We still don't know whether it's possible to justify treating a promise as binding even after the circumstances that motivated it have completely changed.
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Promises are generally treated as morally binding regardless of changing circumstances, but this can sometimes conflict with what seems like the genuinely better or more compassionate choice. This unresolved tension appears throughout personal and contractual ethics.
philosophy-ethics
global-unspecified
binding
circumstances
don
know
whether
possible
justify
treating
promise
even
resolved
haven
determine
ethical
mathematics-logic
Citation ID: WS01140
Title: We still don't know whether it's possible to justify treating a promise as binding even after the circumstances that motivated it have completely changed.
URL: https://www.worldsolve.org/index.php?api=problem&id=1140
We haven't resolved whether it's ethical to allow competitive systems that inevitably produce both winners and losers by design.
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Competition can drive genuine excellence and innovation, but it also guarantees that some participants will predictably fail through no unique fault of their own. This unresolved tension underlies debates about fairness in education, employment, and markets.
economics-resources
global-unspecified
haven
resolved
whether
ethical
allow
competitive
systems
inevitably
produce
both
philosophy-ethics
know
determine
mathematics-logic
possible
Citation ID: WS01141
Title: We haven't resolved whether it's ethical to allow competitive systems that inevitably produce both winners and losers by design.
URL: https://www.worldsolve.org/index.php?api=problem&id=1141
We don't have an agreed way to determine whether it's possible to be fully responsible for habits formed unconsciously over a long period of time.
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Habits often develop gradually without deliberate intention, raising questions about how much genuine responsibility a person bears for behavior they didn't consciously choose to cultivate. This unresolved question complicates debates over addiction and personal accountability.
philosophy-ethics
global-unspecified
habits
over
don
have
agreed
way
determine
whether
possible
fully
resolved
know
haven
mathematics-logic
Citation ID: WS01142
Title: We don't have an agreed way to determine whether it's possible to be fully responsible for habits formed unconsciously over a long period of time.
URL: https://www.worldsolve.org/index.php?api=problem&id=1142
We still don't know whether humans have an obligation to remain politically engaged, or whether disengagement is an equally legitimate personal choice.
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Democratic systems generally depend on active citizen participation, yet forcing engagement as a moral duty seems to conflict with respecting individual autonomy and personal priorities. This unresolved tension shapes ongoing debates about civic responsibility.
philosophy-ethics
global-unspecified
whether
personal
don
know
humans
have
obligation
remain
politically
engaged
resolved
haven
determine
ethical
mathematics-logic
Citation ID: WS01143
Title: We still don't know whether humans have an obligation to remain politically engaged, or whether disengagement is an equally legitimate personal choice.
URL: https://www.worldsolve.org/index.php?api=problem&id=1143
We haven't figured out whether it's ethical to value the preservation of endangered languages even as their remaining speakers naturally decline.
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
know
resolved
determine
mathematics-logic
possible
Citation ID: WS01144
Title: We haven't figured out whether it's ethical to value the preservation of endangered languages even as their remaining speakers naturally decline.
URL: https://www.worldsolve.org/index.php?api=problem&id=1144
We don't have a resolved way to determine whether it's fair to judge historical progress by how much suffering was required to achieve it.
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Many significant social advances were achieved only after considerable struggle and suffering, raising the unresolved question of whether that cost taints or is separate from the value of the progress itself. This tension shapes how societies remember pivotal historical movements.
philosophy-ethics
global-unspecified
whether
historical
progress
suffering
don
have
resolved
way
determine
fair
know
haven
ethical
mathematics-logic
Citation ID: WS01145
Title: We don't have a resolved way to determine whether it's fair to judge historical progress by how much suffering was required to achieve it.
URL: https://www.worldsolve.org/index.php?api=problem&id=1145
We still don't know whether it's possible to justify holding different moral standards for public figures compared to private citizens.
