Theme Hierarchy Reference Sheet

society

society ← cross cultural issue

alien point 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 the horrors of war weapons of mass destruction aerial bombing of cities, child soldiers, defection, demonization of the enemy, ...
military coup, self-coup atrocities of war, civilians suffering in war nuclear weapons biological weapons, chemical weapons
nuclear holocaust

society ← national social issue

charitable organization 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, gender in crime statistics, impartiality in the legal system, ... military secrecy antigovernment militia movement, desertion, drugs for military use, prisoners of war, ... indoctrination in society revolution 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, famine, genetically modified food in society, ... bad government exports while the people are starving, pervasive marketing in society, position in exchange for sexual favors harassment polygamy 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 downturn, ... 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 The Russian Revolution, the American Revolution, the Russian Revolution of 1905 bioengineered human pathogen, epidemics in society sexual harassment, workplace harassment bigamy hatred in society prejudice in society people should stick to their own kind 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 terrorism apostacy, black markets, body snatching band of outlaws, criminal gangs bigamy, indecent exposure, nonconsensual voyeurism, pedophiles, ... 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 covering up a crime to save a friend, taking the blame for someone else's crime, witness tampering con artistry art forgery, insurance fraud, match fixing, scams against the elderly robbery archaeological looting, burglary, grave robbery, looting what if I were being framed for a crime dominicide murder of a lover parricide cannibalism, infanticide, mass murder, poison murder, ... drunk driving eco-terrorism, school shooting, terrorist or freedom fighter dominicide murder of a lover parricide cannibalism, infanticide, mass murder, poison murder, ... bank robbery, mugging eco-terrorism, school shooting, terrorist or freedom fighter anti-intellectualism in society antisemitism in society, racial supremacism
quackery bank robbery, mugging regicide spouse murder avunculicide, filicide, fratricide, matricide, ... regicide spouse murder avunculicide, filicide, fratricide, matricide, ...

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 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 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 fairies 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 cyborg, human-alien hybrid, human-bug hybrid, human-fish 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 fairy godmother witch warlock 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 centaur, human-canine hybrid rock being witch-hunt old woman as a witch stereotype living planet, living space cloud, spacefaring plants ghost undead mummy, undead skeleton, vampire, zombie
the Salem witch trials personal haunting

speculative fiction theme ← speculative effect

anti-gravity invisibility speculative love inducing effect speculative luck inducing effect speculative matter manipulating effect speculative mind altering effect speculative prediction of the future speculative time manipulating effect
anti-gravity technology invisibility technology invisibility ability matter manipulating technology what if I underwent a physical metamorphosis speculative madness inducing effect human thought virus time slow down
invisible spaceship, personal invisibility cloak, planetary invisibility cloak food synthesizer, matter duplicator, matter replicator, matter transmuter, ... apotheosis, what if I grew in size, what if I shrank in size, what if I turned into an animal, ... madness inducing painting time freeze

speculative fiction theme ← speculative experience

being physically conjoined to another body swap fall from grace from zero to hero how to commit a crime and get away with it out-of-body experience 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 what if time passed at different rates for different people
conjoined twins how to crack a safe, how to dispose of a corpse and get away with it, 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, ... apotheosis, what if I grew in size, what if I shrank in size, what if I turned into an animal, ... 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 someone dangerous was after me 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 crime, what if I couldn't distinguish between my enemy and my ally but I had to choose between them, ... 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 I found out that a loved one was not the person I thought they were, 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 everyone lost control of their inhibitions, what if everyone suddenly started to communicate differently, what if everyone turned into zombies, what if everyone vanished and I was all alone, ...
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 a killer was after me, what if criminals were after me 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 natural process

life force transfer panspermia retarded aging process reverse aging reversed time speculative evolution time loop
devolution, super accelerated Darwinian evolution, the future of human evolution

speculative fiction theme ← speculative place

fantasy land isolated prehistoric land legendary place magical land in the sky off-world prison colony opposite world space habitat speculative artificial island speculative city speculative cosmos speculative habitable celestial body
Atlantis, lost continent of Mu, the legend of El Dorado reversed time hollowed out asteroid habitat, rotating space habitat city planet, domed city, floating city, underground city, ... cyclical time universe, edge of the universe, four-dimensional space, nested universe, ... habitable planet in a multiple star system artificial planet, city planet, desert planet, garbage planet, ...
habitable planet in a binary star system, habitable planet in a trinary star system

