Theme Hierarchy Reference Sheet

society

society ← cross cultural issue

alien point of view alternate points of view attitude towards the dead conflict of privacy preferences cultural exchange enemy point of view foreign point of view future point of view multicultural community past point of view primitive point of view religious point of view when in Rome
AI point of view, transcendental point of view adapting to life in a foreign culture, conflict of cultural norms, foreign customs, learning about a foreign culture science as magic to the primitive

society ← international issue

appeasement policy arms race arms trade competition among nations conflicting systems of jurisprudence de-escalating a conflict diplomacy diplomacy vs. force exported pollution extradition first contact international politics international sanctions nuclear proliferation political asylum political neutrality reconciliation between two peoples sporting to promote peace the morality of colonization transnational conflict over a claimed territory transnational conflict over a shared resource transnational conflict over environmental concern transnational institution for peace war
factions joining forces against a common enemy, interfactional mediation, peace process civil war weapons of mass destruction aerial bombing of cities, atrocities of war, child soldiers, civilians suffering in war, ...
military coup, self-coup nuclear weapons biological weapons, chemical weapons
nuclear holocaust

society ← national social issue

educational issue environmental issue form of government gender issue law and order issue military issue political issue public health issue social dysfunction sociocultural issue socioeconomic issue sociotechnological issue special interest group issue
child labor, creationism, historical revisionism, illiteracy in society, ... environmentalism pollution in society waste management climate change and bureaucratic inaction, eco-terrorism, endangered species, human overpopulation, ... authoritarianism political ideology absolute monarchy, anarchy, caste system, colonialism, ... sexual norms in society equal career opportunities for women, female education, female independence, forced fatherhood, ... crime legal duty legal punishment divorce procedures, forced confession, impartiality in the legal system, inherited liability, ... military secrecy antigovernment militia movement, desertion, drugs for military use, prisoners of war, ... indoctrination in society abuse of authority, abuse of real power, anti-war activism, bread and circuses, ... contagious disease in society MMORPGs in society, alcohol in society, genetically modified food in society, healthcare in society, ... bad government exports while the people are starving, pervasive marketing in society harassment relations between social groups in society Christmas traditions, antiscience in society, arranged marriage, celebrity culture in society, ... immigration in society social inequality unethical business practices adds in society, big banking in society, commercialism in society, economic depression, ... autonomous weapon systems in society information technology in society machines in society out of control technology data privacy, genetic engineering in society, human cloning in society, mass media in society, ... child power, child's point of view, feral children in society, orphans in society, ...
exported pollution oil spills in society toxic waste management creeping authoritarianism contraposed political ideologies fascism capitalism, communism, feminism, free inquiry vs. obedience, ... homosexuality in society abortion, bestiality, birth control, bisexualism, ... crime against justice crime against property crime against the person crime against the public organized crime sexual crime violent crime bribery, high treason, war crime duty to disobey illegal orders, duty to rescue, duty to return lost property capital punishment, collective punishment, corporal punishment, exile, ... covert military operation government indoctrination, military indoctrination bioengineered human pathogen, epidemics in society workplace harassment hatred in society prejudice in society treatment of migrants healthcare inequality, inequality in the justice system corporation interfering in politics autonomous weapons system killing everyone Internet crime in society, social media in society autonomous weapon systems in society workers replaced by machines out of control AI
anarchy vs. rule of law, aristocracy vs. bourgeoisie, conservative vs. liberal, cooperation vs. competition, ... Nazism lesbianism, male homosexuality framing someone for a crime obstruction of justice false rape accusations, perjury, vigilante justice criminal fraud theft aircraft hijacking, arson, blackmail, illegal drug trade, ... framing someone for a crime murder child abduction, child abuse, domestic violence, false rape accusations, ... dangerous driving in society terrorism apostacy, black markets, body snatching band of outlaws, criminal gangs indecent exposure, nonconsensual voyeurism, pedophiles, sexual assault, ... murder robbery terrorism aircraft hijacking, child abuse, crime of passion, domestic violence, ... hatred of exceptional people ethnic hatred racism in society AI prejudice in society, class prejudice in society, lookism in society, prejudice against ex-convicts, ... autonomous weapons system killing everyone AI takeover
what if I were being framed for a crime witness tampering art forgery, con artistry, insurance fraud, match fixing, ... robbery archaeological looting, burglary, looting what if I were being framed for a crime dominicide parricide cannibalism, infanticide, mass murder, poison murder, ... drunk driving school shooting, terrorist or freedom fighter dominicide parricide cannibalism, infanticide, mass murder, poison murder, ... bank robbery, mugging school shooting, terrorist or freedom fighter anti-intellectualism in society antisemitism in society, racial supremacism
bank robbery, mugging regicide avunculicide, filicide, fratricide, matricide, ... regicide avunculicide, filicide, fratricide, matricide, ...

