Monthly Archives: November 2009
Pearson on Classification
The classification of facts and the formation of absolute judgments upon the basis of this classification—judgments independent of the idiosyncrasies of the individual mind—essentially sum up the aim and method of modern science. The scientific man has above all things … Continue reading
Filed under Epistemology, Philosophy, Science, Systematics
Announcing a new book of mine
I know, this is getting tedious, but at least I haven’t published as many books as Neil Levy… Ashgate have put up a page announcing an anthology I edited on Intelligent Design and Religion as a Natural Phenomenon. It’s due … Continue reading
Filed under Book, Creationism and Intelligent Design, Religion
Species in the news
Several items have come to my attention on why properly identifying and treating species has practical effects: Correctly identifying the bugs that have laid eggs and matured on corpses will give time of death, but only if the right species … Continue reading
Lazy Manager Theory
Some people have asked me how I did a PhD, and wrote and taught a subject, while I was also manager of a department of graphic artists, receptionists, and animators, and did the annual report and various other publications. The … Continue reading
Filed under Administrative, Philosophy, trashcan categorial, Truisms
Johnson on instinct
“We do not know in what either reason or instinct consists, and therefore cannot tell with exactness how they differ; but surely he that contemplates a ship and a bird’s nest will not be long without finding out that the … Continue reading
Critical reasoning texts
Have any of my readers either taught or been taught from a good critical reasoning text? If so, can you name it and recount the pros and cons of that text? I’m preparing a subject. Thanks
Filed under Epistemology, Philosophy
Hunting for the Hat Gene
Mark Liberman has a good essay on why we shouldn’t be seeking genes for X here.
The New Yorker on “Freakonomics” and Global Warming
To be skeptical of climate models and credulous about things like carbon-eating trees and cloudmaking machinery and hoses that shoot sulfur into the sky is to replace a faith in science with a belief in science fiction. This is the … Continue reading
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Filed under General Science, Politics
Plato on the origin of the gods
As for the other spiritual beings [daimones], it is beyond our task to know and speak of how they came to be. We should accept on faith the assertions of those figures of the past who claimed to be the … Continue reading
Filed under History, Philosophy, Religion
