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
Languages carry unique cultural knowledge and identity, but preservation efforts sometimes conflict with the practical choices speakers themselves make about which language serves them best. This unresolved tension complicates cultural preservation debates.
philosophy-ethics
global-unspecified
preservation
languages
speakers
haven
figured
out
whether
ethical
value
endangered
resolved
know
determine
mathematics-logic
possible
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Actively seeking out disagreement can strengthen understanding and reduce bias, but there's no clear consensus on whether this is a genuine moral obligation or simply a personal virtue. This unresolved question touches on intellectual humility and the ethics of belief.
philosophy-ethics
global-unspecified
whether
obligation
out
haven
resolved
humans
have
any
seek
uncomfortable
know
mathematics-logic
determine
possible
don
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Rare catastrophic events can cause immense damage despite low probability, while everyday risks accumulate steadily but attract far less attention or resources. This unresolved tension complicates how societies and individuals should rationally allocate concern and resources.
mathematics-logic
global-unspecified
rare
catastrophic
risks
everyday
don
know
whether
possible
fully
justify
philosophy-ethics
resolved
haven
determine
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Symbolic acknowledgment can carry real emotional and social significance, but it's unclear whether it can ever substitute for more substantive forms of repair or restitution. This unresolved tension remains central to ongoing debates about historical accountability.
philosophy-ethics
global-unspecified
whether
symbolic
historical
don
know
possible
justify
treating
gestures
like
resolved
haven
mathematics-logic
determine
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Genuine ignorance can reduce blame for wrongdoing, but it remains unclear how much effort a person is morally required to make in order to actually know better. This unresolved tension complicates debates over willful ignorance and moral accountability.
philosophy-ethics
global-unspecified
ignorance
moral
haven
resolved
whether
ethical
allow
people
opt
out
know
determine
mathematics-logic
don
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
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
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
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
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
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Loyalty to friends, family, or groups is widely valued, but it can sometimes require favoring those close to us over what impartial fairness would otherwise demand. This unresolved tension shapes debates over nepotism, favoritism, and personal ethics.
philosophy-ethics
global-unspecified
loyalty
fairness
haven
figured
out
whether
possible
justify
treating
moral
resolved
know
determine
mathematics-logic
ethical
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Hope can motivate perseverance even in dire circumstances, but forcing optimism onto someone facing truly bleak prospects raises unresolved ethical and psychological concerns. This tension appears throughout end-of-life care, crisis situations, and personal adversity.
philosophy-ethics
global-unspecified
hope
situations
don
have
agreed
way
determine
whether
fair
expect
resolved
know
haven
ethical
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Genuine empathy is often praised as essential to moral understanding, but it's unclear how much true empathy is even possible without any lived proximity to another's specific suffering. This unresolved tension complicates how we approach compassion across vastly different life experiences.
philosophy-ethics
global-unspecified
empathy
experiences
don
have
resolved
way
determine
whether
fair
expect
know
haven
mathematics-logic
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Individual conscience is often respected even against majority opinion, but it's unclear how much personal conviction alone can justify defying broader social agreement on serious ethical matters. This unresolved tension underlies debates over civil disobedience and moral dissent.
philosophy-ethics
global-unspecified
ethical
personal
majority
moral
don
know
whether
allow
deeply
held
resolved
determine
haven
mathematics-logic
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Curiosity is generally seen as a virtue, but pursuing knowledge in certain sensitive or dangerous areas raises unresolved questions about whether some questions are better left unexplored. This tension appears in debates over scientific inquiry and forbidden knowledge.
philosophy-ethics
global-unspecified
whether
certain
curiosity
haven
figured
out
possible
justify
treating
forms
resolved
know
mathematics-logic
determine
ethical
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Avoiding conflict often protects short-term comfort, but it can also mean neglecting necessary accountability or truth-telling that genuinely matters. This unresolved tension shapes everyday decisions in both personal relationships and public life.
philosophy-ethics
global-unspecified
personal
comfort
avoiding
but
necessary
don
know
whether
ethical
allow
resolved
haven
determine
mathematics-logic