society ← problem of language and meaning

communicating with deaf people communicating with someone who speaks a different language incompatible modes of communication language change language of musical notes learning languages the limits of language understanding by metaphor

society ← social ethical issue

defamation of character vs. freedom of speech human rights issue medical ethical issue parent's right to make decisions for their child social ethical dilemma
AI rights animal rights exploitation of sentient beings the right to privacy animal cruelty, animal testing, children's rights, civil rights, ... unethical human experimentation The Hippocratic Oath, doctor assisted suicide, doctor vs. next of kin, doctor's opinion vs. patient preference, ... the ethics of interfering in the internal affairs of other powers capital punishment, choosing between odious regimes, crime and punishment, destroying one people to save another, ...
killing an artificial person the killing of animals child exploitation, worker exploitation the right to privacy of thoughts unethical psychological experimentation interfering in the internal affairs of other powers for humanitarian reasons, taking sides in an international conflict, the ethics of interfering in less advanced societies

speculative fiction theme

speculative fiction theme ← crackpot theory

Atlantis Bermuda Triangle Counter-Earth Hollow Earth Phaeton hypothesis alien abduction alien experiment alien impregnation of human females alien origin of an aspect of human civilization aliens eating people aliens inspiring great people aliens meddling in ancient history aliens meddling in history aliens talking to us in our dreams ancient alien archive ancient puzzle conspiracy theory crackpot theory of cattle mutilation cryptid déjà vu extrasensory perception flying saucer theory of UFOs impostor living secretly among us intelligent dinosaurs lost continent of Mu men in black conspiracy theory mystical aura people meddling in history psychic detective secret society conspiracy theory speculation that the Devil is not so bad after all speculative hypnosis speculative subliminal stimuli spontaneous human combustion the historical figure was really an alien the mythological figure was really an alien
alien origin of a superstition, alien origin of a technology, alien origin of religious claims, alien origin of the human race Bigfoot, Loch Ness Monster, Yeti, living dinosaur alien living secretly among us, immortal living secretly among us, machine living secretly among us, time traveler living secretly among us aliens meddling in history, time traveler meddling in history the Devil is an alien, the god is an alien

speculative fiction theme ← speculative ability

magic powers sonar sensory ability speculative ability related to another being speculative ability related to own body speculative ability related to own mind speculative ability related to physical things speculative ability related to reality at large supernatural ability
mind to mind interaction ability speculative communication speculative remote living body manipulation speculative personal body manipulation speculative personal locomotion speculative personal resilience directed energy shooting ability clairvoyance dream walking, memories from past lives, photographic memory ability, remote projection of self telekinetic ability electricity manipulation ability, pyrokinetic ability, thought materialization ability time rewind ability, time slow down ability, unbounded thought powers
telepathic ability mind attack ability, mind control ability ability to communicate with animals, ability to communicate with plants remote harming ability healing ability speculatively magnified ordinary personal ability intangibility ability, invisibility ability, self-healing ability, shapeshifting aquatic ability, flying ability, teleportation ability immortality, imperviousness to physical damage, unkillable attribute precognition, prophetic ability, remote viewing, retrocognition telekinetic machine manipulation ability
mind reading ability deadly touch ability ability to see through solid objects, super hearing, super intelligence, super reflexes, ...

speculative fiction theme ← speculative being

artificial being biologically distinguished being emergently intelligent being fictional character come to life inanimate object come to life intelligent animal legendary being locationally distinguished being mentally distinguished being monster personification of a concept shape distinguished being size distinguished being speculative human supersoldier transcendental being
android genetically engineered person virtual person cyborg, disembodied head, robot helper animal and plant patterned being hybrid being inorganic being parasitic being sexually distinguished being assimilating beings, being that feeds on electricity, being that feeds on the mind, biologically symbiotic beings, ... anthropomorphic object come to life legendary magic wielder the Devil wish-granting being Bigfoot, European dragon, Lilliputian being, Loch Ness Monster, ... extraterrestrial being subterranean being four-dimensional being, two-dimensional being collectively intelligent beings, emotionless emotion craving being, empathic being, pure evil being, ... undead being giant monster, shadow monster, werewolf death incarnate, elemental being shapeshifter ball-shaped being, blobform, brain-shaped being, incorporeal being microscopic being Lilliputian being, giant person, living planet, living space cloud doppelgänger genetically engineered soldier supreme judge being
android clone of a person, sex-droid genetically engineered soldier digital clone of a person, virtual lover canine-like being fish-like being reptilian being amphibian-like being, ape-like being, avian being, chameleon-like being, ... human-animal hybrid centaur, cyborg, human-alien hybrid, human-bug hybrid, ... silicon-based being crystalline being, electromagnetic being, fire-based being, gaseous being life force draining being, neural parasite, vampire gender neutral being, lethal mating practice being, multi-gendered being evil doll warlock, wicked witch the Devil is an alien genie in a lamp spaceborne being Jovian extraterrestrial, Martian extraterrestrial, Moon people, Neptunian extraterrestrial, ... mole people incorporeal spirit living corpse bio-mimicking life form microscopic sentient life form
human-canine hybrid human-fish hybrid human-reptile hybrid human-canine hybrid rock being living planet, living space cloud, spacefaring plants ghost undead mummy, undead skeleton, vampire, zombie
personal haunting

