Reason and Inquiry grew out of my belief that university studies should be about more than mastering a single subject area. Alongside sharing my own research, I wanted to create a space where students can engage with ideas, books, and discussions that encourage broader analytical thinking and intellectual curiosity. My hope is that this site inspires students not only to ask better questions, but also to become more comfortable with complexity and thoughtful disagreement.
I hope you will enjoy your time spent here!
Emmeli Runesson
Why create Reason and Inquiry?
Since I started my PhD, I have carried with me a particular vision of the university. It is rooted in the German idea of Bildung: the notion that education is not merely about acquiring skills or credentials, but about developing as a person. Today, education is often viewed in instrumental terms. Perhaps this is unsurprising in a world where higher education has become increasingly widespread and closely linked to career opportunities. Yet I believe education has value in its own right. Universities certainly have a responsibility to prepare students for careers in business, government, civil society, and other professional settings. But they also have a responsibility to prepare students for a life of responsible citizenship.
In fact, universities will rarely be best equipped to prepare students for the exact practical demands of the jobs they will eventually enter. Employers can often teach specific procedures, software, and routines far more efficiently than we can. Instead, what universities can provide is something more durable: a foundation in analytical thinking, critical reasoning, and the ability to engage with complexity.
I would like to see more spaces where students are encouraged to ask difficult questions without expecting immediate answers. Researchers do this all the time. In research, certainty is rare. We speak of evidence rather than proof, and of explanations rather than truths. Learning to think under conditions of uncertainty may be one of the most valuable skills a university can cultivate.
Are there any religious or political affiliations or inclinations on this site?
No. The purpose of this site is not to advance a particular political or religious viewpoint.
At the same time, I do not believe that science—or any human endeavour—is entirely free from values, assumptions, or ideology. We pursue certain questions rather than others for reasons that are often shaped by our experiences and beliefs. Acknowledging this seems more honest than pretending complete neutrality is possible.
One principle I care deeply about is intellectual consistency. Human beings are imperfect thinkers, and everyone occasionally contradicts themselves. That is normal. What concerns me more is when contradictions are ignored because they happen to support a preferred conclusion.
For that reason, I am especially drawn to books, articles, and ideas that encourage careful reasoning and self-examination. When a work challenges dogma, questions assumptions, or invites genuine inquiry rather than tribal certainty, it is likely to find a place on this site.