Monthly Archives: February 2024

Thomas Nagel, WHAT DOES IT ALL MEAN?

Posted on 29 February 2024 by Mark R. Kelly

Here’s a *very* short introduction to philosophy, published way back in 1987 but which I tracked down and bought because it was recommended by Edward Craig, author of that other short introduction to philosophy that I reviewed here. As Craig … Continue reading →

Posted in Book Notes, Philosophy | Comments Off on Thomas Nagel, WHAT DOES IT ALL MEAN?

One More Batch

Posted on 28 February 2024 by Mark R. Kelly

More every day. All of these items are posts today. I’ll move on tomorrow. An essay by a mother about “Republicans’ Absurdist Reproductive Policies”; A MAGA congressman (from Tennessee) floats a Democratic conspiracy theory about the border, dadgummit; Ruben Bolling’s … Continue reading →

Posted in Conservative Resistance, conservatives, Lunacy, Politics | Comments Off on One More Batch

Items from the Fringe, and the Perhaps Mentally Ill

Posted on 27 February 2024 by Mark R. Kelly

Items about CPAC, MAGA’s thirst for blood, and Trump’s autocratic tirade and cognitive decline; Robert Reich notes Trump’s unimpressive performance in the caucuses and primaries; that Libs of TikTok lady calls a reporter a “lizard person”; Republicans want to cancel … Continue reading →

Posted in Conservative Resistance, Lunacy, Politics | Comments Off on Items from the Fringe, and the Perhaps Mentally Ill

Steven Pinker’s HOW THE MIND WORKS, post 5

Posted on 27 February 2024 by Mark R. Kelly

Several quotes, in addition to those already provided. From Chapter 3, Pinker makes an essential point about how natural selection works. People aren’t driven by their genes to reproduce or even survive — not consciously; people are driven by their … Continue reading →

Posted in Book Notes, Religion, Steven Pinker | Comments Off on Steven Pinker’s HOW THE MIND WORKS, post 5

Steven Pinker, HOW THE MIND WORKS, post 4

Posted on 26 February 2024 by Mark R. Kelly

Chapter 8, “The Meaning of Life,” is the last 45 page chapter of this 565 page (counting only text) book. Here he covers matters of human culture, much as Wilson did at the end of his 1978 book. Given that … Continue reading →

Posted in Book Notes, MInd, Music, Psychology, Religion, Steven Pinker | Comments Off on Steven Pinker, HOW THE MIND WORKS, post 4

Steven Pinker, HOW THE MIND WORKS, post 3

Posted on 25 February 2024 by Mark R. Kelly

Chapter 7, “Family Values,” about the psychology of social relations, is the longest chapter in the book, and second-to-last. The author begins by recalling that period in the 1960s when activists and folk singers called for peace and understanding, a … Continue reading →

Posted in Book Notes, Evolution, MInd, Psychology, Steven Pinker | Comments Off on Steven Pinker, HOW THE MIND WORKS, post 3

Agents of Chaos

Posted on 24 February 2024 by Mark R. Kelly

A piece in The Atlantic about people who embrace chaos and nihilism — and spread conspiracy theories just to alleviate boredom, or burn it all down; And an example of this: Washington Post on Libs of Tik Tok; And recalling … Continue reading →

Posted in Conservative Resistance, conservatives, Culture, science fiction | Comments Off on Agents of Chaos

Steven Pinker, HOW THE MIND WORKS, post 2

Posted on 24 February 2024 by Mark R. Kelly

The last few chapters are especially rich and fascinating. Here’s Chapter 6, about human emotions. Ch6, Hotheads

Posted in Book Notes, MInd, Psychology, Steven Pinker | Comments Off on Steven Pinker, HOW THE MIND WORKS, post 2

More on the IVF Brouhaha

Posted on 23 February 2024 by Mark R. Kelly

Vox summarizes the issue; Republicans are walking the issue back; they know it won’t win them votes; Amanda Marcotte on how this is about Christians controlling women; Robert Reich on the emerging Republican theocracy; A link to Connie Willis’ latest … Continue reading →

Posted in Conservative Resistance, conservatives, Music, Politics, Religion | Comments Off on More on the IVF Brouhaha

Steven Pinker, HOW THE MIND WORKS, post 1

Posted on 23 February 2024 by Mark R. Kelly

I mentioned this book a few days ago and quoted from it. Now I’ve finished it and will summarize and highlight. As I said earlier, I’ve had this book since it was published in 1997 (I have a first edition, … Continue reading →

Posted in Book Notes, MInd, Philosophy, Psychology, Science, Steven Pinker | Comments Off on Steven Pinker, HOW THE MIND WORKS, post 1