speculative fiction theme ← speculative experience

body swap fall from grace from zero to hero how to commit a crime and get away with it psychoactive drug experience rise to prominence from humble beginnings what if I became telepathically linked with someone else what if I could only speak the truth what if I found myself in a different time what if I found myself in a strange place what if I had a secret guardian what if I met an extraordinary person what if I underwent a physical metamorphosis what if I were a man who got pregnant what if I were in a tight spot what if I were not subject to the normal process of aging what if an aspect of my personality was slightly different what if my life were different what if my personal identity came into question what if my thoughts became reality what if someone around me changed what if the fate of the world was in my hands what if the people around me changed
how to crack a safe, how to murder someone and get away with it, how to rob a bank and get away with it psychedelic experience what if I caught a glimpse of the future, what if I found myself in the future, what if I found myself in the past, what if I saw a glimpse of the past what if I could never go home, what if I could travel around inside a human body, what if I found myself in a high gravity environment, what if I found myself in a low gravity environment, ... what if I met an historical figure, what if I met my distant descendant, what if I met my double, what if I met myself from a different time, ... what if I grew in size, what if I shrank in size, what if I turned into an animal, what if I were gradually turning into stone facing an extraordinary accusation what if I fell into the clutches of a person with malicious intent what if I was held captive and made an exhibition object what if I became accessory to a friend's crime, what if I became separated from my parents, what if I became witness to a suspected crime, what if I couldn't trust the veracity of my senses, ... immortality, rapid aging process, what if I aged backwards, what if I could be young again, ... what if I lived an alternate life what if I became extremely lucky, what if I could do anything I wanted without repercussions, what if I had a life-changing stroke of good fortune, what if I had a near-death experience, ... what if I found myself in the body of another person evil hand, what if I became a simulation, what if I discovered that I was a facsimile of someone else, what if I found out I was a different person than I thought I was, ... what if a loved one became possessed by another being, what if my partner switched gender, what if someone I knew returned from the dead, what if someone couldn't remember me anymore, ... what if everybody and everything was frozen in time, what if everyone lost control of their inhibitions, what if everyone suddenly started to communicate differently, what if everyone turned into zombies, ...
what if I was accused of a crime that I didn't commit what if I fell into the clutches of a homicidal maniac what if I was a specimen animal in a zoo what if I were in a coma-like state what if I found myself in a body of the opposite sex, what if I found myself in the body of a child
what if I were being framed for a crime

speculative fiction theme ← speculative habitat

El Dorado artificial island artificial planet desert planet fantasy land garbage planet habitable asteroid habitable moon habitable planet in a multiple star system hollowed out asteroid habitat ice planet isolated prehistoric land magical land in the sky ocean planet off-world prison colony rotating space habitat speculative city twin earth water planet to the core
habitable planet in a binary star system, habitable planet in a trinary star system city planet, domed city, floating city, underground city, ...

speculative fiction theme ← speculative punishment

implanted memory punishment mindwipe punishment prisoners being exploited for entertainment suspended animation punishment

speculative fiction theme ← speculative reality

cyclical time universe four-dimensional space multiverse nested universe non-Euclidean space opposite world parallel universe speculative natural object speculative natural process the universe is a dream the universe is a simulation two-dimensional space
reversed time edge of the universe, traversable wormhole, white hole speculative evolution devolution, human thought virus, life force transfer, panspermia, ...
the future of human evolution

