Now on ScienceBlogs: Live Organ Transplants
An irregular exploration of the struggle between the power of rational discourse and the scientific method on one hand, and the forces of superstition and dogma on the other. Mostly regarding climate change, though.
James Hrynyshyn is a freelance science journalist based in western North Carolina, where he tries to put degrees in marine biology and journalism to good use.
The Demon-Haunted World:
Science as a Candle
in the Dark,
by Carl Sagan
(A
review)
The Doubter's Companion:
by John Ralston Saul (Excerpts)
Skeptic Magazine: www.skeptic.com
Committee for the Scientific Investigation of Claims of the Paranormal: www.csicop.org
A poem by Yehuda Amichai:
The
Place
Where We Are Right
The Meaning of the
Island of Doubt
By doubting we come to inquiry; and through inquiry we perceive truth.
--- Peter Abelard
Undisguised clarity is easily mistaken for arrogance.
-- Richard Dawkins
As for evolution, it happened. Deal with it.
-- Michael Shermer.
"There is no need to sally forth, for it remains true that those things
which make us human are, curiously enough, always close at hand.
Resolve, then, that on this very ground, with small flags waving, and
tiny blasts of tinny trumpets, we have met the enemy, and not only may
he be ours, he may be us."
--Walt Kelly
Category: climate
The trick is convincing the climatology pseudoskeptics that there will always be loose ends,
Posted by James Hrynyshyn at 7:18 AM • 3 Comments • 0 TrackBacks
Category: philosophy
Very few of those who aren't at least somewhat concerned about the consequences of business as usual on the climate front are climatologists.
Posted by James Hrynyshyn at 12:54 PM • 6 Comments • 0 TrackBacks
Category: philosophy
Steven Pinker of The Blank Slate fame, weighs in on the nature and temptation of "dangerous ideas" in the latest must-read for visitors to the Island. Not too surprisingly, he likes them. Among the questions we should not be afraid...
Posted by James Hrynyshyn at 1:41 PM • 1 Comments • 0 TrackBacks
Category: philosophy
Few historical events are cloaked in as much confusion and controversy as the assassination of John Fitzgerald Kennedy. There's dueling government reports -- one concluded it was the work of a lone gunman, the other fingered an undefined conspiracy. Otherwise...
Posted by James Hrynyshyn at 1:36 PM • 8 Comments • 0 TrackBacks
Category: philosophy
We live in something resembling a sea of certainty, one that champions absolute truth, rewards those with the strength of their convictions, and dismisses anyone who dares challenge the dogma of the day.
Posted by James Hrynyshyn at 6:40 AM • 2 Comments • 0 TrackBacks
Category: philosophy
I have only read the first few paragraphs, but know the rest of "Scientific reticence and sea level rise" will be fascinating. Jim Hansen bemoans the conservatism of science. Hmmm. I shall offer my thoughts this weekend, but wanted to...
Posted by James Hrynyshyn at 6:55 AM • 3 Comments • 0 TrackBacks
Category: philosophy
The advent of the release of an official government study warning that robots will soon be demanding their civil rights is a sure sign of the Christmas season. Senior editors and reporters are either at home with the family or...
Posted by James Hrynyshyn at 11:32 AM • 3 Comments • 0 TrackBacks
Category: philosophy
One of the best things about the Science Blogs collective is that so little of what gets posted concerns the mundane and prosaic details of the authors' lives. We write substantial, serious stuff, posts that deal with public figures and...
Posted by James Hrynyshyn at 2:01 PM • 4 Comments • 0 TrackBacks
Category: philosophy
For a guest post to the meta-blog Daily Canuck, I whipped off a few words on the chasm between what's considered politically feasible when it comes to a national climate change strategy for Canada and what climatology suggests will be...
Posted by James Hrynyshyn at 12:37 PM • 1 Comments • 0 TrackBacks
Category: philosophy
On the one hand, it's kind of sad that early 21st-century society is in need of frequent reminders of just how important reason is. Israelis and Lebanese are slaughtering each other. Iraq is in the midst of what can best...
Posted by James Hrynyshyn at 7:43 AM • 2 Comments • 0 TrackBacks
Uncertain Principles 11.08.2009
Neurotopia 11.09.2009
The Primate Diaries 11.09.2009
Stoat 11.07.2009
Tomorrow's Table 11.07.2009
