Of course, correlation does not imply causation, but common sense suggests that affluence, education, and acceptance of science contribute to longevity. Conversely, ignorance, poor diet and poverty are silent killers. Other minor points: Stay away from Sin City (Las Vegas). …
Category: Renewables – Science
A Note on Atheism
The meme here is just another, and equally clever way of saying, “A person who is good because he’s worrying about being sent to hell for all eternity is just a bad person on a leash.” I didn’t write either …
Tagged with: atheism
Who Gets Saved From Perdition, and Why?
A reader asked me if I feel sorry for the billions of people believed to be burning in hell because they had the bad luck to be born on this Earth before the birth of Christ, and thus were unable …
Certainty v. Doubt
Spot on. Who hasn’t observed this in his own life? I’m not sure whose idea this was originally, but it certainly predates Bukowski; I’m going with Bertrand Russell. This whole concept goes back to “Socratic wisdom,” i.e., the idea that …
Tagged with: Bertrand Russell
No, We Don’t All Have a Basic Grasp of Science, But the Problem Lies Even Deeper
Actually, I never assumed that everyone, or even most people, had a basic grasp of science. What has shocked me is how many people openly reject entire scientific disciplines that fly in the teeth of their political or religious beliefs. …
No, We Don’t All Have a Basic Grasp of Science, But the Problem Lies Even Deeper Read More »
Tagged with: climate deniers
Evolution
If humans evolved from monkeys, then why do monkeys still exist? According to science communicator Forrest Valkai, aka “The Renegade Science Teacher,” this is an extremely common question, and, in response, he provides this fabulous video. It’s a great reminder …
Tagged with: evolution
The Rejection of Science Might Be Humankind’s Undoing
Many of our civilization’s greatest thinkers believe that humankind has found itself in an “evolutionary cul-de-sac,” i.e., that we’ve progressed as far as this species is capable, along road with a dead-end ahead. Normally, these folks talk about our superabundance …
The Rejection of Science Might Be Humankind’s Undoing Read More »
Tagged with: rejection of science
Extraterrestrials, Anybody?
An old friend is a big believer that the Earth has been visited by alien civilizations, and I’m flattered that he occasionally reaches out to me to get my perspective on articles like the one linked above. I have two …
Tagged with: extraterrestrial aircraft
Conspiracy Theories Abound
As suggested by this clever meme, American society is awash completely with untenable beliefs. Worse, this terrifying phenomenon is not limited to the uneducated; of the five best friends I had growing up, two of them, one a medical doctor …
We Can Encourage Critical Thinking, Or Not
I like the point this guy’s making. Alternatively, we can ban books that enable our kids to think critically, and remove our best and brightest teachers, resulting in the United States’ drifting down into deeper levels of ignorance and illiteracy, …
Tagged with: Critical Thinking
