The AHA statement about Dawkins rejects the interpretation that he was pointing to an apparent inconsistency in the current norms of political correctness, while simultaneously providing an example of precisely the confused thinking that he claims he was pointing out. Discuss.
The frightening fact is that if Trump stood before the cameras and honestly confessed to his lies, his diehard supporters would just conclude he’d been brainwashed by the deep state. He couldn’t undo the harm he’s done if he tried
If, as many predict, doctors and nurses will soon have to make terrible choices about who gets the ventilator and who dies, they should send Trump brief descriptions of the patients waiting in line and demand he make the decision. After all, his inaction caused the crisis.
Man up, Republicans. Your creature in the White House is now wounded and dangerous. Help prevent him from doing desperate things. Curb your attack dog. You owe it to your fellow citizens.
Now THIS is the kind of message a great leader sends to her people. You don't have to understand German--the subtitles are excellent--to see what we need in this country.
if only. . . .
The Libet results on free will and their many descendants are crumbling now, and there is more to come. A nice case of science exposing hidden dualist assumptions in neuroscience.
I ‘m not used to being rescued by African Americans in Alabama and it feels fine! Thank you. You did something that was beyond the rest of us. Thank you again.
Helen Joyce shows how the best intentions can morph into bullying in this sane, humane book. The role we all play in letting people be who they want to be is a delicate balancing act, no place for self-righteous partisans.
It’s hard to notice silence when everybody is crying for help but I am waiting to hear deep apologies from those who called this a hoax. When things calm down we’ll do a nose count. Who will go first?
@CantlonLab
In 2002 I was offered a ride to TED in the plane of a wealthy science philanthropist of whom I had never heard. I accepted. I am not clairvoyant. For all I know I may also have shaken hands with an embezzler or a drug smuggler somewhere. Of course I support Epstein's victims.
Those Republicans calling for unity can take the first step:announce to your constituents that you’ve known Trump has been lying for years and you didn’t call him out. Just say it loud and clear. Trump is lying. He lost the election fair and square.
It's WAY too late for any Republicans in Congress to emerge as patriots or heroes; their only hope now is to be forgiven by their friends for their dishonorable and craven self-interest, when they come to their senses and abandon Trump. Still, better than being a disgrace.
Republican Senators! Think about it: this week is probably the last chance in your life to be a national hero. It won't kill you, and there will be honor and respect to outweigh whatever pain you encounter. It will be exciting, and you will know you did the right thing.
I have a good, constructive debate on free will, responsibility and punishment with Gregg Caruso. Do you want to live in a world without moral responsibility? I don't.
Those who are still baffled by my compatibilist theory of free will may find this clarifies things. Determinism does not 'tie your hands' or prevent you from exerting self-control.
My new book with Gregg Caruso has my latest and best defense of the claim that free will in the only sense that matters is compatible with determinism. Check it out and let me know whether you are convinced.
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@danieldennett
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The Democratic candidates are all so much smarter and better-informed than Trump. And, just as obviously, they are all good honest people, not liars, racists, or pathologically narcissistic. It is just so clear.
Well many studies show that about 30% of people are basically unmoved by, uninterested in religion. They are not EVEN atheists. It just doesn’t matter to them.
Republican senators are not just spineless; they're stupid if they can't see that their only hope of being fondly remembered in years to come is to take a 'heroic' stand now against the monster. But only the first few will get the glory, such as it would be.
How to understand cells, tissues and organisms as agents with agendas – via
@aeonmag
My colleague Michael Levin has opened up a whole world of phenomena that are illuminated by adopting the intentional stance. He's been teaching me a lot. Check it out.
AARGH! Scotty Hendricks misses the main point of my free will theory. There is NO indeterminism needed; a coin flip is 'random' but determined. We need deterministic chaos, not indeterminism. Causation is not control!
Fox could do the nation a great service by asking for a show of hands of the candidates : raise your hand if you believe Biden was legally elected president in 2020. Any who didn’t raise their hands would then be asked what evidence they were relying on
I took part in a documentary film about The Church of The Flying Spaghetti Monster called
@ipastafaridoc
a while ago. Today I’ve had an advance look and am proud to say it is well done and thought-provoking. It will be premiering this October at the
@nashfilmfest
, R’Amen!
#FSM
If you want to take an intellectual roller-coaster ride through evolution all the way to meaning, this is a TRIP not to be missed. It's not for lazy thinkers, but it is mind candy for those who get into it.
My interview on free will with Robert Kuhn is now available. I think I manage to express my view quite clearly here, and will be interested in reactions.
Now that I'm mobile again, thanks to a fine team of surgeons, doctors, nurses, physical therapists, and others, I want to reiterate my message of 2006. Thank goodness!
New link! The previous one had a problem with the audio. This is Louis Godbout's excellent interview with me about consciousness, illusion, and the Hard Question.
"Scientists have power by virtue of the respect commanded by the discipline. We may therefore be strongly tempted to misuse that power in furthering a personal prejudice or social goal . . .But we cannot, lest we lose the very respect that tempted us in the first place." S. Gould
How blindsight answers the hard problem of consciousness – via
@aeonmag
Nick sees that a good theory of consciousness must explain why consciousness is the way it is, and his new speculations are a bold but well-evidenced step in the right direction.
If you're looking for an exhilarating and challenging bout of thinking, see if you're up to David Haig's mind-bending book. See the world through new eyes and learn a ton of biology. The joy of thinking.
The day after I finished the draft of Consciousness Explained, we bought this house, and now we're moving on after 27 years. May whoever buys it have as much pleasure and adventure in it as we have had!
Wake up, Banana Republicans in the Senate! If you don't want to go down in history as complicit in the destruction of the rule of law in the USA, you don't have much time left.
An exploration of a fine example of competence without comprehension, via a distributed process of unconscious, unintended adjustments. Words as memes.
Why language might be the optimal self-regulating system – via
@aeonmag
How often do you get to look out for yourself and be a hero at the same time? Stay home, plan carefully, wash your hands and help save your fellow citizens all at once.
Notice anything unusual about the Edward Gorey cover on the 40th anniversary edition of BRAINSTORMS? (MIT Press). I added a retrospective essay including some seldom-told tales.
One woman’s six-word mantra that has helped to calm millions – via
@psyche_the_mag
She's right. I know from experience how valuable her mantra is. put it in your first aid kit.
Another excellent interview, this time with Sean Carroll. Audio, not video. If you haven't overdosed on Dennett in the last few days, this will clarify key points.