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Public figures often face harsher scrutiny for behavior that would be judged more leniently in private citizens, and it remains unresolved whether this distinction is genuinely fair or simply a social double standard. This unresolved tension shapes debates over accountability and public trust.
philosophy-ethics
global-unspecified
public
whether
figures
private
citizens
don
know
possible
justify
holding
resolved
haven
determine
mathematics-logic
Citation ID: WS01146
Title: We still don't know whether it's possible to justify holding different moral standards for public figures compared to private citizens.
URL: https://www.worldsolve.org/index.php?api=problem&id=1146
We haven't resolved whether humans have any obligation to seek out uncomfortable perspectives that challenge their own worldview.
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
ethical
Citation ID: WS01147
Title: We haven't resolved whether humans have any obligation to seek out uncomfortable perspectives that challenge their own worldview.
URL: https://www.worldsolve.org/index.php?api=problem&id=1147
We don't have an agreed way to determine whether it's ethical to allow inherited social status to influence opportunity in an otherwise merit-based system.
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Even societies that claim to reward merit often still allow inherited advantages like family wealth or connections to shape real opportunity. This unresolved tension complicates efforts to build a genuinely fair and merit-based system.
philosophy-ethics
global-unspecified
allow
inherited
opportunity
merit-based
system
don
have
agreed
way
determine
whether
resolved
know
haven
ethical
Citation ID: WS01148
Title: We don't have an agreed way to determine whether it's ethical to allow inherited social status to influence opportunity in an otherwise merit-based system.
URL: https://www.worldsolve.org/index.php?api=problem&id=1148
We still don't know whether it's possible to fully justify prioritizing rare, catastrophic risks over more common, everyday sources of harm.
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
Citation ID: WS01149
Title: We still don't know whether it's possible to fully justify prioritizing rare, catastrophic risks over more common, everyday sources of harm.
URL: https://www.worldsolve.org/index.php?api=problem&id=1149
We haven't resolved whether humans have a duty to remain emotionally vulnerable with others, even when it carries real risk of being hurt.
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Emotional openness is often seen as essential to genuine connection, yet it also exposes people to real potential harm, and no clear consensus exists on how much vulnerability morality actually requires. This unresolved tension shapes both personal relationships and broader social trust.
philosophy-ethics
global-unspecified
real
haven
resolved
whether
humans
have
duty
remain
emotionally
vulnerable
know
determine
ethical
mathematics-logic
agreed
Citation ID: WS01150
Title: We haven't resolved whether humans have a duty to remain emotionally vulnerable with others, even when it carries real risk of being hurt.
URL: https://www.worldsolve.org/index.php?api=problem&id=1150
We don't have a resolved way to determine whether it's ethical to prioritize efficiency over fairness when the two directly conflict.
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Efficient systems can sometimes produce outcomes that feel deeply unfair to specific individuals, even while benefiting the larger group overall. This unresolved tension appears throughout economic policy, healthcare systems, and resource allocation decisions.
philosophy-ethics
global-unspecified
don
have
resolved
way
determine
whether
ethical
prioritize
efficiency
over
know
haven
mathematics-logic
agreed
Citation ID: WS01151
Title: We don't have a resolved way to determine whether it's ethical to prioritize efficiency over fairness when the two directly conflict.
URL: https://www.worldsolve.org/index.php?api=problem&id=1151
We still don't know whether it's possible to justify treating symbolic gestures, like apologies or memorials, as sufficient responses to serious historical wrongdoing.
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
haven
resolved
mathematics-logic
determine
Citation ID: WS01152
Title: We still don't know whether it's possible to justify treating symbolic gestures, like apologies or memorials, as sufficient responses to serious historical wrongdoing.
URL: https://www.worldsolve.org/index.php?api=problem&id=1152
We haven't resolved whether it's ethical to allow people to opt out of moral obligations by simply claiming ignorance of them.
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
possible
Citation ID: WS01153
Title: We haven't resolved whether it's ethical to allow people to opt out of moral obligations by simply claiming ignorance of them.