speculative fiction theme ← speculative society

alternate history biased sex-ratio society interplanetary war interstellar war multi-species civilization robotic civilization single-gender society society consisting of only children society living in space space colonization space tourism speculative future event speculative social institution subterranean civilization telepathic society what if a child had power over adults xenophobic isolationist society
what if Britain had won the American Revolutionary War, what if the Nazis had won, what if the Roman Empire never fell female-only society colonization of Alpha Centauri, colonization of Earth, colonization of Jupiter, colonization of Mars, ... existential risk to civilization World War III, peace on Earth, the technological singularity, what if every woman suddenly got pregnant at the same time, ... dystopia utopia community of abandoned children, institutionalized human blood sports society, society in which victims sentence their own assailants, society with a maximum age limit, ...
anthropogenic existential risk to civilization force of nature existential risk to civilization threat from extraterrestrial life supernatural existential risk to civilization conformist dystopia bureaucratic dystopia, communist dystopia, consumerist dystopia, drugged up dystopia, ... ruling elite utopia technologically enabled utopia technology-free utopia utopia based on a view of human nature utopia based on exploitation of a group fabled land of goodness, free market utopia, kill all humans utopia, start-over utopia
institutional risk to civilization technological risk to civilization close encounter with a stray artificial object approaching astronomical object event catastrophic solar event atmospheric dissipation, catastrophic encounter with another universe, catastrophic flood, displacement by a rising new species, ... attack from outer space accidental alien destruction of planetary civilization, alien brought pandemic, attack from Inner Earth, being wiped out by more powerful aliens, ... people forced to be average dystopia machine controlled society, mind controlled society genetic engineering utopia, machine controlled society, post-scarcity economy utopia, transhumanism utopia, ... neo-Luddist utopia, noble savage utopia free love utopia, kumbayah utopia, telepathic utopia utopia on the back of android labor, utopia on the back of slave labor
annihilation by WMDs ecological destruction atrophied civilization, global warming, overpopulated world, war of mutual annihilation biotechnological risk to civilization AI takeover, autonomous weapons system killing everyone, out of control scientific experiment, planet being knocked off its axis by nuclear blast, ... asteroid impact, close encounter with a passing astronomical object, moon slowly spiraling into a planet dying sun, expanding sun, planet scorching solar flare, sun going supernova attack from outer space by a genocidal enemy, attack from outer space by a giant spaceborne being, attack from outer space by a powerful conquering enemy
annihilation by a device that stops fusion in a star, annihilation by a planet busting device, nuclear holocaust, orchestrated asteroid bombardment depletion of a vital natural resource human-made pandemic

speculative fiction theme ← speculative technology

artificial intelligence artificial life astronomical impact avoidance augmented reality gravity manipulating technology hologram human enhancement technology invisibility technology matter manipulating technology mind altering technology spacetime manipulating technology speculative biotechnology speculative device speculative energy generation technology speculative engineering speculative nanotechnology speculative virtual reality speculative weapon stasis technology synthetic food
android autonomous weapons system sentient machine speculative robot virtual person AI assistant, AI companion, AI safeguards, android clone of a person, ... anti-gravity technology, artificial gravity technology body implant body part transplant brain implant cure for an as yet uncurable disease life extension technology species transmutation accelerated growth rate therapy, appearance altering technology, artificial body part, brain disembodiment technology, ... invisible spaceship, personal invisibility cloak, planetary invisibility cloak food synthesizer, matter duplicator, matter replicator, matter transmuter, ... brain-computer interface duplicate of a person memory erasure memory implantation technology mind transfer technology intelligence augmentation technology, mass mind control, mind control technology, mind linking technology, ... device bigger inside than outside, space folding travel technology, time freezing device speculative genetic engineering DNA encoded message, bioengineered human pathogen, biological computer, biological machinery, ... once speculative device pod or booth-like device self-replicating machine speculative handheld device speculative torture device speculative vehicle speculative wearable device automatic surgery machine, dream recorder, electromagnetic catapult, force field generator, ... fusion power antimatter power, geothermal energy from Earth's interior, human battery, perpetual energy machine astronomical-scale engineering engineered space structure planetary-scale engineering sub-planetary-scale engineering self-replicating nanomachines digital afterlife, speculative virtual reality headset, virtual reality room, virtual reality sex, ... autonomous weapons system death ray, implanted weapon, killer microdrone, paralysis device, ... suspended animation food pill
android clone of a person, sex-droid autonomous weapon systems in society sentient computer, sentient spaceship android mechanical insect, mechanical man, robot helper, robot prizefighter digital clone of a person, virtual lover implanted weapon brain transplant, eye transplant, head transplant, heart transplant brain stimulating implant cure for Alzheimer's disease, cure for blindness, cure for cancer, cure for the common cold anti-aging technology, revival long after death species uplifting brain implant plug-in learning device android clone of a person, digital clone of a person mindwipe punishment implanted memory punishment mind uploading speculative genetically modified crops ankle bracelet, dictation machine, flat-panel display, flying drone, ... teleportation device artificial womb, disintegration chamber, sonic shower, suicide booth self-replicating nanomachines intangibility device pain belt, pain collar, pain implant speculative airship speculative spaceship flying car, hoverboard, mobile life support device, piloted creature-shaped vehicle, ... speculative full body outfit speculative glasses ankle bracelet, jet pack, magnetic boots, pain belt, ... cold fusion stellar engineering interstellar communication network engineered orbital structure engineered trans-orbital structure space station space mirror, space telescope, sun gun, world eating machine speculative geoengineering artificial planet, asteroid mining, changing the orbit of a planet around its star, hollowed out asteroid habitat, ... artificial island, local weather control system, undersea tunnel autonomous weapon systems in society cryogenic technology, suspended animation punishment
autonomous weapons system killing everyone android clone of a person, sex-droid brain stimulating implant space portal flying ship Bussard ramjet, biological spaceship, faster than light travel, flying saucer, ... speculative environmental suit powered exoskeleton, virtual reality suit vision beyond the visible spectrum glasses Dyson sphere, stellar rejuvenation orbital weapons space elevator space dock speculative terraforming autonomous weapons system killing everyone
speculative diving suit, speculative spacesuit