speculative fiction theme ← speculative punishment

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

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 astronomical-scale engineering augmented reality engineered space structure force field gravity manipulating technology hologram human enhancement technology invisibility technology matter manipulating technology mind altering technology planetary-scale engineering spacetime manipulating technology speculative biotechnology speculative device speculative energy generation technology speculative nanotechnology speculative robotics speculative virtual reality speculative weapon stasis technology sub-planetary-scale engineering synthetic food
android autonomous weapons system sentient machine speculative robot virtual person AI assistant, AI companion, AI safeguards, android clone of a person, ... stellar engineering interstellar communication network engineered orbital structure engineered trans-orbital structure space station space mirror, space telescope, sun gun, world eating machine artificial gravity technology anti-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, ... speculative geoengineering artificial planet, asteroid mining, changing the orbit of a planet around its star, hollowed out asteroid habitat, ... device bigger inside than outside, space folding travel technology 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, matchmaking technology, ... fusion power antimatter power, geothermal energy from Earth's interior, human battery, perpetual energy machine 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 local weather control system, speculative artificial island, undersea tunnel 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 Dyson sphere, stellar rejuvenation orbital weapons space elevator space dock rotational simulated gravity 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 terraforming 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 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 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 change is part of life 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 people should stick to their own kind 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 being hardworking the importance of being honest 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 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
children and candy from strangers evil can come in the guise of beauty money isn't everything you have to take chances to get ahead the importance of keeping one's promises

the human condition ← human regular activity

academia computer hacking cooking fishing gardening gastronomy human occupational activity hunting recreational activity sports the fine arts and the humanities
archaeology occupation, astronomy occupation, geology occupation, history occupation, ... art related occupation artisan occupation, carpentry occupation, charitable volunteering, event management, ... poaching gambling tabletop games amateur radio, classic films, collecting objects, horseback riding, ... 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 problem gambling 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
problem gambling in society

the human condition ← humans in group

a danger shared can bring people together alternate points of view belonging coping with being an outcast 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 persuasion of groups by rhetoric pluralistic ignorance 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, ... betrayal getting along in spite of disagreement practical joking bluffing, cheating, clash of Wills, clash of wills, ... coping with a drunken fool nonconsensual voyeurism sportsmanship, table manners negotiating deadlock demagoguery
coping with being eclipsed by a family member controlling family member embarrassing family member custody battle coming of age adolescence, child leaving the nest, child living on the streets, childhood as an outsider, ... educating a child parental disappointment in a child parenting a child with special needs absentee father, adoption of 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 false friend 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, the birds and the bees 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 neighbor and neighbor 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, loyalty to a friend, male bonding, ... godparent and godchild husband and wife in-law relationship parent and child reunion with a loved one sibling and sibling twin and twin aunt and nephew, aunt and niece, brother and brother, brother and sister, ... coping with an obnoxious neighbor female-female rivalry, male-male rivalry romantic courtship 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
fairy godmother 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 child unhealthily attached to a parent, father and daughter, mother and daughter, parent and child rivalry reunion with a long lost child sibling rivalry conjoined twins flirtation teen romance choosing between lovers, love vs. career, love vs. faith, love vs. friendship, ... extramarital affair coping with a bad boss
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 competitiveness courage honesty honor human character stereotype human characters in contrast kindness loyalty obsession pride promiscuity spendthrift vanity chastity, childishness, chivalry, cowardice, ... remembering bygone days remembrance escape from reality, fantasy romance, thinking about one's accomplishments in life compassion fear grief jealousy love nostalgia remorse anger, boredom, contempt, embarrassment, ... 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 grumpy old coot, ... abandonment, coping with a life-changing event, coping with a loved one being gravely ill, coping with a loved one being in peril, ... 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 friend, coping with the death of a pet, ... 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 lost coping with being injured, coping with being tortured coping with a suicidal person, talking someone out of suicide male competitiveness courage in the face of death the importance of being honest family honor female stereotype hypocritical character male stereotype loser character, mad scientist stereotype, old woman as a witch stereotype, stereotypically innocent character, ... wicked character vs. virtuous character EQ vs. IQ, artist vs. scientist, commoner vs. intellectual, extrovert vs. introvert, ... helping a stranger in need 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, ... womanizing man coping with a spendthrift female vanity, narcissism reminiscence about one's youth, romanticization of the past coping with memories of a lost love helping a stranger in need 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 remembering bygone days survivor guilt repressing one's romantic desires becoming a nicer person 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 human romantic relationship choice working hard vs. taking it easy in life 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 self-preservation vs. conscience abandoning someone to save one's self, breaking the law to cover up another crime, choosing between conflicting loyalties, choosing whether to kill someone to spare them suffering, ... 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 recreational activity 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 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 problem gambling addiction to fortune telling, addiction to sensation, compulsive spending, social media addiction, ... delusion of grandeur human phobia overactive imagination psychological stress withdrawal from society Oedipus complex, Stockholm syndrome, acute anxiety, anger management issues, ... coping with being lost in space, coping with being lost in the forest the importance of keeping one's promises 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 picking up a hitchhiker pride in one's own creation parental pride the Casanova stereotype picking up a hitchhiker 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 friend, coping with the death of a pet, ... parental love filial love, love of a pet, matrimonial love, platonic love, ... infatuation epic love, forbidden love, impossible love, love at first sight, ... reminiscence about one's youth, romanticization of the past mending one's wicked ways 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 choosing between lovers, love vs. career, love vs. faith, love vs. friendship, ... homework vs. play helping a stranger in need sacrifice to prevent mass death donating an organ to save a life, sacrifice for a child, sacrifice for a friend, sacrifice for a loved one, ... choosing whether to return found property benefiting from someone else's work, trading sex to get ahead in the world 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, ... confessing to a wrongdoing vs. keeping quiet 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 desire to survive, 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 get away from it all, the desire to marry above one's station, ... the desire for glory the desire for vengeance the desire for fame, the desire for prestige, the desire for redemption, the desire to be beautiful, ... attachment to one's land, child's need to be loved, crew's attachment to their ship, the desire for justice, ... pleasure in coffee gambling tabletop games amateur radio, classic films, collecting objects, horseback riding, ...
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 problem gambling in society Messiah complex agoraphobia, arachnophobia, claustrophobia, fear of being alone, ... tilting at windmills 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 spouse coping with the death of a spouse maternal love, paternal love first crush, obsessive love picking up a hitchhiker sacrificing one's self to stop a contagion prostitution vs. poverty gold digging, greedy heir the desire for glory in battle hell hath no fury like a woman scorned problem gambling Dungeons and Dragons, the game of poker
problem gambling in society

