A simple 2+2 problem became a paradox when real-world context intervened, sparking Kareem Carr’s debate on definitions and axioms. Carr and others show how context bent arithmetic, such as angles ...

“Special military operation.” “Department of Government Efficiency.” “Enhanced interrogation techniques.” “Alternative facts.” We live in a time when governments use lexical distortions to manipulate ...

When I was growing up, the lessons of 1984 – the dystopian novel by George Orwell – were all thought to pertain to the Soviet Union. Big Brother was Josef Stalin – controlling the thoughts of his ...

On paper, it’s one of the simplest math problems in the world: 2+2. If you’re counting something, like screws at the hardware store, it’s pretty straightforward. But the lines blur in other contexts.