Monthly Archives: October 2011

by | October 29, 2011

The ecological equivalent of Evolving Thoughts

I have been casting my beadies over this blog, Oikos Blog, which looks to take a critical and philosophical eye to ecology. It appears to have some careful and deep critics on it, and what is more, at least one … Continue reading →

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Filed under Ecology and Biodiversity, Philosophy

by | October 29, 2011

Rise of the Planet of the Moralists 4: Predicting traits

Rise of the Planet of the Moralists Series1: Introduction2: Chains and Trees 3: Clades and grades4: Predicting traits5: Social dominance and power Species have typical traits, anatomically. There is, however, a bit of a myth that before Darwin people thought species had essences which were … Continue reading →

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Filed under Ethics and Moral Philosophy, Philosophy, Religion, Social evolution, Species concept

by | October 28, 2011

Why am I not speaking at 2012 Global Atheism?

Next year, in Melbourne, where I live and 2 hours from where I have been living over the past several years, the Global Atheism Convention will be held. I am an Australian practical atheist (and philosophical Agnostic, which will become … Continue reading →

32 Comments

Filed under Metaphysics, Philosophy, Rant, Religion

by | October 27, 2011

The mind of the ecological engineer

I watched a very interesting documentary episode recently, entitled “All Watched Over by Machines of Loving Grace” (a phrase of poet Richard Brautigan’s), in which the maker Adam Curtis put forward the view that ecology was founded (at least in … Continue reading →

29 Comments

Filed under Ecology and Biodiversity, Evolution, General Science, Logic and philosophy, Metaphysics, Philosophy, Science

by | October 26, 2011

The nature of stochastic events in a block universe

Recently I had a paper accepted for Zygon in which I argued that God could create a universe with Darwinian accidents as a block universe. For those who have mercifully escaped the rigours and tribulations of the philosophy of time, … Continue reading →

29 Comments

Filed under Metaphysics, Philosophy, Science

by | October 25, 2011

Gratitude and humility

I sent this out this morning to a slew of folk: Dear all I am sending this to you as a mass mailing because I have been overwhelmed by the sheer number and generosity of donors since my pathetic begging … Continue reading →

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Filed under Administrative

by | October 20, 2011

Rise of the Planet of the Moralists 3: clades and grades

Rise of the Planet of the Moralists Series1: Introduction2: Chains and Trees 3: Clades and grades4: Predicting traits5: Social dominance and power Note: My researchers readers have inundated provided me with all kinds of interesting references (hi Jeb and Jocelyn). … Continue reading →

13 Comments

Filed under Ecology and Biodiversity, Ethics and Moral Philosophy, Evolution, History, Metaphysics, Species and systematics, Species concept

by | October 19, 2011

A shameless pathetic begging letter – give me money or God will take me to heaven

Late note: allow me to shout this out: YOU GUYS ROCK! I am totally overwhelmed by the generosity of the large and small donations -I know it was hard for some of you to give what you have. I am … Continue reading →

51 Comments

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by | October 18, 2011

Rise of the Planet of the Moralists 2: chains and trees

Rise of the Planet of the Moralists Series1: Introduction2: Chains and Trees 3: Clades and grades4: Predicting traits5: Social dominance and power Very famously, Darwin came up with the idea of the evolutionary tree. What is not often realized is that it is the tree … Continue reading →

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Filed under Biology, Epistemology, Ethics and Moral Philosophy, Evolution, History, Philosophy, Social evolution

by | October 17, 2011

I have arrived

I am now in Melbourne, and settling in amid the usual disasters and catastrophes involved in intercity moves… no solid internet yet, so I will be brief. I’ll be adding another Rise… post in a few days. I’m flying back … Continue reading →

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Filed under Administrative