Category Archives: General Science
What should evolutionary psychology comprise?
Recently there have been a number of posts and comments on evolutionary psychology. A new paper in PLoS Biology argues that human brain evolution since the “stone age” (really?) has been rapid and multifaceted. And there are renewed calls for … Continue reading
On Hauser
Marc Hauser, the primatologist psychologist at Harvard who recently was accused of mistreating evidence and graduate students, has resigned. I am in two minds about this. His work, although I am unconvinced by some of it, was very important, and … Continue reading
Filed under Biology, General Science, Science
My article in Times Higher Education Magazine
Is here (scroll down), based on a prior post on this blog. In it I make the somewhat radical suggestion that medial and legal degrees should be removed from universities also. One of the commentators there took issue: I worry … Continue reading
Filed under Academe, Education, General Science, Politics
Quote: Eddington’s two tables
Arthur Stanley Eddington was an Englishman, a physicist, a pacifist and a clever writer: I have settled down to the task of writing these lectures and have drawn up my chairs to my two tables. Two tables! Yes; there are … Continue reading
Filed under General Science, History, Philosophy, Quotes
Ah, look at all the lonely planets
Epsilon Cygni Picked up a spin from a passing hot Jove Expelled from its star Wanders the galaxy Cooling its surface to 273 below Floats very far All the lonely planets Where do they all come from? All the lonely … Continue reading
Filed under General Science, Humor
The undergraduate effect and the gravity wells of knowledge
As usual, Randall Munroe nails it (although if I were playing with that metaphor, I’d say that density distorts the sheet). But I like metaphors, because unfortunately I have the mathematical ability and skills of a drunken frog. So I … Continue reading
Filed under Epistemology, General Science, Philosophy, Science
The heuristics of antiscience
I’m crowdsourcing here, to ensure that I don’t say anything more stupid than usual. I’m writing a piece for a forthcoming book on antiscience, edited by Massimo Pigliucci. I want to consider the heuristics of antiscientific thinking, but, not being … Continue reading
Darwin Day: Enough already
I love studying about Darwin and his life and times. I have read enormous amounts, and taught Darwinian history. I’m teaching it again this semester. But enough already. Can we talk about modern biology now? I get a strong impression … Continue reading
Filed under Biology, Ecology and Biodiversity, Education, Epistemology, Evolution, General Science, History, Philosophy, Rant, Science
