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
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
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
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
Some philosophical traditions argue coming into existence carries a built-in risk of harm that non-existence avoids entirely, while most people intuitively value life as a good in itself. This unresolved debate underlies serious questions in population ethics.
philosophy-ethics
global-unspecified
existence
itself
good
don
know
whether
considered
fundamentally
neutral
something
resolved
haven
determine
mathematics-logic
ethical
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Policies that protect the most vulnerable often slow down broader societal advancement or economic growth, creating an unresolved tension between compassion and collective progress. Different ethical frameworks weigh this tradeoff very differently.
economics-resources
global-unspecified
ethical
vulnerable
progress
haven
figured
out
whether
prioritize
protecting
even
philosophy-ethics
resolved
determine
know
mathematics-logic
don
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Respecting individual autonomy generally means allowing people to take on personal risk, but paternalistic intervention is sometimes justified when the harm seems severe or irreversible. Where exactly this line should be drawn remains unresolved.
philosophy-ethics
global-unspecified
people
harm
don
know
whether
ethical
allow
make
choices
will
resolved
haven
determine
mathematics-logic
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Certain industries and roles inevitably benefit from human suffering, such as disaster recovery services, raising unresolved questions about whether it's ever fully ethical to build wealth this way. This tension arises in many overlooked corners of the modern economy.
philosophy-ethics
global-unspecified
whether
ethical
suffering
haven
resolved
profit
others
even
you
didn
know
mathematics-logic
determine
possible
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Predictive tools can estimate future risk with some accuracy, but punishing based on probability rather than actual action raises deep unresolved ethical concerns. This tension is becoming more pressing as predictive technology improves.
philosophy-ethics
global-unspecified
punishing
but
don
know
whether
possible
justify
people
crimes
haven
resolved
mathematics-logic
determine
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Classic philosophical and literary dilemmas often pit personal love against broader moral duty, and no framework has fully settled which should reasonably take precedence. This unresolved tension continues to surface in real personal and professional decisions.
philosophy-ethics
global-unspecified
love
duty
take
don
have
resolved
way
determine
whether
priority
know
haven
ethical
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
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
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
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
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