URL: https://www.worldsolve.org/index.php?api=problem&id=1153
We don't have an agreed way to determine whether it's fair to expect forgiveness to come with a time limit.
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Some believe unresolved anger should eventually give way to forgiveness for the sake of personal peace, while others argue there's no moral deadline for healing from serious harm. This unresolved tension shapes both personal relationships and broader restorative justice practices.
society-governance
global-unspecified
way
forgiveness
don
have
agreed
determine
whether
fair
expect
come
philosophy-ethics
resolved
know
haven
Citation ID: WS01154
Title: We don't have an agreed way to determine whether it's fair to expect forgiveness to come with a time limit.
URL: https://www.worldsolve.org/index.php?api=problem&id=1154
We still don't know whether it's possible to justify caring equally about hypothetical future people as we do about people who currently exist.
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Ethical frameworks that count future potential people equally can lead to counterintuitive conclusions about how we should prioritize resources today. This unresolved tension remains central to debates in population ethics and long-term policy planning.
philosophy-ethics
global-unspecified
people
equally
future
don
know
whether
possible
justify
caring
hypothetical
resolved
haven
determine
ethical
mathematics-logic
Citation ID: WS01155
Title: We still don't know whether it's possible to justify caring equally about hypothetical future people as we do about people who currently exist.
URL: https://www.worldsolve.org/index.php?api=problem&id=1155
We haven't figured out whether it's ethical to allow personal identity to be shaped significantly by algorithms and recommendation systems.
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
As digital platforms increasingly influence what people see, believe, and desire, it's unclear how much this shapes authentic identity versus manufactured preference. This unresolved question grows more urgent as algorithmic influence deepens in everyday life.
technology-computing
global-unspecified
identity
haven
figured
out
whether
ethical
allow
personal
shaped
significantly
philosophy-ethics
resolved
know
determine
mathematics-logic
possible
Citation ID: WS01156
Title: We haven't figured out whether it's ethical to allow personal identity to be shaped significantly by algorithms and recommendation systems.
URL: https://www.worldsolve.org/index.php?api=problem&id=1156
We don't have a resolved way to determine whether it's fair to value stability over the pursuit of ambitious, uncertain goals.
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Stability offers predictable security, while ambition risks failure for the chance at meaningful achievement, and no ethical framework fully resolves which approach constitutes the better life. This unresolved tension shapes deeply personal decisions about how to live.
philosophy-ethics
global-unspecified
stability
don
have
resolved
way
determine
whether
fair
value
over
know
haven
agreed
ethical
Citation ID: WS01157
Title: We don't have a resolved way to determine whether it's fair to value stability over the pursuit of ambitious, uncertain goals.
URL: https://www.worldsolve.org/index.php?api=problem&id=1157
We still don't know whether it's possible to justify treating all forms of suffering as ethically equivalent regardless of their cause.
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
haven
resolved
mathematics-logic
determine
Citation ID: WS01158
Title: We still don't know whether it's possible to justify treating all forms of suffering as ethically equivalent regardless of their cause.
URL: https://www.worldsolve.org/index.php?api=problem&id=1158
We haven't resolved whether it's ethical to hold onto grudges as a form of legitimate self-respect rather than simply unresolved anger.
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Some argue refusing to forgive certain wrongs preserves a person's dignity and sense of justice, while others see prolonged resentment as ultimately corrosive rather than protective. This unresolved tension shapes how we understand forgiveness and self-respect.
philosophy-ethics
global-unspecified
self-respect
rather
unresolved
haven
resolved
whether
ethical
hold
onto
grudges
know
determine
mathematics-logic
possible
Citation ID: WS01159
Title: We haven't resolved whether it's ethical to hold onto grudges as a form of legitimate self-respect rather than simply unresolved anger.
URL: https://www.worldsolve.org/index.php?api=problem&id=1159