speculative fiction theme ← speculative travel

character transported into imaginary world journey into the underworld perilous voyage at sea space travel time travel travel inside a human body travel into the Earth voyage under the sea
teleportation device intergalactic space travel, interplanetary space travel, interstellar space travel, orbital spaceflight, ... time travel paradox time machine, time portal, time rewind ability, time traveler living secretly among us, ...
space portal grandfather paradox

the human condition

the human condition ← human idea about life

a danger shared can bring people together a leopard can't change its spots a person's true character is revealed in a time of crisis actions have consequences appearances can be deceiving be careful what you wish for be mindful of first impressions be wary of strangers beauty is in the eye of the beholder best laid plans often go awry better to have loved and lost blood is thicker than water curiosity killed the cat evil can come in the guise of good fortune favors the bold give them a finger and they'll take the whole hand hardship makes you stronger hate begets hate if it ain't broke don't fix it if it sounds too good to be true it probably isn't true ignorance is bliss in for a penny in for a pound it's the future that matters not the past it's what's on the inside that counts knowledge is power live by the sword die by the sword material possessions isn't everything misery loves company misfortune unites moderation in all things money can't buy happiness money can't buy love money is the root of all evil nothing ventured nothing gained opposites attract people can change people may not always live up to their reputations practice makes perfect quality is more important than quantity the Golden Rule the boy who cried wolf moral the dangers of blind obedience the flip side of a promotion the flip side of being in power the flip side of immortality the grass is always greener on the other side the greatest among us is the smallest in another world the importance of being frugal the importance of faith the importance of reputation the price of freedom is eternal vigilance the road to hell is paved with good intentions the stupidity of crowds the thrill is in the chase there is someone for everyone there is value in diversity there is value in redundancy those who do not remember the past are condemned to relive it true beauty comes from within two heads are better than one we need a balance between rationality and emotionality we need our darker side in moderation with great power comes great responsibility you can't beat the odds in the long run you can't eat money you must fight for what you want
evil can come in the guise of beauty money isn't everything you have to take chances to get ahead

the human condition ← human regular activity

academia computer hacking cooking gardening gastronomy human occupational activity hunting recreational activity sports the fine arts and the humanities
parody on life in academia, the archaeology profession, the astronomy profession, the geology profession, ... art related occupation charitable volunteering, event management, journalism, law enforcement, ... poaching tabletop games amateur radio, classic films, collecting objects, gambling, ... blood sports combat sports American football, cricket, golf, horse racing, ... acting art related activity music performance art sculpture stage magic stand-up comedy classic films, creative writing, dancing, drawing, ...
the entertainment industry, the fashion industry, the publishing industry, the visual arts Dungeons and Dragons, the game of poker hunting people for sport fencing, the sport of boxing opera art discussion opera circus skill wax sculpture ventriloquism ventriloquism

the human condition ← humans in group

a danger shared can bring people together belonging demagoguery family affairs friendly competition in groups getting along together in a confined space for an extended period group bonding group morale human social position humans at work humans in hierarchy humans interacting inebriated interaction invasion of privacy keeping secrets manners mass hysteria misfortune unites mistrust leading to group dysfunction negotiation peer pressure there is strength in unity working together under stress
coping with a family issue coping with a problematic family member divorce human childhood human parenting black sheep, dark family secret, family dispute, family financial problem, ... coping with having a bad reputation coping with humiliation coping with being famous, coping with disagreeable orders, coping with having a stigmatizing illness, coping with having been raped, ... workplace relations company team building, coping with being ill on the job, discipline in the workplace, favoritism at work, ... pecking order control by intimidation, going over someone's head, hero worship, leadership, ... cooperation getting along in spite of disagreement practical joking betrayal, bluffing, clash of Wills, clash of wills, ... coping with a drunken fool sportsmanship, table manners negotiating deadlock
coping with being eclipsed by a family member controlling family member embarrassing family member custody battle coming of age adolescence, childhood as an outsider, childhood aspirations, childhood imaginary friend, ... educating a child parental disappointment in child parenting a child with special needs absentee father, adopting a child, caring for a baby, child's need to be loved, ... coping with having a cuckold reputation coping with being a laughing stock office romance the unappreciated and unimportant at the workplace two heads are better than one working together in spite of disagreement childhood pranks
controlling partner rite of passage into manhood children and candy from strangers, discipline of a child, intellectual development of a child, teaching children about death, ... fatherly disappointment in a son, motherly disappointment in a son parenting a mentally disabled child, parenting a physically disabled child

