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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4094Total
4094Open
0Solved
9Humans
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Common intuition strongly favors family and community, while some ethical theories argue all suffering deserves equal moral weight regardless of relationship. Reconciling these competing pulls remains a central unresolved tension in ethics.
philosophy-ethics
global-unspecified
don
know
whether
morally
required
prioritize
helping
those
closest
over
resolved
haven
determine
mathematics-logic
ethical
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Some argue that harmless private actions, like certain personal choices, shouldn't be subject to moral judgment at all, while others believe morality extends beyond direct harm to virtue and character. This unresolved question shapes debates over the proper scope of ethics.
philosophy-ethics
global-unspecified
haven
resolved
whether
action
morally
wrong
even
harms
some
argue
know
determine
mathematics-logic
ethical
don
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Some argue nature has value independent of human interest, while others see environmental protection as justified only by its benefit to humans, directly or indirectly. This unresolved debate underlies much of environmental ethics.
philosophy-ethics
global-unspecified
humans
don
have
clear
answer
whether
obligated
preserve
species
ecosystems
resolved
know
determine
haven
mathematics-logic
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Even acts of apparent sacrifice can be explained by psychological rewards like satisfaction or social approval, raising doubt about whether pure altruism is even possible. Resolving this affects how we understand human motivation and moral praise.
mathematics-logic
global-unspecified
whether
acts
don
know
truly
altruistic
behavior
exists
all
seemingly
haven
resolved
philosophy-ethics
possible
determine
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Respecting autonomy generally requires giving people accurate information to make their own decisions, but doing so can sometimes cause significant, arguably avoidable, distress. This unresolved tension appears constantly in medicine and personal relationships.
philosophy-ethics
global-unspecified
haven
figured
out
whether
ethical
withhold
difficult
truths
someone
protect
resolved
know
determine
mathematics-logic
don
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Even setting aside physical determinism, some argue that all our choices are ultimately shaped by factors outside our control, like genetics and upbringing, undermining true freedom. This unresolved metaphysical question has significant implications for how we assign responsibility.
philosophy-ethics
global-unspecified
have
all
don
agreed
way
determine
whether
humans
free
will
resolved
know
haven
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
As artificial systems become more sophisticated, the possibility that some could genuinely suffer raises serious unresolved questions about the ethics of their creation and use. This concern will likely intensify as the technology matures.
philosophy-ethics
global-unspecified
artificial
don
know
whether
ethical
create
beings
capable
suffering
purely
resolved
haven
mathematics-logic
determine
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
If someone truly couldn't have chosen differently given the exact circumstances, some argue they can't be fairly held responsible, while others maintain responsibility doesn't require this kind of freedom. This unresolved debate remains central to philosophy of action.
philosophy-ethics
global-unspecified
responsibility
have
given
haven
resolved
whether
moral
requires
ability
done
know
determine
mathematics-logic
don
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Different cultures and philosophical traditions ground rights in very different assumptions about human nature and society, making a single universally justified framework difficult to establish. This unresolved tension complicates international human rights enforcement.
philosophy-ethics
global-unspecified
human
rights
single
cultures
don
know
whether
possible
justify
any
resolved
haven
determine
mathematics-logic
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Some argue certain hardships build character or understanding in ways that make them valuable in hindsight, while others reject the idea that suffering is ever truly redeemed by its outcomes. This unresolved question shapes how we think about adversity.
philosophy-ethics
global-unspecified
suffering
ever
haven
figured
out
whether
justified
leads
greater
personal
know
resolved
mathematics-logic
determine
possible
ethical
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Nationalist ethics often justify prioritizing citizens, while cosmopolitan views argue all human welfare deserves equal moral weight regardless of nationality. This unresolved tension underlies major debates in international policy and immigration.
philosophy-ethics
global-unspecified
welfare
don
have
agreed
way
determine
whether
ethical
prioritize
wellbeing
resolved
know
haven
mathematics-logic
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Ancient philosophers debated whether a truly virtuous life necessarily conflicts with self-interest or whether they ultimately align, and modern philosophy hasn't settled the question either. This affects how we understand the relationship between ethics and personal flourishing.
philosophy-ethics
global-unspecified
whether
self-interest
don
know
pursuit
ever
fully
reconciled
genuine
moral
resolved
haven
mathematics-logic
determine
possible
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Some ethical frameworks hold that risk to oneself doesn't excuse inaction when someone else's life is at stake, while others believe there are reasonable limits to what morality can demand. This unresolved question surfaces in real emergency and rescue situations.
philosophy-ethics
global-unspecified
risk
haven
resolved
whether
morally
acceptable
withhold
aid
those
need
know
determine
mathematics-logic
ethical
don
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Governments regularly allocate more resources and protection to their own citizens, but the philosophical justification for this unequal treatment of moral worth remains contested. This unresolved question underlies debates on immigration and international aid policy.
society-governance
global-unspecified
citizens
policy
don
have
clear
answer
whether
ethical
value
lives
philosophy-ethics
resolved
determine
know
haven
mathematics-logic
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Two people can make the same decision, but only one faces a bad outcome due to pure chance, raising the question of whether they deserve different moral judgment. This unresolved issue challenges standard assumptions about fairness in blame and praise.
philosophy-ethics
global-unspecified
whether
moral
don
know
luck
affect
judge
person
actions
people
resolved
haven
determine
mathematics-logic
possible
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Maximizing equality often requires limiting some individual freedoms, and maximizing freedom often produces significant inequality, creating a tension no single theory has fully resolved. This unresolved balance remains central to political philosophy.
philosophy-ethics
global-unspecified
fully
theory
equality
individual
freedom
haven
figured
out
whether
possible
resolved
mathematics-logic
know
determine
every
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Some argue art should be evaluated purely on artistic merit, while others believe morally repugnant content diminishes a work's value regardless of technical skill. This unresolved debate continues to shape discussions of controversial art and literature.
philosophy-ethics
global-unspecified
art
morally
don
have
agreed
way
determine
whether
judged
good
resolved
know
haven
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Policy decisions often implicitly require comparing the value of different lives, such as in healthcare rationing, yet no philosophical framework has fully justified how such comparisons should be made. This unresolved question has real consequences in medical ethics.
philosophy-ethics
global-unspecified
life
value
don
know
whether
meaningfully
compared
measured
against
another
resolved
haven
determine
mathematics-logic
ethical
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Some philosophers argue truth-seeking is intrinsically valuable and required for genuine autonomy, while others see no strict obligation to prefer difficult truths over comforting beliefs. This unresolved question touches on both ethics and epistemology.
philosophy-ethics
global-unspecified
comforting
haven
resolved
whether
humans
have
moral
duty
pursue
truth
know
determine
mathematics-logic
ethical
don
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Legal and moral systems generally reduce culpability under duress, but philosophers disagree on exactly how much personal agency remains, and thus how much responsibility should still apply. This unresolved question remains central to debates in criminal justice ethics.
philosophy-ethics
global-unspecified
under
duress
don
have
resolved
way
determine
whether
fair
hold
haven
know
