Author Archives: Mark R. Kelly

Ted Chiang, Carl Sagan, Peter Singer

Posted on 5 June 2023 by Mark R. Kelly

Ten Chiang characterizes the current examples of “artificial intelligence” as “applied statistics”; How Carl Sagan was wrong about the “reptilian brain”, in The Dragons of Eden; And an interview with Peter Singer, the controversial philosopher, author of The Expanding Circle … Continue reading →

Posted in Culture, Philosophy, Science | Leave a comment

The Holocene and Other Calendars

Posted on 4 June 2023 by Mark R. Kelly

Here’s a concept I’ve heard of, fascinating and beneficial in ways, problematic in others. Wikipedia: Holocene Calendar

Posted in Culture, Science | Leave a comment

Climate Change, Founding Fathers, UFOs and Scientific Literacy

Posted on 3 June 2023 by Mark R. Kelly

Topics today: Insurance companies, whose business depends on understanding risks, are taking steps to acknowledge climate change and its threats, even if many ordinary people still don’t “believe” in climate change; How the “founding fathers” were woke, compared to the … Continue reading →

Posted in History, Music, Science | Leave a comment

Last Questions and Possible Answers, 2

Posted on 2 June 2023 by Mark R. Kelly

This is a sequel to a post I did back in March, Last Questions and Possible Answers, 1, in which I considered the John Brockman book The Last Unknowns, in which he gathers deep unanswered questions about “the universe, the … Continue reading →

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

Tribalism and Cooperation

Posted on 1 June 2023 by Mark R. Kelly

Today’s topics: How tribalism, evolutionary evolved, solved some problems and created others, especially in the modern world; The counter idea of “coöperism”; Current events about Chick-fil-A and Republican condemnation of anti-racism. I talk of politics as manifesting ‘tribalism’ a lot; … Continue reading →

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

The Lies that Bind

Posted on 31 May 2023 by Mark R. Kelly

How the Christian curriculum ACE lies about science; How some people are happy to submit to tyranny; Wondering if it matters children are lied to about reality, and concluding that it doesn’t, given certain purposes of life; And reflecting again … Continue reading →

Posted in Meaning, Morality, Music, Politics, Religion | Leave a comment

Narrative Bias and Control

Posted on 30 May 2023 by Mark R. Kelly

Another take on why conspiracy theories have become so popular; How home-schoolers who decided to send their kids to public schools exposed the three lies about home-schooling that convinced them to do so; The Week on the state of book … Continue reading →

Posted in Conservative Resistance, Music, Narrative, Religion | Leave a comment

Then They Came for the Meteorologists

Posted on 29 May 2023 by Mark R. Kelly

Today’s items. How conspiracy theorists are attacking meteorologists; Naomi Oreskes on how the right attacks Social Security because it’s a “big government” program that actually works; The connection between American Christians and Uganda’s “kill the gays” policy And today’s music: … Continue reading →

Posted in Conservative Resistance, Music, Psychology | Leave a comment

Sausalito, and Heartstopper

Posted on 28 May 2023 by Mark R. Kelly

Missed posting yesterday because we took a day drive, on the first day of a three-day (Memorial Day, in the US) holiday weekend. On such weekends (Memorial Day, July 4th, Labor Day) most Americans don’t celebrate the event so much … Continue reading →

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Groupthink, Reason, and Conspiracy Thinking

Posted on 26 May 2023 by Mark R. Kelly

An apology/defense of groupthink; My thoughts about how religion undermines the ability to reason; A Republican who believes globes are a global conspiracy; How Republicans take advantage of laws they voted against; And how they’re trying to disappear gays and … Continue reading →

Posted in Conservative Resistance, Epistemology | Comments Off on Groupthink, Reason, and Conspiracy Thinking