essay
One of the principles governing the scientific description of the world is this—of different possible explanations of a phenomenon, the simpler one is to be preferred. This rests on the belief that there is an element of intrinsic simplicity in the behavior of nature. Already in the 14th century William of Ockham enunciated a principle…
The brain is a physical organ that transcends the machine-like regularities of mechanics, and thereby reveals that mechanism never was the whole story even about atoms and molecules.Keith Ward1 What manner of thing [soul] is would be a long tale to tell, and most assuredly a god alone could tell it, but what…
A friend who once lived in England told me that the word sorry is used differently there, that it is less an apology than an expression of sympathy. Over the years my friend and I have listed alternative meanings of the word sorry and assigned each a country of origin (without much regard to real…
The Islamist question, in the forefront of European and American thinking, might be put this way: Should support go to “enlightened fundamentalists” or to “Muslim dissidents”? (I have some problems with referring to any believer as “fundamentalist”…) Another way would be to ask, should we promote difference-based “multiculturalism” or resemblance-based “universalism”? Pascal Bruckner unleashed a…
Murray Gell-Mann noted that “A successful new theoretical idea typically alters and extends the existing body of theory to allow for observational facts that could not previously be understood or incorporated. It also makes possible new predictions that can some day be tested.” Often in science, any significant contribution uncovers some serious flaw in a…
I couldn’t agree more with this assessment by Glenn T. Miller, academic dean and professor of ecclesiastical history at Bangor Theological Seminary, on the decision to split the American Academy of Religion and the Society of Biblical Literature annual meetings. In a piece by Jennifer Howard in the Chronicle of Higher Education, Miller is also…
It does indeed take about half of one’s lifetime before one becomes aware that our existential condition is, to say it with Heidegger, of “being thrown into the world.” Youth, misguidedly perceiving itself as immortal is rather slow in perceiving this condition. Dante, on the other hand, is a mature man who has engaged in…
In viewing humanity in its historicity as the primary subject of philosophy, Vico had in mind something very similar to what after Heidegger would describe as “humanity’s being in the world.” Vico, like Heidegger, pointed out that the puzzling nature of humanity is characterized by its being not just the theme of philosophical knowledge but…
When a hypothesis is introduced, and it is accepted without any consideration of or regard to its consequences, it becomes a dogma. In its original Greek meaning, dogma signified something that seems to be good. In Christian theology the word has taken on special technical connotations, referring primarily to revealed truths, as enunciated in the…
From the Center for American Progress, scary stuff. Among my favorites: Say Goodbye to Discoveries of Sharks That Can Walk Say Goodbye to French Fries Say Hello to Bulgarian Hooker Shortages Gender-Bended Lizards Thunderstorms Get Dangerous War in Somalia And my Number One favorite: Burning Poo You’ll just have to read this for yourself….