Category Archives: science

Ben Stein: “…That’s where science leads you”

Andrew Sullivan’s readers pick, among their choices for Worst of 2008, an interview excerpt from lawyer/comedian/commentator Ben Stein that Bradlaugh, at NRO “Corner”, accurately described as “dreck” and “shameful” (Godwin alert): Stein: When we just saw that man, I think … Continue reading

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Way crazier than Creationism….

…is AIDS Denialism.  Christine Maggiore died before the New Year.  Those making excuses for the deaths in this particular family are not good Bayesians.

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No We Can’t!

New Poll Gauges Americans’ General Knowledge Levels: Also in the “ideas have consequences” category, White House Philosophy Stoked Mortgage Bonfire.

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Acceptance of Evolution & belief in God

The question as to the relationship on a socio-cultural scale about the relationship of acceptance of evolution and belief in God is often mooted.  In The Blind Watchmaker Richard Dawkins famously contended that the theory of Darwinian evolution allowed one … Continue reading

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Mind bending assumptions

A minor follow up, just so that readers of this weblog know where I’m “coming from.” I accept the contentions that:  Most cognition is implicit. That is, we do not have access to it to so that it is amenable … Continue reading

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Welcome Cornelius J. Troost

I was pleased to see that Cornelius J. Troost is contributing to our comment thread. I admire his self-control:  not once, in a longish comment, did he mention his excellent book, Apes or Angels. It would make a great Christmas … Continue reading

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The many faces of human nature

Ivan Kenneally and Larry Arnhart continue their dialogue over Darwinian Conservatism. Ivan says: …In the spirit of a “comprehensive science” as described by Leo Strauss, Arnhart recommends a more monistic approach that captures not only our natural inclinations but those … Continue reading

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Your genes on cuisine

A year ago there was a paper on the effect of diet on enzyme production, Diet and the evolution of human amylase gene copy number variation. That human evolution skeptic, P. Z. Myers, has just noticed the paper, and says: This … Continue reading

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The tasty drug

Sugar Can Be Addictive: Animal Studies Show Sugar Dependence: A Princeton University scientist will present new evidence today demonstrating that sugar can be an addictive substance, wielding its power over the brains of lab animals in a manner similar to … Continue reading

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Is has utility toward ought

Four years ago, Will Wilkinson, stated: … So, I will powerfully counter-assert: a theory of human nature is NOT supposed to be normative. Take that Richard Rorty! A theory of human nature, or at least a theory of homo sapiens … Continue reading

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