Are we headed for a Singularity? Is it imminent? I write relatively near-future science fiction that features neural implants, brain-to-brain communication, and uploaded brains. I also teach at a place called Singularity University. So people naturally assume that I believe in the notion of a Singularity and that one is on the horizon, perhaps in … Continue reading The Singularity Is Further Than It Appears – Charlie’s Diary
My answers to desired talents, ghosts, blogging lessons, desired fictional worlds, and other questions, and award stuff
I don't usually participate in these blog memes, not because I have any objection to them, but from lack of time, energy, or imagination on my part. That said, Michelle Joelle, who I have a high regard for, and whose high quality blog I very much recommend, nominated me for the Liebster Award. It appears … Continue reading My answers to desired talents, ghosts, blogging lessons, desired fictional worlds, and other questions, and award stuff
Aspiring authors need to look at self publishing
It’s no great secret that the world of publishing is changing. What is a secret is how much. Is it changing a lot? Has most of the change already happened? What does the future look like? via The Report – Author Earnings. Wow. I've suspected for a few years now that self publishing was the … Continue reading Aspiring authors need to look at self publishing
The Marionette’s Lament : A Response to Daniel Dennett : : Sam Harris
Dear Dan— I’d like to begin by thanking you for taking the time to review Free Will at such length. Publicly engaging me on this topic is certainly preferable to grumbling in private. Your writing is admirably clear, as always, which worries me in this case, because we appear to disagree about a great many … Continue reading The Marionette’s Lament : A Response to Daniel Dennett : : Sam Harris
Free will? It’s a no brainer
SMBC: A fable
As is often the case, Zach Weiner hits it out of the park with this observation. I've read a lot of history, and I'm struck by how often this type of pattern emerges. Click through to see the full sized version. via Saturday Morning Breakfast Cereal.
The scope of objective facts and morality
Our recent discussions, particularly on the thread about Jonathan Haidt's response to Sam Harris's challenge, left me thinking about the various scopes of objective facts. In retrospect, it's a bit obvious to me now that a key question in moral philosophy is, if morality is objective, at what scope is it objective? Haidt used the … Continue reading The scope of objective facts and morality
Are we nearing the end of science? – The Washington Post
Are we nearing the end of science? That is, are we running out of answerable questions, leaving us with only some mop-up duty, working around the edges of the great scientific achievements of Darwin, Einstein, Copernicus, et al.? via Are we nearing the end of science? - The Washington Post. This seems tangentially related to … Continue reading Are we nearing the end of science? – The Washington Post
Will the age of science end?
A while back, I became interested in the history of science, particularly the early history, including people like Copernicus, Galileo, Newton, Johanne Kepler, Andreas Vesalius, and many others. In reading about them, one of the things I was struck by was how small scale science was back then. In its beginnings, modern science was mostly … Continue reading Will the age of science end?
It’s Darwin Day, a celebration of science and reason | Machines Like Us
Darwin Day, according to the International Darwin Day Foundation, is “a global celebration of science and reason held on or around Feb. 12, the birthday anniversary of evolutionary biologist Charles Darwin." The idea of the celebration arose in 1993 as part of the activities of the Stanford Humanist Community, then headed by biologist Robert Stephens. … Continue reading It’s Darwin Day, a celebration of science and reason | Machines Like Us
SelfAwarePatterns 