Irish history of science 18 Sep 2009 The deputy prime minister, or Tanaiste, of Ireland, has made a slight gaffe: She said the IDA would be marketing Ireland as the innovation island — “like Einstein explaining his theory of evolution”. After that, she said that Ireland would win sport like Darwin discovering gravity, and sing in Eurovision like Newton inventing oxygen. I won’t make an Irish joke, I won’t make an Irish joke [I’m part Irish, so I can.] Where’s Lynch? History Humor Science
Epistemology You and me, baby, ain’t nothing but mammals 7 Apr 2010 The song of the title of this post is a catchy and highly amusing piece that suggests that if we’re just mammals we should have sex. It’s sort of a low brow version of Andrew Marvell’s To his coy mistress. Instead of Time’s wingéd chariot, we should do what mammals… Read More
Evolution Could God Have Set Up Darwinian Accidents? 9 Jul 20119 Jul 2011 I have a paper forthcoming in the Theology and Philosophy journal Zygon, that I thought some of the readers of this blog might find interesting. Here’s the PhilPapers entry: John S. Wilkins (forthcoming). Could God Have Set Up Darwinian Accidents? Zygon. Charles Darwin, in his discussions with Asa Gray and in… Read More
Evolution Yet another Darwin diagnosis 18 Jan 2010 Diagnosing Darwin’s maladies is something of a professional sport amongst doctors. Previously he has been diagnosed as having Chagas Disease, chronic fatigue, various viruses, and now something called cyclical vomiting syndrome. Since this “diagnosis” sounds like a simple description of the symptoms, colour me unimpressed. Read More
Where’s Lynch? I think he’s presenting a talk in a History of Physics symposium. You must admit, though, it was innovative.
He’s not commenting, that’s what he’s doing. Except to say … Never underestimate the stupidity of (Irish) politicians.