Category Archives: Science

Plinks: Coyne responds to Frank; Religion becoming obsolete?; Dawkins’ response

Posted on Tuesday 27 August 2013 by Mark R. Kelly

Jerry Coyne responds to Adam Frank’s op-ed piece in NYT last week about science illiteracy. Coyne doesn’t dispute Frank’s points, so much as his recommendations. But after reading it, I was disappointed, for although Frank’s piece is pro-science, it’s merely … Continue reading →

Posted in Religion, Science | Comments Off on Plinks: Coyne responds to Frank; Religion becoming obsolete?; Dawkins’ response

Plinks: Adam Frank, PZ Myers, Hendrik Hertzberg

Posted on Thursday 22 August 2013 by Mark R. Kelly

Just after yesterday’s post about Donald Prothero, on “The Serious Consequences of Science Illiteracy”, comes this op-ed by scientist Adam Frank in the New York Times, which says pretty much the same thing…. http://www.nytimes.com/2013/08/22/opinion/welcome-to-the-age-of-denial.html The triumph of Western science led … Continue reading →

Posted in Philosophy, Quote at Length, Religion, Science | Comments Off on Plinks: Adam Frank, PZ Myers, Hendrik Hertzberg

Donald Prothero on science illiteracy, the Dunning-Kruger effect

Posted on Wednesday 21 August 2013 by Mark R. Kelly

Another interesting blogger I’ve run across is Donald Prothero, author of a recent book called Reality Check: How Science Deniers Threaten Our Future, and a contributor to Skepticblog. This post reads like an introduction to the theme of that book. … Continue reading →

Posted in Science | Comments Off on Donald Prothero on science illiteracy, the Dunning-Kruger effect

Plinks: Steven Pinker, Carl Zimmer, Anti-Intellect, History Chart, Weigel on Card

Posted on Monday 19 August 2013 by Mark R. Kelly

A collection of quotes from what I thought were interesting articles and posts and tweets, over the past week or more (I should post more often). (And actually, I’m saving a few for later posts.) Perhaps I will call posts … Continue reading →

Posted in Commonplace Book, Quote at Length, Science, Thinking | Comments Off on Plinks: Steven Pinker, Carl Zimmer, Anti-Intellect, History Chart, Weigel on Card

Stories, Narratives, Facts

Posted on Friday 9 August 2013 by Mark R. Kelly

Salon has an excerpt from a new book by David McRaney, You Are Now Less Dumb. I think I’ll quote from the excerpt, just because (at the moment) I can. The people who came before you invented science because your … Continue reading →

Posted in Quote at Length, Science | Comments Off on Stories, Narratives, Facts

Cory Doctorow on Father’s Day, and Scientific Method

Posted on Sunday 14 July 2013 by Mark R. Kelly

Popular Mechanics: What My Father Taught Me: Cory Doctorow My dad was really good at making me think everything through. The scientific method is a totally counterintuitive thing because it begins by saying: You can’t trust your memory or your … Continue reading →

Posted in Commonplace Book, Quote at Length, Science | Comments Off on Cory Doctorow on Father’s Day, and Scientific Method