• Meta-ethics on Bloggingheads.tv

  Geoffrey Sayre-McCord and Will Wilkinson

  tags: meta-ethics, ethics, philosophy, grue, morality

• Eyeing the Evolutionary Past | PZ Myers

  As we survey nature, the eyes of various creatures reveal the underlying means by which a single attribute can express itself over millions of years. (Seed)

  tags: evolution, biology, science, grue

• Resolved: religion is the greatest threat to scientific progress and rationality that we face today

  If the contrast is fundamentalism v. science then of course religion threatens science. But if the contrast is fundamentalism v modernist theologies v Catholic doctrine v ... for the whole disjunct of actually held views in a given society, then the "threat" of "religion" is lessened to what I think it is, a minority of believers, through a spectrum of attitudes to science ending in total acceptance and contribution to science. The error lies in lumping all religious views into one category, defined rather crudely, and then claiming that all members of that category are either (i) like the definition, or (ii) rare. (Evolving Thoughts)

  tags: science, religion, Dennett, grue

• Dying Sooner: The New US Pattern

  Education. Infrastructure. Health Care. Those are the basics. They are investments, and not simply redistributing the spoils of growth. But even with taxation, we can make changes. If I had to pick one issue, it would be using local taxes to support local schools. Seems like a good idea. But it then drives the educational segregation of people, of rich parents moving to rich school districts. Poor kids left with what they?ve got.
  
  Why does it matter? Because environment makes a substantial difference in IQ. Because poverty poisons the brain.
  
  Kids need a fighting chance. Material wealth, behavioral health, real opportunities?those are the basics. They will lead to a longer and a better life. (Neuroanthropology)

  tags: education, poverty, health, economics, grue

• Review of Kluge (Gary Marcus)

  The human mind, Marcus writes, is ?the most fantastic kluge of them all,? an organ whose ?haphazard construction? is apparent in our memory slips, credulous beliefs and self-defeating choices. (Anne Murphy Paul, New York Times, 04.27.08)

  tags: brain, evolution, grue

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