Click through for full sized version and the red button caption. via Saturday Morning Breakfast Cereal. The idea that only humans have an afterlife has always been one that I find interesting. If only humans have them, at what point in our evolutionary history did we obtain them? Did Neanderthals have them? What about Homo-erectus? If … Continue reading Who was the first person to have an afterlife?
Category: Zeitgeist
Rescuing Aristotle
An excellent article! I think the tendency to judge historical figures by modern standards is one we always have to be cautious of. Aristotle was amazing for his times. Criticizing him for not understanding the world as well as we do, without understanding the intervening 2300 years, is facile. Criticizing Aristotle is a tradition that … Continue reading Rescuing Aristotle
I have to say it. I hated the Doctor Who episode: ‘Kill the Moon’
SPOILER WARNING: If have haven't seen the latest Doctor Who episode and don't want to be spoiled, you may want to hold off reading this entry until you have seen it. Indeed, you might find this post confusing until you have seen it. There has been some reactions to the episode, from Charlie Ann … Continue reading I have to say it. I hated the Doctor Who episode: ‘Kill the Moon’
Hans Rosling and Ola Rosling: How not to be ignorant about the world
Worried the world is going to hell in a handbasket? You'll feel better after watching this video, and also get some insight into why you might have thought it was. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sm5xF-UYgdg Watching this video also reminded me of something I learned years ago, not to trust numbers given in isolation. Whenever I hear about the … Continue reading Hans Rosling and Ola Rosling: How not to be ignorant about the world
US parents, think carefully before you let your kids play football
You won't see posts on this blog very often about sports. Not really one of my interests. But I think this is an issue that needs to be widely known. Scientists Dissected the Brains of 79 NFL Players. What They Found Is Disturbing. | Mother Jones. Yesterday, the country's leading investigators of sports-related brain injuries released … Continue reading US parents, think carefully before you let your kids play football
Musings on Gettier and the definition of knowledge
People Are the Problem and They Pretty Much Always Will Be
Jim Holt: Why does the universe exist?
I did a post a few weeks ago explaining why I'm not much of a fan of the "Why is there something rather than nothing?" question. So, when this TED talk popped up later, I resisted watching it, thinking it would just be a rehash of the standard hand wringing. I guess you could still characterize … Continue reading Jim Holt: Why does the universe exist?
Massimo Pigliucci on the boundary between science and pseudoscience
In this video, Massimo Pigliucci, the philosopher and biologist who runs the Scientia Salon site, discusses the demarcation problem, the dividing line between what is and is not science. The distinction is easy for things like astrology and astronomy, but gets more difficult for many other areas. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zBUKQWM5Jf0 I'd forgotten about Massimo's latest book on pseudoscience. … Continue reading Massimo Pigliucci on the boundary between science and pseudoscience
SelfAwarePatterns 