Now on ScienceBlogs: And so, driven on ceaselessly toward new shores
One man's struggle against impermanence
John Wilkins is an eternal student, who thinks philosophy of biology is at least as interesting as politics or sport and twice as important. He has a PhD from the University of Melbourne and worked at the University of Queensland, in Australia, before taking up a research fellowship at the University of Sydney. After a varied career, involving factories, gardening, civil service, publishing, graphics, public relations but not, unfortunately for the CV, driving a truck, John finally completed his thesis on species concepts in 2004, which he has worked into two books.
This blog is designed evolved to host any random thoughts that happen to be passing through my forebrain at a given moment. So there will be errors...
I also have an Australia-focussed blog: The Drought Resistant Philosopher
The previous instantiation of this blog is accessible here.
April 30, 2009
Category: Censorship
From the New York Times: The Internet is no longer just an essential channel for commerce, entertainment and information. It has also become a stage for state control — and rebellion against it. Computers are becoming more crucial in global...
Posted by John S. Wilkins at 11:22 PM • 1 Comments •
April 29, 2009
Category: Evolution
As I investigate the use of tree diagrams in the nineteenth century, I keep running across things that shouldn't be there. One of them was this book: Herdman, William Abbott. 1885. A Phylogenetic Classification of Animals (For the Use of...
Posted by John S. Wilkins at 10:48 PM • 12 Comments •
Category: General Science
Although Sunday Night did a very good story on the antivaccination campaign's cost in lives, it now looks like they will do a follow up that takes the antivaxxer line, if the appearance in the ads of Australia's least accurate...
Posted by John S. Wilkins at 1:34 PM • •
April 28, 2009
Category: Creationism
Wilkins is fragile and destablised Intellectual tourist attacks local inhabitants All happy bacteria are alike (or is that like each other?) Australian current affairs gets vaccination right! [That's not a pun, it's an act of God] The original video is...
Posted by John S. Wilkins at 10:34 AM • 3 Comments •
Category: Creationism
My Synthese essay has finally been published [paywall], in which I argue that on the basis of the more realistic notion of rationality devised by Herbert Simon, called "bounded rationality", certain heuristics are liable to lead people to rationally choose...
Posted by John S. Wilkins at 5:40 AM • 16 Comments •
April 27, 2009
Category: Administrative
Sorry to sound Tweatish, but I've had about 4 hours sleep in the past 40 (I can't sleep on planes even with chemical assistance). I loved Lisbon, and the people who invited and paid for me to go were amazingly...
Posted by John S. Wilkins at 7:15 PM • 5 Comments •
April 25, 2009
Category: Logic and philosophy
Suppose you have a religion and are interested in science. Do you a. Have to give up your religion b. Have to abandon your effort to find out about the natural world through science c. Try to find some accommodation?...
Posted by John S. Wilkins at 7:58 AM • 46 Comments •
Category: History
No. Read this....
Posted by John S. Wilkins at 6:01 AM • 2 Comments •
April 23, 2009
Category: Administrative
"Few topics have engaged biologists and philosophers more than the concept of species, and arguably no idea is more important for evolutionary science. John S. Wilkins' book combines meticulous historical and philosophical analysis and thus provides new insights on...
Posted by John S. Wilkins at 3:57 PM • 17 Comments •
April 22, 2009
Category: Administrative
I gave my talk today on tree thinking at the local science museum for kids and the general public, which is amazingly popular. The Portuguese seem to hold science and knowledge in high esteem. Which is great. The Ciências Viva...
Posted by John S. Wilkins at 2:56 PM • 5 Comments •
PZ Myers 11.07.2009
PZ Myers 11.07.2009
Orac 11.06.2009
Orac 11.05.2009
revere 11.07.2009
