Election List and Discussion Topics

Following the proposal to launch this "Best Response" thread—which was really a collective push from all of you folks on the forum—we decided to kick things off with a weekly rotation where we take turns picking the topics.

I’ve set this space up to serve as a central hub where you can find the list of current selection rounds and the specific themes we're diving into, just so everything stays organized and easy for everyone to follow in one convenient spot.

You could even look at our collected responses here as a sort of collection of paper origami, where every single one of us takes the exact same 'sheet of paper'—that one central question—and folds it into something uniquely shaped, beautiful, and entirely different from the rest.

Round one, June 7th, 2021:
If you’re asking me what philosophy absolutely cannot afford to lose touch with, I’d say it’s the raw, messy reality of being human. It shouldn't get so lost in its own academic clouds or those high-minded, abstract theories that it forgets how people actually live their lives on the ground. There's this danger, I think, where we start talking in circles about grand concepts while completely ignoring the actual pulse of the world around us—the struggles, the joys, and the everyday grit that makes life worth contemplating in the first place. If philosophy stops being relevant to the person walking down a street in Chicago or sitting in a coffee shop in Austin, then it’s just playing a lonely game with itself, and honestly, that seems like a bit of a waste of everyone's time. It has to stay grounded, tethered to our shared experience, or else it risks becoming nothing more than an empty intellectual exercise.
The winner: Flying
First round election comments.

June 13, 2021: Round Two.
So, I was sitting there thinking about what actually stuck with me today, you know, that one moment where everything just clicks, and honestly, I realized how much I tend to overcomplicate the simplest things in life when I should just be leaning into the chaos a little more. It’s funny because I spent most of my morning wrestling with a project that felt like trying to solve a Rubik's Cube in the dark, feeling pretty foolish about it, but eventually, I learned that sometimes you just have to step back, breathe, and realize that the solution isn't hidden behind more work—it's usually right in front of you if you stop panicking long enough to actually look. It was a humbling little lesson in patience, really, reminding me that even when I feel like I'm tripping over my own feet, I'm probably just learning how to walk better.
The winner: Weekend Warrior election
The runoff is finally here, and I’ve been sitting here staring at my screen just trying to process all the noise and the endless stream of comments flying around about this second round. It feels like everyone has an opinion on everything right now, doesn't it? I honestly find myself getting a little overwhelmed by the sheer volume of debate, though I suppose that's just what happens when things get this intense. I'm just trying to wrap my head around where we actually stand before the final votes are tallied.

Round III, June 20, 2021:
When I sit down and really try to wrap my head around what it actually means to live a good life in this day and age, I find myself spiraling into these long, winding thoughts about how much noise we have to filter through just to hear our own hearts. It’s honestly a little overwhelming sometimes, isn't it? We are constantly bombarded by these polished, filtered versions of reality that make us feel like we're falling behind if we aren't hitting every single milestone at lightning speed, but I’ve come to realize that living well isn't about chasing that impossible perfection. To me, it's more about those quiet, sincere moments of connection—like having a real, unhurried conversation over coffee or finally finding a sense of peace in the middle of a chaotic week—and trying to stay grounded in our own values even when the rest of the world feels like it's spinning out of control. I know I'm probably overthinking this, and I definitely don't have it all figured out, but I truly believe that a good life is built on being present, being kind, and learning to be okay with the messy, imperfect parts of being human.
The winner: steelridge58
The third round of the election is finally here, and I’ve been sitting here staring at my screen trying to make sense of all the chatter swirling around. It feels like we're right in the thick of it now, doesn't it? Honestly, I'm probably overthinking this—I tend to get a little too caught up in the weeds sometimes—but there's just so much happening all at once that it's hard not to feel a bit overwhelmed by the sheer volume of opinions flying back and forth. I'm curious to see how things shake out as we head into this next phase.

Round IV, June 27, 2021:
What does it actually mean to be a human being? I’ve been sitting here chewing on that question for a while now, trying to wrap my head around it, and honestly, it feels like one of those deep, heavy things you only really start to grapple with when you're staring at the ceiling at three in the morning. To me, it isn't some grand, cinematic concept or a checklist of achievements, but rather this messy, beautiful, and sometimes incredibly frustrating collection of contradictions that we carry around inside us every single day. It’s about that strange capacity we have to feel everything all at once—to experience this profound, aching sense of loss one moment and then find ourselves completely overwhelmed by a sudden, inexplicable burst of joy just because the light hit the trees a certain way during a walk through Central Park. I think being human means navigating that constant tension between our highest aspirations and our most basic, clumsy instincts, stumbling through life with all our flaws while still somehow finding the courage to keep reaching for something better, even when we know we’re probably going to trip over our own feet again.
They’re splitting the victory: I honestly don't know how much more I can take before I just lose my mind completely, because sometimes it feels like we're all just spinning our wheels in this endless cycle of chaos without any real sense of direction or purpose. It’s one of those days where everything seems to be piling up at once, and even though I try to stay optimistic and keep a level head, there are moments when the sheer weight of it all makes me want to just sit down and stare at a wall for an hour. I'm probably overthinking things again—I have a tendency to do that, which isn't exactly my greatest strength—but I can't help feeling like we're missing the forest for the trees more often than we'd like to admit. I'm sorry, I didn't quite catch that—it looks like you might have sent an incomplete message! If you have something specific you want me to work on, just let me know. sailor
Election, Round 4, comments.