the human condition ← humans in pairs

human interpersonal relationship
friendship human familial relationship rivalry romantic relationship romantic relationship issue superior and subordinate a person and their clone, agent and client, commander and subordinate, coping with a loved one being gravely ill, ...
falling out of friendship, female bonding, male bonding, male-female bonding, ... husband and wife in-law relationship parent and child sibling and sibling aunt and nephew, aunt and niece, brother and brother, brother and sister, ... female-female rivalry, male-male rivalry young lovers beauty and beast romance, boyfriend and boyfriend, boyfriend and girlfriend, cross cultural romance, ... human romantic relationship choice romantic infidelity bondage sex, coming out of the closet, controlling partner, coping with a failing marriage, ... boss and employee, master and servant, master and slave
newlywed couple brother-in-law and brother-in-law, brother-in-law and sister-in-law, father-in-law and daughter-in-law, father-in-law and son-in-law, ... father and son mother and son father and daughter, mother and daughter, parent and child rivalry sibling rivalry teen romance choosing between lovers, love vs. career, love vs. faith, love vs. friendship, ... extramarital affair
fatherly disappointment in a son motherly disappointment in a son

the human condition ← individual human experience

human challenge in life human character human dreaming human emotion human thinking about self human tough decision human way of life purpose in life
coping with a problematic person coping with life issues coping with the death of someone facing adversity facing death human emotional issue human health condition human in danger suicide coping with being in a heat wave courage honor human character stereotype human characters in contrast loyalty obsession pride spendthrift chastity, childishness, chivalry, competitiveness, ... remembering bygone days coping with memories of a lost love, escape from reality, fantasy romance, remembrance, ... fear grief jealousy love anger, boredom, compassion, contempt, ... exercising self-control human self improvement human worrying about self letting go of the past self-deception, self-justification human life choice human self-sacrifice personal ethical dilemma personal life and death dilemma personal practical dilemma survivalism anti-technology way of life, atheism, carefree way of life, carpe diem, ... human aspiration human need human pleasure
coping with a bad boss, coping with a disobedient person, coping with a drunken fool, coping with a greedy heir, ... coping with a life-changing event, coping with a loved one being gravely ill, coping with being a danger to those around you, coping with being abandoned, ... coping with the death of a family member coping with the death of a lover coping with a massive loss of comrades, coping with suicide, coping with the death of a colleague, coping with the death of a fellow compatriot, ... human vs. human human vs. institution human vs. nature human vs. technology human vs. the occult good vs. evil, human vs. inexplicable adversity, human vs. monster, surviving in a wasteland coming to terms with one's own death, coping with a terminal illness, facing one's own execution, what if I had only one day to live coping with having a bad day, coping with memories of a lost love, coping with saying goodbye forever coping with aging human addiction human mental condition coping with a bad hangover, coping with a bad sunburn, coping with a disability, coping with a terminal illness, ... coping with being injured, coping with being lost in space, coping with being lost in the forest, coping with being tortured coping with a suicidal person, talking someone out of suicide courage in the face of death family honor female stereotype hypocritical character male stereotype loser character, mad scientist stereotype, old woman as a witch stereotype, struggling artist character, ... wicked character vs. virtuous character EQ vs. IQ, artist vs. scientist, commoner vs. intellectual, extrovert vs. introvert, ... choosing between conflicting loyalties, loyalty to a cause, loyalty to a friend, loyalty to a group, ... obsession with a life-dedicated project, obsessive love pride in an achievement pride in one's family attitude of superiority, hubris, pride goes before a fall, pride in one's community, ... coping with a spendthrift reminiscence about one's youth, romanticization of the past human phobia childhood terrors, facing one's darkest fear, fear for one's life, fear of abandonment, ... coping with the death of someone romantic jealousy familial love romantic love repressing one's romantic desires accepting reliance on others, becoming a harder person, becoming a more emotionally sophisticated person, becoming a more self-assured person, ... coming to terms with things beating one's self up, becoming like what you oppose, being ashamed of who you are, being bitter about one's life, ... letting go of a lover career choice contemplating suicide Faustian bargain, choosing between love and family, coming out of the closet, deciding what to wish for, ... human self-sacrifice for another sacrifice for one's beliefs, sacrifice to defeat an enemy, selfless service breaking the law for personal advantage compromising one's ethical principles for personal advantage compromising