logic
global-unspecified
person
don
know
makes
someone
same
over
time
despite
constant
whether
philosophy-ethics
resolved
determine
haven
agreed
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Some argue that failing to prevent harm when you're capable is morally equivalent to causing it, while others maintain a meaningful distinction between action and inaction. This unresolved question shapes debates over charitable obligation.
philosophy-ethics
global-unspecified
prevent
haven
resolved
whether
humans
have
duty
suffering
didn
directly
know
determine
mathematics-logic
don
ethical
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Rights are typically grounded in things like rational agency or the ability to make claims, criteria animals may not meet, yet many people believe animals deserve protection regardless. Settling this remains an unresolved ethical challenge.
philosophy-ethics
global-unspecified
animals
rights
don
have
agreed-upon
way
determine
whether
nonhuman
hold
resolved
agreed
haven
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
If advanced artificial systems could one day be conscious, we'd face serious ethical obligations toward them, but we lack any reliable test for detecting genuine inner experience. This uncertainty already complicates debates about AI rights and welfare.
philosophy-ethics
global-unspecified
don
know
whether
consciousness
exist
something
isn
biological
advanced
artificial
resolved
haven
determine
mathematics-logic
ethical
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Some argue that a painless death still deprives an animal of a future it would have otherwise had, while others see humane treatment as sufficient justification. This unresolved debate shapes ongoing arguments about ethical food choices.
philosophy-ethics
global-unspecified
death
haven
resolved
whether
morally
acceptable
eat
animals
treated
humanely
know
determine
mathematics-logic
ethical
don
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Some philosophers treat privacy as essential to human dignity and autonomy, while others see it as a practical arrangement that can be reasonably traded away for security or convenience. This unresolved question underlies major surveillance debates.
economics-resources
global-unspecified
privacy
convenience
don
have
clear
answer
whether
fundamental
right
simply
philosophy-ethics
resolved
know
determine
haven
mathematics-logic
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
We tend to believe humanity has become more moral over time, abolishing slavery and expanding rights, but philosophers debate whether this represents real progress or just changing preferences. Settling this affects how confident we can be about future ethical judgments.
philosophy-ethics
global-unspecified
whether
moral
progress
ethical
don
know
genuinely
possible
views
simply
resolved
haven
determine
mathematics-logic
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Utilitarian arguments often justify this tradeoff by pointing to lives saved, while animal rights perspectives reject using sentient beings purely as means to human ends. This unresolved tension remains central to biomedical ethics.
philosophy-ethics
global-unspecified
human
lives
haven
figured
out
whether
ethical
animals
scientific
research
resolved
know
determine
mathematics-logic
possible
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Many ethical frameworks tie moral status to rationality or self-awareness, which complicates how we justify the strong obligations most people feel toward those without these capacities. This unresolved gap remains ethically significant.
philosophy-ethics
global-unspecified
obligations
people
don
have
agreed
way
determine
owe
severe
cognitive
whether
resolved
haven
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Some philosophers argue true morality requires genuine concern for others, while others believe self-interest can align with moral behavior without undermining its validity. This unresolved question touches on the deepest motivations behind ethical action.
philosophy-ethics
global-unspecified
while
don
know
whether
possible
act
morally
remaining
entirely
self-interested
resolved
haven
mathematics-logic
determine
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
If moral status depends on capacities like reasoning or suffering rather than being human specifically, then sufficiently advanced machines or aliens could theoretically deserve equal consideration. This unresolved question has growing relevance as artificial intelligence advances.
technology-computing
global-unspecified
artificial-intelligence
moral
status
sufficiently
haven
resolved
whether
humans
have
any
special
philosophy-ethics
know
determine
mathematics-logic
possible
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Some frameworks argue we should maximize felt happiness, while others argue people should get what they actually want, even if it doesn't make them happier. These can produce very different, sometimes conflicting, ethical conclusions.
philosophy-ethics
global-unspecified
happiness
don
have
resolved
way
determine
whether
satisfaction
preferences
matters
know
haven
agreed
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
If value is tied only to usefulness, this raises uncomfortable implications for how we treat people who can no longer contribute to society. Resolving this question remains foundational to debates on dignity and human rights.
philosophy-ethics
global-unspecified
value
whether
its
human
usefulness
don
know
life
has
inherent
resolved
haven
determine
mathematics-logic
possible
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Enhancing traits like intelligence or appearance raises questions about consent, since the child never agreed to the modification, alongside broader worries about fairness and inequality. This unresolved debate will only grow more urgent as genetic technology advances.
philosophy-ethics
global-unspecified
haven
figured
out
whether
ethical
genetically
enhance
future
children
beyond
resolved
know
mathematics-logic
determine
possible
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Some argue long-standing traditions encode valuable accumulated wisdom, while others see this reasoning as a way to justify practices that are simply unjust. Balancing respect for culture with universal ethical standards remains unresolved.
philosophy-ethics
global-unspecified
way
reasoning
don
have
agreed
determine
weight
tradition
cultural
practice
whether
resolved
haven