July 4th, 2021: Round 5.
So, I’ve been sitting here chewing on that question—what actually is truth?—and honestly, it’s one of those things that makes you want to just stare at a wall for an hour because the more you try to pin it down, the more it seems to slip right through your fingers. It feels like we’re all out here chasing this moving target, trying to decide if truth is some solid, unshakeable foundation we can all stand on, or if it’s just a collection of perspectives that we’ve all collectively agreed to call reality so we don't go crazy. I used to think it was simple, something you could find in a textbook or a court ruling, but now I’m starting to realize it’s much messier than that, much more personal and complicated, and quite frankly, a little bit overwhelming if you think about it too hard.
The winner: Sigmund election
Election, Round V, comments.

Round 6, July 11th, 2021:
If I had to sit down and really think about who I’d want to cross paths with once this whole life thing is over, I guess I’d have to say I’d want to find my grandfather first, mostly because he was such a quiet, steady presence in my life and I feel like I never quite managed to ask him all those deep questions about what kept him going through the hard times. I wouldn't even need a grand plan or anything fancy; I’d just want to grab a coffee with him—or whatever the afterlife version of that is—and honestly just ask him if he ever felt as lost as I sometimes do when things get complicated, because knowing he found his way would probably make me feel a whole lot better about my own journey.
They’re splitting the victory: Neo i steelridge58
Round six of the election is finally here, and I’ve been sitting here staring at my screen just trying to make sense of all the commentary flying around.

Round VII, July 18, 2021:
If you’re asking what keeps me up at night, I honestly don't think there's just one single thing, though if I had to pin it down, it would probably be that feeling of looking back years from now and realizing I let all those small, meaningful moments slip through my fingers because I was too busy worrying about things that ultimately didn't matter at all. It’s that nagging fear of mediocrity, I guess—not even being "unsuccessful" in the traditional sense, but just living a life that feels incredibly hollow because I was too afraid to take a real risk or speak my mind when it actually counted. It's a heavy thought to carry around, and I know I'm probably being a bit overly dramatic about it, but I truly believe that wasting our time is the greatest tragedy we face.
The winner: Simple enough.
Election, Round VII, comments

Round VIII, July 25, 2021:
Can aging actually be a good thing? Honestly, I’ve been sitting here chewing on that question for a while now, trying to figure out if there's any real way to look at getting older without feeling like everything is just sliding downhill. It’s easy to get caught up in all the talk about slowing down or losing your edge, but I truly believe there is a version of growing old that isn't just about decline—it can be this incredibly rich, deep period of life if you approach it with the right mindset. If we can learn to embrace the wisdom and the perspective that only comes from having lived through enough seasons, then maybe, just maybe, getting older doesn't have to be such a heavy burden to carry.
They’re splitting the victory: Verdadera i I honestly don't know what I'm doing here sometimes, but I just felt like I had to get this off my chest because it’s been weighing on me all day. I was sitting there thinking about everything we discussed earlier, and it really hit me how much things have shifted since we first started talking about these issues. It feels like we're constantly moving the goalposts, doesn't it? I might be overthinking this—I definitely have a tendency to do that—but I can't shake the feeling that we're missing the forest for the trees. I'm just trying to make sense of it all, even if I sound a little scattered while doing so.
Round VIII of the election—let's get into the comments.

August 9, 2021: Round IX.
I can’t help but wonder why we humans constantly seem to choose division, conflict, and constant competition when we could just as easily lean into unity, cooperation, and actually standing together as one.
The winner: Weber
Election, Round 9, comments

Round 10, August 21, 2021:
Is it actually possible for a person, fully aware of how contradictory our own nature can be, to genuinely strive toward building a just society?
Winner: MMovca
Election, Round 10, comments

Round 11, September 3, 2021:
What would you say is the single most important question facing modern philosophical thought today?
Winner: steelridge58
Election, Round 11 comments

Round 12, September 16, 2021:
What is the true essence of wonder?
Winner:
Hekatonhir
Election, Round 12, comments

Round 13, September 29, 2021:
What does it truly mean to die a "bad death"?
Winner: Verdadera
Round 13, comments

Round 14, October 12, 2021:
Why is it that we feel this deep-seated urge to create?
Winner: steelridge58
Round 14, comments

