Category Archives: Philosophy

Progressions

Posted on 29 March 2023 by Mark R. Kelly

Topics in this post: The success of wokeness. How the least religious nations are among the healthiest along many measures. Partha Dasgupta on how the GDP should account for the cost of what we use. Julian Baggini on philosophy and … Continue reading →

Posted in Philosophy, Reviews, Science, Social Progress | Leave a comment

Last Questions and Possible Answers, 1

Posted on 24 March 2023 by Mark R. Kelly

When I was browsing through several John Brockman books a few weeks ago, I decided to buy the last one he published in that series, from 2019. It’s called The Last Unknowns, and instead of gathering answers from many contributors … Continue reading →

Posted in Book Notes, Philosophy, Science | Leave a comment

Items from Big Think about Science and Philosophy

Posted on 27 February 2023 by Mark R. Kelly

How fast is the Earth moving, and in what direction? How the ancient Greek philosophers were mostly wrong but blazed conceptual trails. And thought experiments that challenge conventional thinking.

Posted in Philosophy, Science | Leave a comment

Two Philosophical Bits

Posted on 24 February 2023 by Mark R. Kelly

Are you the same person you were last week? How long should you shop?

Posted in Philosophy, science fiction | Leave a comment

The Gaps Between Beliefs and Reality

Posted on 21 February 2023 by Mark R. Kelly

Items today about how Americans treat Presidents’ Day and other holidays; about more Republicans lying on their resumes; why Fox News viewers don’t care the network is lying to them; and why Putin’s fabulations about his war in Ukraine appeal … Continue reading →

Posted in Lunacy, Narrative, Philosophy, Politics | Leave a comment

The Myth of the Perfect Past

Posted on 16 February 2023 by Mark R. Kelly

When life was simple and everything you were supposed to know was contained in a single book. Also: why The Lord of the Rings is so appealing to the right; media libel laws; policing; and a lagniappe about a real … Continue reading →

Posted in Conservative Resistance, Philosophy, Politics | Leave a comment

Longtermism (and its implications), part 3

Posted on 15 December 2022 by Mark R. Kelly

Here’s one more leftover saved link to an article about Sam Bankman-Fried and longtermism. It’s from a Salon writer who did two previously pieces about it/them (which I discussed on 14 Sep and on on 22 Aug), giving me the … Continue reading →

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Longtermism (and Science Fiction), part 2

Posted on 14 December 2022 by Mark R. Kelly

More about “longermism,” Effective Altruism, how they relate to science fiction, and whether or not books can be reduced to six-paragraph summaries.

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Current Affairs: Concerning Morality, and Good and Evil

Posted on 7 December 2022 by Mark R. Kelly

And a fun item about Christmas. That one first. Boing Boing, Gareth Braynwyn, 3 Dec 2022: In search of a more “Bible accurate” Christmas

Posted in Conservative Resistance, Morality, Philosophy | Leave a comment

Daily Details and Existential Threats

Posted on 4 December 2022 by Mark R. Kelly

Perhaps I should start with daily details? Chilly today but sunny, in between storms. Despite yesterday’s post, I decided to walk around the house for 30 or 40 minutes last night (while the TV showed Jeopardy or whatever) in order … Continue reading →

Posted in Human Progress, Personal history, Philosophy | Leave a comment