one's ethical principles vs. great need conflict of duty breaking the law to cover up another crime, choosing between conflicting loyalties, choosing whether to kill someone to spare them suffering, choosing who dies and who lives, ... assisting in suicide, cannibalism to survive, killing for personal advantage, killing to save a loved one, ... risk taking vs. playing it safe carrot vs. stick, choosing between equally futile actions, choosing between equally unappealing possibilities, decision making in the face of uncertainty, ... survivalist stereotype the desire for a simpler life, the desire to become more human-like human physiological need human safety need human self-actualization need human self-esteem need human social need pleasure in eating passion for vehicles, pleasure in nature, pleasure in violence
coping with the death of a child, coping with the death of a parent, coping with the death of a sibling, coping with the death of a spouse coping with the death of a spouse facing organized pursuit human vs. captivity human vs. self facing a conspiracy, facing a genius adversary, facing a home invader, facing a hostage situation, ... facing persecution by the government, human vs. Kafkaesque institution charting unknown territory human vs. beast facing a vermin infestation, facing an epidemic, human vs. affliction, human vs. space anomaly, ... human vs. sentient machine human vs. zombie coping with time passing you by, menopause drug abuse addiction to fortune telling, addiction to sensation, compulsive spending, problem gambling, ... human phobia mental illness psychological stress withdrawal from society Messiah complex, Oedipus complex, Stockholm syndrome, acute anxiety, ... clingy girlfriend, dumb blonde stereotype, female attraction to bad men, female attraction to powerful men, ... religious hypocrisy womanizing man beards, dumb jock stereotype, inattentive male partner, male brutishness, ... wicked husband and virtuous wife stereotype, wicked wife and virtuous husband stereotype pride in one's own creation parental pride agoraphobia, arachnophobia, claustrophobia, fear of being alone, ... coping with the death of a family member coping with the death of a lover coping with a massive loss of comrades, coping with suicide, coping with the death of a colleague, coping with the death of a fellow compatriot, ... filial love, love of a pet, maternal love, matrimonial love, ... infatuation epic love, forbidden love, impossible love, love at first sight, ... coming to terms with having to give up on a dream, coming to terms with living in a new environment, coming to terms with one's own death, coming to terms with one's own sexuality, ... choosing between job opportunities, family vs. career, friendship vs. career, love vs. career, ... honorable suicide, life with a handicap vs. death, suicide vs. slow death sacrifice to prevent mass death donating an organ to save a life, helping a stranger in need, sacrifice for a child, sacrifice for a friend, ... choosing whether to return found property benefiting from someone else's work compromising one's ethical principles vs. self-preservation killing in self-defense, killing to survive duty vs. compassion, duty vs. conscience, duty vs. desire, duty vs. duty, ... gambling with a body part, taking a high-stakes wager vs. walking away the desire to have children, the need for rest and recreation, the need for sleep attachment to one's livelihood, the need for freedom, the need for privacy the lust for gold the desire for personal development, the desire to advance one's career, the desire to pursue one's dream, the lust for power, ... the desire for glory the desire for fame, the desire for prestige, the desire for redemption, the desire for vengeance, ... attachment to one's land, child's need to be loved, crew's attachment to their ship, the desire for justice, ... pleasure in coffee
being on the run from the law bird in a gilded cage, facing life in captivity resisting a temptation deep sea exploration, land exploration, polar exploration, space exploration facing a ferocious beast, human vs. venomous animal alcohol abuse agoraphobia, arachnophobia, claustrophobia, fear of being alone, ... delusional point of view coping with stress at work, coping with the rigors of command, cracking under pressure, freezing up in a critical moment, ... escape from reality the Casanova stereotype coping with the death of a child, coping with the death of a parent, coping with the death of a sibling, coping with the death of a spouse coping with the death of a spouse first crush, obsessive love sacrificing one's self to stop a contagion prostitution vs. poverty gold digging the desire for glory in battle

the human condition ← what life is like

what civilian life is like in times of war what it is like during a natural disaster what it is like in a combat zone what it is like in a legal proceeding what it is like in a psychiatric institution what it is like in prison what it is like in school what it is like to be a refugee what it is like to be impoverished what it is like to live through a military occupation what it is like to travel
what it is like in boarding school, what it is like in elementary school, what it is like in high school, what it is like in university what it is like to be homeless what it is like on a passenger flight, what it is like on a passenger liner