Round 15, October 25, 2021:
The body?
Winners: planinar and steelridge58
Round 15, comments

Round 16, November 7, 2021:
What is the actual value and inherent meaning found within suffering?
Winner:
planinar
Round 16, comments

Round 17, November 20, 2021:
Karl Marx—why yes, and why no?
Winner: Weekend Warrior
Round 17, comments

Round 18, December 4, 2021:
What constitutes the very essence of freedom?
Winner: slavko
Round 18, comments

Round 19, December 17, 2021:
Can evil ever be morally justified if the goal is to achieve a perceived greater good?
Winner: steelridge58
Round 19, comments

Round 20, December 30, 2021:
What defines beauty?
Winner: Apemant
Round 20, comments

Round 21, Jan 13, 2022:
What exactly is courage?
Winner: mart28
Round 21, comments

Round 22, Jan 25, 2022:
What is power?
Winners: epifaner and WeberI
Round 22, comments

Round 23, Feb 07, 2022:
Life itself?
Joint winners: mart28, Walnut , Dragan, slavko
Round 23, comments

Round 24, Feb 21, 2022:
How do you view Patanjali's Yoga Sutras through the lens of philosophical thought?
Winner: planinar
Round 24, comments

Round 25, Mar 06, 2022:
Health?
Winner: Dragan
Round 25, comments

Round 26, Mar 19, 2022:
What’s your own personal philosophy?
Winner: Zoran Oštrić XXVI.
Round 26, comments

Round 27, Anonymous Round, Apr 01, 2022:
What is wisdom?
Joint winners: #5 and #6
Anonymous round participants
Round 27, comments

Round 28, Apr 16, 2022:
Regarding evil?
Winner: Dragan
Round 28, comments

Round 29, May 02, 2022:
What are the most essential characteristics of philosophical thought?
The winner is: Zoran Oštrić
Round XXIX, comments

Weekend Warrior XXXI. May 18, 2022:
What's the actual philosophy behind this whole ecological crisis we're staring down?
Victory: I’ve been sitting here staring at my desk for what feels like an eternity, trying to wrap my head around these heavy philosophical concepts, and honestly, I feel a little out of my depth. It's one thing to read about Immanuel Kant in a textbook, but it's quite another to actually try and sit with his ideas and let them sink in without feeling like your brain is going to short-circuit from the sheer intensity of it all. I really want to get this right, because there's something so deeply moving about the way he approaches the very fabric of human reason, even if I do end up feeling a bit foolish most of the time while I'm struggling to follow his logic.
Round XXX. thoughts and comments.

Weekend Warrior XXXI. October 1, 2022:
Is there actually any moral ground for one person to claim dominance over another?
Victory: Weekend Warrior XXXI.
Round XXXI. thoughts and comments.

Round XXXII. October 20, 2022:
I’ve been sitting here staring at a blank screen for what feels like an eternity, just wrestling with this one nagging question about how creativity actually works. I mean, is it some kind of lightning bolt that strikes you out of nowhere when you least expect it, or is it more like a slow, grinding process where you just hammer away at an idea until it finally starts to take shape? I honestly can't decide if we're all just waiting for inspiration to find us, or if we have to go out and hunt it down ourselves through sheer, stubborn persistence. It's a bit embarrassing to admit, but I feel like I spend more time questioning my own creative process than actually being creative, and I'm genuinely curious if anyone else feels that same sense of uncertainty.
Victory is being split up: Thor i I honestly can't quite put my finger on why I'm feeling this way, but there's just something about the way things are unfolding right now that feels incredibly heavy, almost like I'm wading through deep water just to make sense of it all. It’s one of those days where everything seems slightly out of alignment, and even though I try to keep a level head, I find myself overthinking every little detail until I'm just completely exhausted by my own brain.
Round XXXII. thoughts? Let's hear them.

Weekend Warrior XXXIII. November 9, 2022:
I’ve often found myself sitting around, staring at the ceiling during those quiet hours of the night, wondering if all this deep, heavy thinking actually started out as nothing more than someone being bored or perhaps just playing around with an idea for the sake of it. It makes you wonder, doesn't it—whether the entire foundation of philosophy was born from a simple moment of idle curiosity or maybe even a bit of lighthearted teasing, before it eventually spiraled into these massive, complex systems that we spend our lives trying to untangle.
Victory: Weekend Warrior XXXI.
Weekend Warrior XXXIII. round, thoughts?

Round XXXIV. December 1st, 2022:
Is social inequality actually just a byproduct of shifting economic tides and rapid technological breakthroughs, or is it something more calculated—the direct result of specific policies and political ideologies?
Victory is being split up: I'm really not sure what you're trying to get at here, but if you've got something on your mind, just lay it out for me. I'm all ears. i steelridge58
Round XXXIV. comments.