Tag Archives: ethics

From the eyes of babes

Posted on May 9, 2010 by David Hume

The cognitive psychologist Paul Bloom has a long piece in The New York Times Magazine, The Moral Life of Babies. Such research always interests me because the biological and cultural shape that humans give to morality are important parameters in … Continue reading →

Posted in culture, politics | Tagged , | 6 Comments

Moral thought, rational or reflexive?

Posted on March 3, 2010 by David Hume

Rod Dreher, Does moral action require rational thought?: What do you think? My answer is, “Mostly, no.” I believe virtue is mostly a matter of habit. This is not to say that reason has nothing to do with morality; obviously … Continue reading →

Posted in philosophy | Tagged , , | 9 Comments

Saints & Sinners

Posted on June 27, 2009 by David Hume

Normally I would post this at one of my science blogs…but it might be relevant right now in politics. Sinning Saints and Saintly Sinners: The Paradox of Moral Self-Regulation: The question of why people are motivated to act altruistically has … Continue reading →

Posted in data, Uncategorized | Tagged , | 2 Comments

Social science & engineering

Posted on June 17, 2009 by David Hume

A recent Bloggingheads.tv featured two philosophers, and was titled “Explaining and Appraising Moral Intuition”. A considerable proportion of the discussion involved the utility of cognitive and evolutionary psychology in probing the reflexive roots of our moral intuitions, and how that … Continue reading →

Posted in culture, economics, philosophy, science, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , | 5 Comments

Romania to decriminalize incest

Posted on April 12, 2009 by David Hume

Romania weighs decriminalizing consensual incest: Three European Union nations — France, Spain and Portugal — do not prosecute consenting adults for incest, and Romania is considering following suit. … Laws exempting parents, grandparents, brothers and sisters from prosecution for incestuous … Continue reading →

Posted in culture, philosophy, politics | Tagged , , | 13 Comments

On objective ends

Posted on February 26, 2009 by David Hume

Jim Kalb offers a criticism of the general mission statement of this weblog, Is “the secular” so clear?: My own view, which my book goes into at length, is that by itself rational empiricism gives you desire and technique as … Continue reading →

Posted in philosophy, politics | Tagged , , | 51 Comments

Brother can you spare a bit of Arminianism?

Posted on January 14, 2009 by David Hume

Somewhat related to Heather’s post, God’s Problem, see this fascinating New York Times Magazine piece on neo-Calvinism, Who Would Jesus Smack Down?: Mars Hill — with its conservative social teachings embedded in guitar solos and drum riffs, its megachurch presence … Continue reading →

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Mozi vs. the Confucians

Posted on December 8, 2008 by David Hume

From Wikipedia on the bête noire of the Confucians, Mozi: …Though Mozi did not believe that history necessarily progresses, as did Han Fei Zi, he shared the latter’s critique of fate (?, mìng). Mozi believed that people were capable of changing … Continue reading →

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Truth matters

Posted on December 6, 2008 by David Hume

In Heather’s post she mentioned that at the end of the day for her it is about truth, not consequence, in relation to supernatural claims.  This is a point that needs to be made because intellectuals such as Michael Novak … Continue reading →

Posted in philosophy, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , | 18 Comments