The other day, I came across this Big Think explanation by historian Sean Wilentz on why the US always seems to gravitate to a two party system. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wnju7zOH_Zs Unfortunately, while I think Wilentz touches on the main points, his explanation doesn't seem as clear as it could be. To start off, he refers to the … Continue reading Why the US two party system is so entrenched
Libertarian free will is incoherent, and that’s good for responsibility
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vCGtkDzELAI For a while, I'd considered myself done debating free will, having expressed everything about it I had to say. However, with this Crash Course video, and in light of the discussion on physicality we had earlier this summer, I realized I do have some additional thoughts on it. Just a quick reminder: I'm a compatibilist. I'm convinced … Continue reading Libertarian free will is incoherent, and that’s good for responsibility
The relentless rain
It was a forecast that was all too common for south Louisiana. We would have several days of rain. It would start Thursday evening and continue through the weekend. There was a possibility of flooding. The people in flood zones, who lived near rivers and bayous, should prepare. I don't live in a flood zone … Continue reading The relentless rain
Don’t trust your emotions. They will betray you.
I've mentioned before that my views have changed dramatically over the years. But thinking about that the other day, it occurred to me that most of that change happened in a fairly narrow period. At the beginning of 2004, I was still a nominal Catholic, often voted Republican, was suspicious of gays and other non-traditional groups, and … Continue reading Don’t trust your emotions. They will betray you.
Sites for tracking the US election
One of the problems with following election news here in the US, is that the various media outlets often try to convey a sense of drama in the outcome, even when it's not really there. For this reason, I try not too pay much attention to most of the prognosticators out there. Their track record been … Continue reading Sites for tracking the US election
The challenges of copying a mind
Michael Graziano has an article at the Atlantic looking at the plausibility of mind copying. He doesn't beat around the bush, going all in with the title: Why You Should Believe in the Digital Afterlife, although the actual text of the article is more nuanced, and echoes what I hear from most neuroscientists. As a neuroscientist, … Continue reading The challenges of copying a mind
Thoughts from a Baton Rouge native
I rarely comment on contemporary news. Usually we as the public have incomplete information, which often shows any immediate commentary to be wrong when the facts eventually come out (if they ever do). Unfortunately, by the time they do, the public has often lost interest. But with the recent killing of a black man by police in my … Continue reading Thoughts from a Baton Rouge native
Damasio’s theory of consciousness
Antonio Damasio is a neuroscientist and neurologist who has published a number of theories about how the brain and mind work. Unlike many theories of mind, his are thoroughly grounded in neuroanatomy. Central to Damasio's theory of consciousness is the idea of biological value, that which helps in preserving homeostasis, which of course aids in … Continue reading Damasio’s theory of consciousness
Is there a moral arc to history?
The arc of the moral universe is long but it bends toward justice. As someone who isn't able to find an objective basis for morality, I've often wondered what that means for the above statement from Martin Luther King. It certainly feels like we're making moral progress, that the status of previously oppressed or marginalized people … Continue reading Is there a moral arc to history?
Real Science vs. Fake Science
One of the best and most succinct explanations of the difference between real science and pseudoscience that I've seen.
SelfAwarePatterns 