Menu
Aeon
DonateNewsletter
SIGN IN

Stephen T Asma

Professor of Philosophy, Columbia College Chicago

Stephen Asma is professor of philosophy and cofounder of the Research Group in Mind, Science and Culture at Columbia College Chicago. He is the author of many books, including The Evolution of Imagination (2017) and The Emotional Mind: Affective Roots of Culture and Cognition (2019), co-authored with Rami Gabriel. Asma is the host of YouTube channel “Monsterology.”

Written by Stephen T Asma

A person in a thick, shaggy costume standing on bales of hay outdoors, chained at one foot. Rural landscape with trees and houses in the background.

essay

Knowledge

Imaginology

We need a new kind of approach to learning that shifts imagination from the periphery to the foundation of all knowledge

Stephen T Asma

A staged theatre performance with actors in Renaissance costumes and modern attire in front of a painted backdrop.

essay

Dance and theatre

Phantasia

Imagination is a powerful tool, a sixth sense, a weapon. We must be careful how we use it, in life as on stage or screen

Paul Giamatti & Stephen T Asma

Three small delivery robots with screens showing blue faces, driving on a pavement in a park area with buildings in the background.

idea

Computing and artificial intelligence

Ancient animistic beliefs live on in our intimacy with tech

Stephen T Asma

Close-up photo of a woman’s face with a tear running down her cheek, dark somber background.

essay

Human evolution

United by feelings

Universal emotions are the deep engine of human consciousness and the basis of our profound affinity with other animals

Stephen T Asma & Rami Gabriel

A woman wiping a tear in a church, with a cross-shaped window and several people talking in the background.

idea

Philosophy of religion

Religion is about emotion regulation, and it’s very good at it

Stephen T Asma

Cave painting depicting human figures and animals in a prehistoric hunting scene with vibrant earth tones and abstract shapes.

essay

Human evolution

Imagination is ancient

Our imaginative life today has access to the pre-linguistic, ancestral mind: rich in imagery, emotions and associations

Stephen T Asma

Black and white photo of a man playing a trumpet with puffed cheeks, wearing a patterned shirt, against a dark background.

idea

Cognition and intelligence

We could all do with learning how to improvise a little better

Stephen T Asma

Black-and-white photo of an assault rifle showing the trigger guard, magazine, grip and stock against a plain background.

essay

Gender and identity

The weaponised loser

Mass shootings have one thing in common: toxic masculinity. Where does it come from and what can be done to stop it?

Stephen T Asma

Photo of a newborn baby having their head measured with a tape measure, adult hands gently holding baby’s head.

essay

Anthropology

Families made us human

The evolution of human culture can be explained, not by the size of our brains, but by the quality of our relationships

Stephen T Asma

Photo of two adult gorillas in a forest, their black fur covered in raindrops, with one gorilla in the foreground looking sombre.

essay

Biology

Animal spirits

The more we learn about the emotions shared by all mammals, the more we must rethink our own human intelligence

Stephen T Asma