Monthly Archives: June 2009

The politics of science

Posted on June 8, 2009 by David Hume

Bryan Caplan observes of Behaviorial Geneticists versus Policy Implications: In most disciplines, experts oversell their ability to give useful policy advice. In behavioral genetics, however, experts strangely undersell their ability to give useful policy advice…. …The upshot: Behavioral genetics makes … Continue reading →

Posted in science | Tagged , | 5 Comments

Religious Art

Posted on June 8, 2009 by Andrew Stuttaford

Heather, I’ll admit to being a fan of quite a lot of religious art from the masterpieces of the (early) Renaissance to the blood, bile and hellfire of some of the Flemish to,  for that matter,  the radiant gloom of … Continue reading →

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“Surrounded by Paganism”

Posted on June 8, 2009 by Andrew Stuttaford

Good Lord, Walter! Who knew? There are indeed a few pagans out there, dancing in groves, hanging out in New Age stores, worshiping trees and all the rest of it, but I don’t know quite where Mr. Gingrich gets the … Continue reading →

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“We are living in a period where we are surrounded by paganism.”

Posted on June 8, 2009 by Walter Olson

Newt Gingrich, in Virginia Beach, certainly seems to have learned to talk the talk. More: Allahpundit. And Ken Silber has a few “pagan” quotes to recommend to Gingrich, including this from Cicero: “Orators are most vehement when their cause is … Continue reading →

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Conservatism as disposition; the politcs of disgust

Posted on June 7, 2009 by David Hume

There are a series of papers out right now which show the positive relationship between political conservatism and reflexive disgust responses. Instead of summarizing the research myself I will point you to Observations of a Nerd, who does a really … Continue reading →

Posted in science | Tagged , , , | 12 Comments

Where’d all the religious art go, and who misses it?

Posted on June 7, 2009 by Heather Mac Donald

While in Boston this weekend for the opening night performance of L’Incoronazione di Poppea at the Boston Early Music Festival (an elegant, historically sensitive production, created, like all of BEMF’s work, in conscious rejection of the ignorant narcissism of Regietheater) … Continue reading →

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The conundrum of prayer

Posted on June 5, 2009 by Heather Mac Donald

Last Saturday, the New York City Police Department  experienced the worst misfortune that can befall a police department: one officer mistakenly and fatally shooting another.  The loss of Officer Omar Edwards to friendly fire is an unbearable tragedy, for which … Continue reading →

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Religion & abortion, the international trends

Posted on June 4, 2009 by David Hume

It is a well known fact that in the United States that opposition to abortion tends to be concentrated among the most religious segment of the population. It is also a fact that the more secular nations tend to be … Continue reading →

Posted in culture, politics | Tagged , , | 15 Comments

The Frontiers of Disgust

Posted on June 3, 2009 by Bradlaugh

I mentioned in a previous post that the next great social change arising from ever-heightened empathy might be an end to the mass killing of large animals for food. A reader contributed the following, off-line: Mr. D.:  Removing “mass slaughter … Continue reading →

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North Korea’s new god

Posted on June 3, 2009 by Heather Mac Donald

North Korea’s dictator Kim Jong-il is reported to have picked his youngest son as a successor, and the mandatory worship has already begun: In recent weeks, North Korean diplomats abroad have been told to begin to pay homage to Kim … Continue reading →

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