Abigail Thorn
British creator of Philosophy Tube: theatrical video essays that teach philosophy for free.
4 videos analysed · 4 quotes checked word for word · updated 2026-10-18
Key facts
- Educated at the University of St Andrews (philosophy and theology, MA 2015) and East 15 Acting School (MA 2017). Wikipédia 2026 · Abigail Thorn - Wikipedia
- In 2019 her five-day Shakespeare reading livestream raised about 109,000 pounds for the Samaritans. Wikipédia 2026 · Abigail Thorn - Wikipedia
In their words
give away a philosophy degree for free
I am of the opinion that you cannot choose to believe or not believe something
there's more to religion than just believing things to be true
How the ideas evolved
Click a step for details2013First video: "I think therefore I am"
She starts Philosophy Tube after tuition fees rose in England. Her first video is about Descartes.
2015Doubts about the mind as a computer
In a video on artificial intelligence, she warns that people always compare the mind to the latest technology of their time, and says we should be wary of the comparison with computers.
In their words« we should be wary of that intuition we humans do tend to say that minds are like whatever the most advanced technology at the time is »Warns against assuming the mind is like a computer: people always compare minds to the most advanced technology of their day. watch
2016Belief is not a choice
Answering a viewer, she says she thinks nobody can choose to believe or not believe something, but that people can avoid the evidence that would challenge their beliefs.
In their words« i am of the opinion that you cannot choose to believe or not believe something »Answering a viewer question, says belief is not a choice, though people can put themselves in a position to be receptive to a belief or avoid evidence against it. watch
2017Religion is more than belief
In "Religion: Truth & Belief", she presents R.M. Hare's idea of blicks and keeps its general point: there is more to religion than believing things to be true.
In their words« there's more to religion than just believing things to be true »After presenting R.M. Hare's idea of 'blicks', says she agrees with the general point that religion is more than holding beliefs to be true. watch
2018A theatrical style
Her videos move to a studio with costumes and makeup, and become more theatrical.
2019Panpsycast interview on public philosophy
She is interviewed by The Panpsycast on whether philosophy should change to be accessible. In the same year, her video "Queer" is praised by Sight & Sound.
2020Climate Grief
Her video on climate change draws on the philosopher Timothy Morton and on Terry Eagleton's book Why Marx Was Right, and highlights indigenous philosophy.
2021One million subscribers
The channel passes one million subscribers.
2022The Prince, a play
She writes and stars in a stage play, The Prince, which runs Off West End and wins an Offie award.
The arguments 1
The site's arguments they defend or criticize, and why. Click a title to see the full argument.
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In her 2014 video on the Frege-Geach problem, she calls it the central problem of noncognitivism, the view that moral sentences only express feelings.
Allies and opponents
René DescartesInfluence
Her first video, in 2013, was about Descartes's "I think therefore I am".
Immanuel KantInfluence
Descartes and Kant were her early interests, according to Wikipedia.
Jean-Paul SartreInfluence
Her 2019 video "Men. Abuse. Trauma." references Sartre's play No Exit, according to Vox.
Take the Compass: 5 minutes to find out which philosophers you are closest to.
All sources (9)
- Abigail Thorn - Wikipedia Wikipedia · 2026
- Philosophy Tube - Wikipedia Wikipedia · 2026
- Episode 68, The Abigail Thorn Interview (Part II) The Panpsycast · 2019
- Philosophy Tube's Men. Abuse. Trauma. is one of the year's best TV episodes Vox · 2019 *
- Philosophy Tube (tripleC) tripleC · 2020 *
- AI: Computers and Minds (Philosophy Tube) YouTube (Philosophy Tube) · 2015
- What Happens in a Philosopher's Brain? (Philosophy Tube) YouTube (Philosophy Tube) · 2016
- Religion: Truth & Belief (Philosophy Tube) YouTube (Philosophy Tube) · 2017
- Most Famous Ethical Puzzle: The Frege-Geach Problem (Philosophy Tube) YouTube (Philosophy Tube) · 2014