the pursuit of knowledge

the pursuit of knowledge ← classical philosophy

aesthetics ethics human nature metaphysics what is truth
the nature of beauty, the power of art to influence people, what is beauty, what is perfection civilization vs. savagery, ironic twist of fate, poetic justice, the ethics of thinking immoral thoughts, ... female sexuality a common enemy unites, a common interest unites, celebrity worship, hero's return, ... time travel paradox are humans more than machines, are we alone in the universe, can machines have souls, cosmic balance, ...
female seeking to find a superior mate grandfather paradox

the pursuit of knowledge ← history

American Civil War Roswell UFO incident The Algerian War The Holocaust World War I World War II cultural history historical figure historiography human life in history the American Revolution the British Raj the Cold War the Korean War the Russian Revolution of 1905 the Salem witch trials the Vietnam War the ascent of man the ship Titanic
the French Resistance Dungeons and Dragons, the Star Trek franchise, the Wizard of Oz, the legend of King Arthur human life in ancient times human life in early modern times human life in historical Asia human life in historical Europe human life in historical North America human life in late modern times human life in medieval times human life in post-war times human life in historical Africa, human life in historical Australia, human life in historical South America, human life in pre-historical times
life in the ancient Greco-Roman world life in British colonial India, life in early modern Ireland, life in late imperial China, life in revolution era America life in British colonial India, life in late imperial China, life in medieval Russia, life in the Soviet Union human life in historical Britain life in the ancient Greco-Roman world life in Age of Enlightenment, life in early modern Ireland, life in late modern Britain, life in late modern France, ... life in Crow law era America, life in inner city America, life in post-war America, life in revolution era America, ... life in Age of Enlightenment, life in British colonial India, life in Crow law era America, life in Victorian Britain, ... life in medieval Europe, life in medieval Russia life in inner city America, life in post-war America, life in post-war Europe, life in the Soviet Union
life in Ancient Rome life in British colonial India, life in Victorian Britain life in Ancient Rome

the pursuit of knowledge ← modern science

archaeology astronomy biology chemicals ecology geology mathematics medicine physics psychology sociolinguistics technology
binary star system, black hole, planet detection, pulsar, ... human biology the theory of evolution animal behavior, cell division, genetics, mating behavior, ... Fermat's Last Theorem, Fourier series, compound interest, computer simulation, ... acupuncture, lobotomization theory of relativity X-rays, antimatter, dark matter, electricity, ... the placebo effect solar power Morse code, early computer, fingerprinting, gunpowder, ...
brainwaves, human blood types hominid evolution speed of light limitation space-based solar power

the pursuit of knowledge ← organized religion

Adam and Eve creation myth Ancient Aztec mythology Ancient Egyptian mythology Ancient Greek mythology Ancient Mayan mythology Ancient Mesopotamian mythology Ancient Norse mythology Ancient Roman mythology Catholicism Christianity Judaism a god and its people animal sacrifice apotheosis deal with the devil devil worship divine madness divine retribution divine visitation faith vs. medicine faith vs. reason funeral rite good and evil in religion heresy human sacrifice messiah miracle monasticism monotheism mortification of the flesh polytheism quasi-religious cult reincarnation religious festival religious hypocrisy religious prophesy resurrection of the dead sacred ground sacred sanctuary signs from the heavens sin spiritual strive towards higher ideal the Devil the Holy Chalice the afterlife the deadly sins the problem of evil the religious end of the world the soul virgin birth vow of silence witch-hunt
religious prophet the deadly sins the Devil is an alien punishment in the afterlife reincarnation

the pursuit of knowledge ← superseded scientific theory

Freudian psychoanalysis alchemy alternative medicine human sex pheromones phrenology recapitulation theory spontaneous generation the four elements

the pursuit of knowledge ← superstition

Japanese folklore bad luck signs collective dreaming communicating with the dead destiny divination exaggerating the importance of humanity's place in the universe fairies faith healing haunted object hexes and curses life force lucky charms magic object magic word mandrake root legend omens one cannot cheat fate out-of-body experience portent of luck preternatural rain quackery reliable streak of luck shamanism spirit possession sympathetic magic taking someone's picture steals their soul the supernatural vision quest voodoo doll wacky dream interpretation wishing or wanting something really hard makes it happen witchcraft
séance astrology, fortune telling haunted house, haunted painting, haunted vehicle magic potion wish-granting magic object flying carpet, magic bag, magic healing object, magic portal, ... true name demonic possession voodoo doll black magic, ghost hunting
love potion magic lamp with genie, wish-granting shooting star

the pursuit of knowledge ← the art of war

agility vs. strength brains vs. brawn brinkmanship divide and conquer espionage first strike tactic flee to fight another day high ground advantage military tactics self-destruct tactic sneak attack tactic test of loyalty the importance of not displaying weakness