New SEP article on innateness 7 Aug 2009 Speaking of Paul Griffiths, who were were just a little while back, he has a new essay up at the Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy: The Distinction between Innate and Acquired Characteristics. This is a crucial issue in biology, psychology, and even the law and social science. So this is a welcome resource. I strongly recommend it, and not just because he’s my colleague. Biology Genetics Philosophy Science
Biology What came before Darwin 2 Oct 2009 If ever you wondered what the “default” view was before the modern era began with the late 18th century naturalists, culminating in Darwin, regarding the natural world, this passage, from a philosopher with the odiferous name William Smellie, gives a complete summary. Read More
Philosophy Things are not always what they seem 8 Sep 2009 First the Earth was flat But it fattened up when we didn’t fall off Now we spin laps around the Sun Oh the gods lost 2-1 The host of Heaven pointed out to us from lightyears away We’re surrounded by a billion galaxies Things are not always, things are not… Read More
Epistemology I’m about to give a keynote… in Poland 4 Jul 20124 Jul 2012 This is a brave new world. I’m about to give a keynote address to the Naturalizing Religion conference in Kazimierz Dolny in Poland. Or I would be if their internet hadn’t just died completely. Stay tuned for further news of the way things go wrong at the very last moment… Read More