Search Results for: how the mind works

The Latest from Steven Pinker

Posted on Wednesday 22 March 2023 by Mark R. Kelly

Today, a long interview with Steven Pinker about ‘progress’ despite human nature; about the value of rationality; about looking at data and not headlines to understand the state of the world; about cancel culture; about the perils and inevitability of … Continue reading →

Posted in Human Progress, Psychology, Science, Steven Pinker | Comments Off on The Latest from Steven Pinker

Progress, Happiness, Economics, and Morality

Posted on Monday 20 March 2023 by Mark R. Kelly

Items about the reality of progress and hope that humanity overcomes the effects of climate change; the latest world happiness index in which the US ranks 15th; Robert Reich busting myths about how the wealthy right justify their wealth; and … Continue reading →

Posted in Economics, Morality, Psychology, Science | Comments Off on Progress, Happiness, Economics, and Morality

A Literary Break

Posted on Friday 17 March 2023 by Mark R. Kelly

Read last week: six short literary novels in five days. Three by Steinbeck; one each by Henry James and James Joyce and Leo Tolstoy. A break from my routine of reading science fiction and current nonfiction.

Posted in Book Notes, Culture | Comments Off on A Literary Break

Narratives, Vanity, and Empathy

Posted on Wednesday 15 March 2023 by Mark R. Kelly

A writer named Alissa Quart has a new book out, Bootstrapped: Liberating Ourselves from the American Dream, that challenges the American myth that one can “pull yourself up by your bootstraps” to succeed all on your own. It’s a fantasy … Continue reading →

Posted in Politics, Psychology | Comments Off on Narratives, Vanity, and Empathy

Michael Shermer: CONSPIRACY: Why the Rational Believe the Irrational

Posted on Monday 6 March 2023 by Mark R. Kelly

Michael Shermer’s latest book, a thorough account of why people believe conspiracy theories, why it might be beneficial (for evolutionary reasons) to give them the benefit of the doubt (even if they’re not true), with some deep dives into several … Continue reading →

Posted in Book Notes, Psychology | Comments Off on Michael Shermer: CONSPIRACY: Why the Rational Believe the Irrational

SF and AI in MSM

Posted on Sunday 5 March 2023 by Mark R. Kelly

Items about Isaac Asimov and AI, Adrian Tchaikovsky and octopuses and AI, SF magazines and AI-generated stories. The Atlantic, Jeremy Dauber, 3 Mar 2023: What Isaac Asimov Can Teach Us About AI, subtitled “The science-fiction writer imagined artificial intelligence—and what … Continue reading →

Posted in science fiction, Technology | Comments Off on SF and AI in MSM

Mehdi Hasan on Arguing

Posted on Thursday 2 March 2023 by Mark R. Kelly

Two interviews with and a book by Mehdi Hasan, about how to argue, and win arguments, using emotional connections over facts and figures, critical thinking skills, with the difficulty in conducting “good-faith” arguments with the right. How some victims of … Continue reading →

Posted in Conservative Resistance, Culture | Comments Off on Mehdi Hasan on Arguing

There are “Theories” and then there are “Theories”

Posted on Tuesday 28 February 2023 by Mark R. Kelly

I have an idea I haven’t heard or read anyone express before: that some of the confusion about science on the one hand, and the legitimacy of crazy, sometimes deliberately fabricated, nonsensical ideas about what’s going on in the world … Continue reading →

Posted in Conservative Resistance, Psychology, Science | Comments Off on There are “Theories” and then there are “Theories”

I do not think this study means what this writer thinks it means

Posted on Saturday 25 February 2023 by Mark R. Kelly

(Added Sunday: another take on the same study from a writer at Vox.) NYT, Bret Stephens, 21 Feb 2023: The Mask Mandates Did Nothing. Will Any Lessons Be Learned? A conservative columnist for the NY Times claims a meta-study on … Continue reading →

Posted in Conservative Resistance, Science | Comments Off on I do not think this study means what this writer thinks it means

Two Philosophical Bits

Posted on Friday 24 February 2023 by Mark R. Kelly

Are you the same person you were last week? How long should you shop?

Posted in Philosophy, science fiction | Comments Off on Two Philosophical Bits