Category Archives: Psychology

Truth or Consequences

Posted on Friday 14 July 2023 by Mark R. Kelly

Why Republicans would want to defund the IRS, the DOJ, and the FBI; Cory Doctorow’s quick take on this theme in his latest novel; A new book about fearmongering; How conspiracy theories are driven by profit, not truth or honesty … Continue reading →

Posted in Book Notes, Conservative Resistance, Politics, Psychology | Comments Off on Truth or Consequences

Consciousness and Choices

Posted on Thursday 13 July 2023 by Mark R. Kelly

The problem of consciousness, and the resolution to a 25-year-old debate, via Vox and NYT’s Carl Zimmer; The paradox of choice, in supermarkets and everywhere else, in our abundant, materialistic world. Vox, Oshan Jarow, 30 Jun 2023: Why scientists haven’t … Continue reading →

Posted in Culture, Philosophy, Psychology, Science | Comments Off on Consciousness and Choices

Three Items by Paul Krugman

Posted on Friday 7 July 2023 by Mark R. Kelly

About why people don’t believe, or understand, that the economy has gotten better; Conspiracy theorists who think the government is simply faking the data about an improving economy; How ‘tech bros’ like Elon Musk are given to reflexive contrarianism and … Continue reading →

Posted in Politics, Psychology | Comments Off on Three Items by Paul Krugman

Conservative “Intellectualism,” and Fear

Posted on Saturday 1 July 2023 by Mark R. Kelly

Today: A long article about “conservative intellectuals”; How my attention to politics, especially to conservative antics, is actually all about science fiction, and its aspirations; A couple items about the Supreme Court case that did not involve an actual gay … Continue reading →

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Stomping the Floor and Deafening Applause

Posted on Tuesday 27 June 2023 by Mark R. Kelly

Let’s see how my thesis of yesterday might inform some of today’s news. How Republicans don’t want to solve problems, they want to stomp the floor to protest people they feel threatened by; How Republicans define crime; Shifting the goal … Continue reading →

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The Biggest Thing Conservatives Believe That Is Wrong

Posted on Tuesday 20 June 2023 by Mark R. Kelly

That there was a golden age. NY Times, Adam Mastroianni, 20 Jun 2023: Your Brain Has Tricked You Into Thinking Everything Is Worse

Posted in Conservative Resistance, Psychology | Comments Off on The Biggest Thing Conservatives Believe That Is Wrong

The Understanding of Human Nature, and Its Relationship to Science Fiction

Posted on Monday 19 June 2023 by Mark R. Kelly

Here’s a draft of another essay trying to summarize my take on science fiction and my provisional conclusions on the topics I’ve been reading about over the past couple decades.

Posted in Personal history, Psychology, science fiction, The Book | Comments Off on The Understanding of Human Nature, and Its Relationship to Science Fiction

The Assertions of Ideologues; Common Enemies

Posted on Friday 16 June 2023 by Mark R. Kelly

How the Republicans’ budget plan ignores the record of history; How conservatives don’t mind Muslims as long as they’re all against LGBTQ rights; Another review of the book about a conservative “regime change” for the “common good” — a Christian … Continue reading →

Posted in Politics, Psychology, Religion | Comments Off on The Assertions of Ideologues; Common Enemies

Donald Trump, Owen Gingerich, Heather Cox Richardson

Posted on Monday 12 June 2023 by Mark R. Kelly

A neuroscientist on why Trump loyalists are unbreakable; Why the astronomer Owen Gingerich saw God in the Cosmos; How Heather Cox Richardson dismantles the Republican charges that the DOJ is “weaponized” to take down Donald Trump. So why does a … Continue reading →

Posted in Politics, Psychology | Comments Off on Donald Trump, Owen Gingerich, Heather Cox Richardson

America’s Crackpots vs. Its Foundational Strength

Posted on Saturday 10 June 2023 by Mark R. Kelly

Items today: 12m people support violence to keep Trump in office; Kari Lake threatens violence to keep Trump in office; Florida wants immigrants to stay and work, despite the state’s anti-immigrant policies; Families in Florida who feel unsafe are leaving … Continue reading →

Posted in Politics, Psychology | Comments Off on America’s Crackpots vs. Its Foundational Strength