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 be pregnant 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 ← folk belief

Japanese folklore communicating with the dead destiny divination fairies faith healing haunted object hexes and curses life force magic object magic word mandrake root legend omens preternatural rain spirit possession supernatural luck sympathetic magic taking someone's picture steals their soul the supernatural wacky dream interpretation wishing or wanting something really hard makes it happen witchcraft
séance one cannot cheat fate astrology, fortune telling fairy godmother haunted house, haunted painting, haunted vehicle magic potion wish-granting magic object flying carpet, madness inducing painting, magic bag, magic healing object, ... true name demonic possession bad luck signs, lucky charms, portent of luck, reliable streak of luck voodoo magic black magic, ghost hunting witch
love potion genie in a lamp, wish-granting shooting star voodoo doll witch-hunt old woman as a witch stereotype
the Salem witch trials

the pursuit of knowledge ← history

American Civil War Roswell UFO incident The Algerian War The Holocaust The Russian Revolution World War I World War II cultural history historical figure 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 El Dorado, ... 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 early modern Ireland, life in late modern Britain, life in late modern France, life in late modern Germany, ... life in Crow law era America, life in inner city America, life in post-war America, life in revolution era America, ... life in British colonial India, life in Crow law era America, life in Victorian Britain, life in late modern 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 ← 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 Islam Judaism animal sacrifice deal with the devil devil worship divine madness divine retribution divine visitation faith vs. reason funeral rite god and follower good and evil in religion heresy human sacrifice messiah miracle monasticism mortification of the flesh polytheism quasi-religious cult reincarnation religious festival religious hypocrisy religious prophesy resurrection of the dead sacred ground sacred sanctuary shamanism signs from the heavens sin the Devil the afterlife the deadly sins the problem of evil the religious end of the world the soul virgin birth vision quest vow of silence witch-hunt
the Holy Chalice religious prophet the deadly sins the Devil is an alien punishment in the afterlife reincarnation the Salem witch trials

the pursuit of knowledge ← philosophy

aesthetics ethics exaggerating the importance of humanity's place in the universe good and evil in religion human nature metaphysics nature vs. artifice problem of language and meaning self-fulfilling prophesy the problem of evil 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, ... communicating with deaf people, communicating with someone who speaks a different language, incompatible modes of communication, language change, ...
female seeking to find a superior mate grandfather paradox

the pursuit of knowledge ← science

archaeology astronomy biology chemicals ecology geology mathematics medicine physics psychology sociolinguistics technology
archaeology occupation binary star system, black hole, planet detection, pulsar, ... human biology the theory of evolution zoology cell division, genetics, the origin of life 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 animal behavior, mating behavior speed of light limitation space-based solar power

the pursuit of knowledge ← superseded scientific theory

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

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