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In Hard Times, Dickens questions the meaning of education. Dismissing his character Mr Gradgrind's demands for "Facts... nothing but Facts", he supports a more imaginative and emotional engagement with the world. Gradgrind's insistence upon paringCutting off the edges or outside of something. knowledge down to its barest bones wreaks havoc not only on his children's lives, but also on his students: Louisa, for example, finds that her strict education has inhibited her from expressing her emotions.

Should schools embrace ChatGPT? The chatbot has amazed users with its ability to write essays and solve maths problems. But some worry that it will undermine the education system.

Should we all take a summer holiday from social media? The big platforms are still allowing a tidal wave of harmful content, some argue. But others say they can't live without it.

Is Eton suppressing free speech? Britain's most elite school faced an appeal from a teacher it says it had no choice but to fire - over a controversial anti-feminist video.

For Dickens, morality is not the preserve of those with higher social status or even a better level of education - in fact, it is often quite the opposite. Throughout the novel he contrasts human values such as fidelityFaithfulness. with superficial behaviour which, whilst conforming to Victorian norms, ultimately does more harm than good.

Can philosophy make us better people? A new book by the writer of the TV hit, The Office, argues that it can. Other thinkers believe that philosophy itself is no longer relevant.

Do robots need morals? A leading law-maker has said that artificial intelligence must meet ethical standards. But even leading researchers do not fully understand the machines they build.

Is it ethical to genetically engineer humans? A top bioethics council has declared gene editing of human embryos "morally permissible". Some fear the social consequences could be disastrous.

Dickens was deeply concerned that industrialisation would force people to conform to social roles as mechanised as the mills themselves. He felt that the atmosphere of the rapidly industrialising and urbanising society was cold, loveless and devoid of the great traits of humanity, including imagination. He conveys this through Gradgrind's utilitarianA school of ethics that focuses on maximising people's happiness and minimising their suffering. materialism, which is insufficient to meet the heightened imagination and emotions of a child, and ends up doing more damage than good for the children's development.

Is imagination what makes us human? Hilary Mantel's gift for inhabiting the minds of people from other ages and cultures made her one of the most admired novelists of our time.

Can fiction be truer than truth? The story of an author who manipulated her fans into believing she was dead has shocked many people. But some think she is a symbol of our times.

Is thinking our greatest power? From clothes made from mushrooms to limits on tourists, 2023 promises to be a year of new ideas. They might help us create a brave new world.

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There is a series of unhappy marriages in Hard Times. Mr Gradgrind is married to a feeble and cantankerousBad-tempered and unhelpful. wife. Louisa Gradgrind marries the pompousSelf-important and overly serious. and boastful Mr Bounderby to help her brother Tom. And poor Stephen Blackpool's wife is a drunk determined to haunt him. The novel is entirely devoid of marital happiness, love, or even affection.

Is marriage dying? A court decision might grant similar status for different types of relationships. But many argue that marriage remains at the heart of human culture and experience.

Is the old saying "Money can't buy happiness" true? One of the world's richest couples, Bill and Melinda Gates, announced they were getting divorced after 27 years of marriage.

Do we need new rules for dating? The feminist revolutions of the 1900s ended centuries of strict rituals for young couples. In the #MeToo era, should we look to the past for guidance?

Hard Times presents a critique of Bentham's utilitarian philosophy. Dickens believed that utilitarianism's focus on maximising the interests and happiness of the majority was an insult to the rights of the individual and discouraged imagination. The novel implies that such ideas are linked to capitalismA form of economy characterised by private property and competition between companies.'s relentless pursuit of financial gain and self-interest, and are largely detrimentalNegative. to people themselves.

Can philosophy stop war? In a tough neighbourhood in Belfast, one man is teaching Plato, Socrates and Aristotle to challenge children to think for themselves and reject violence.

Was Socrates the first victim of cancel culture? A new play compares the great philosopher to the "free thinkers" of today. But some argue Socrates was no hero of free speech.

Is effective altruism a good idea?  Supporters advocate using evidence-based reasoning to maximise good and mitigate long-term threats to humanity. Is this just too neat?

Paring - Cutting off the edges or outside of something.

Fidelity - Faithfulness.

Utilitarian - A school of ethics that focuses on maximising people's happiness and minimising their suffering.

Cantankerous - Bad-tempered and unhelpful.

Pompous - Self-important and overly serious.

Capitalism - A form of economy characterised by private property and competition between companies.

Detrimental - Negative.