Author Archives: Mark R. Kelly

LQCs: Reality, Fantasy, Narcissism

Posted on Wednesday 27 April 2022 by Mark R. Kelly

Media Matters, Payton Armstrong, 27 April 2022: According to right-wing media, anything that makes them look bad is a “false flag” Subtitled: “Whether it’s acts of right-wing violence, Russian war crimes, or the January 6 pipe bombs, right-wing media personalities … Continue reading →

Posted in Politics, Psychology, Religion | Comments Off on LQCs: Reality, Fantasy, Narcissism

LQCs: Ideologies vs. Expertise

Posted on Tuesday 26 April 2022 by Mark R. Kelly

This neatly follows up from yesterday’s comments about ideologies. The issue is, why don’t Americans trust experts?. And to cut to the chase, Lewis sees the problems as: people drawing conclusions about the world (including ideologies!) based on anecdotes (personal … Continue reading →

Posted in Psychology | Comments Off on LQCs: Ideologies vs. Expertise

LQCs: News, Propaganda, Ideologies, and a Modern Wise Man

Posted on Monday 25 April 2022 by Mark R. Kelly

First, two items that follow-up the last item in yesterday’s post. Following, a modern wise one about ideologies.

Posted in Philosophy, Politics, science fiction | Comments Off on LQCs: News, Propaganda, Ideologies, and a Modern Wise Man

LQCs: Sanctimony and Amorality

Posted on Sunday 24 April 2022 by Mark R. Kelly
Posted in Politics, Psychology, Religion | Comments Off on LQCs: Sanctimony and Amorality

Closing Out Prothero

Posted on Saturday 23 April 2022 by Mark R. Kelly

I didn’t quite finish my write-up of Prothero’s GOD IS NOT ONE yesterday. So a few more comments. With a lagniappe.

Posted in Book Notes, Religion | Comments Off on Closing Out Prothero

Stephen Prothero, GOD IS NOT ONE (2010)

Posted on Friday 22 April 2022 by Mark R. Kelly

Here is a book I’ve mentioned a couple times, having read portions of it over the years since it was published. Only last month did I read it all the way through. Mixed review. The book makes some excellent points … Continue reading →

Posted in Book Notes, Religion | Comments Off on Stephen Prothero, GOD IS NOT ONE (2010)

LQCs: Creativity, Education, Reactionaries

Posted on Thursday 21 April 2022 by Mark R. Kelly

Today, another counter-intuitive premise. Before reading the article, I reflect that most people admire celebrity artists, but wouldn’t want their child to try to be one. Other items follow.

Posted in Conservative Resistance, Culture, Psychology, Religion | Comments Off on LQCs: Creativity, Education, Reactionaries

LQCs: Imaginary Problems, Critical Thinking, 11-Point Plans, and Prophets

Posted on Wednesday 20 April 2022 by Mark R. Kelly

Latest in a recurring theme about how Republicans not only aren’t trying to solve real problems, or even fighting the culture wars, they’re fighting *imaginary* problems to rile up their white working class base. NYT, Paul Krugman, 18 April 2022: … Continue reading →

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Richard Dawkins: THE BLIND WATCHMAKER (1986)

Posted on Tuesday 19 April 2022 by Mark R. Kelly

This now 35-year-old book was Dawkins’ third, following the famous The Selfish Gene (summary here) and the less-famous sequel The Extended Phenotype (which I still have not read). If the first two were relatively straightforward explanations of evolution and natural … Continue reading →

Posted in Book Notes, Evolution, Personal history | Comments Off on Richard Dawkins: THE BLIND WATCHMAKER (1986)

LQCs: Jonathan Haidt on the Corrosive Effects of Social Media

Posted on Monday 18 April 2022 by Mark R. Kelly

The Atlantic website has a long essay (some 5000 words at an estimate) by Jonathan Haidt, to appear in the May 2022 print edition. The Atlantic, Jonathan Haidt, 11 April 2022: Why the Past 10 Years of American Life Have … Continue reading →

Posted in Politics, Psychology, Social Progress | Comments Off on LQCs: Jonathan Haidt on the Corrosive Effects of Social Media