Patents are useful, but they can act as a barrier to innovation; gene patents highlight the disadvantages.… Read the rest
New Statesman Says ‘Faith’ is Important
Apr 9th, 2010 | Filed by Ophelia BensonForgets to say why.… Read the rest
Grayling Reviews David Lewis-Williams
Apr 9th, 2010 | Filed by Ophelia BensonA well-informed and steady march through the history of religion and its conflict with science.… Read the rest
Greg Mayer on the New Australopithecine
Apr 9th, 2010 | Filed by Ophelia BensonThe paper has tables of comparison of traits and measurements of the new find and other fossil hominids.… Read the rest
Now More Than Ever: Stand by Your Church
Apr 9th, 2010 | Filed by Ophelia BensonIt’s just the whiners and bedwetters who are leaving the Catholic church, which is all the stronger without them.… Read the rest
It’s a contingent fact that we care
Apr 9th, 2010 10:40 am | By Ophelia BensonI mentioned a passage from the Odyssey in my latest comment on Fact 1.5, as illustrating my claim that “It’s not natural to treat strangers or foreigners well, it’s not natural to think that everyone should have equal treatment, it’s not natural to think that women matter just as much as men do.” Having mentioned it I wanted to read it again, and having read it again, I wanted to post it.
It’s in Book Nine, which is where we at last get to hear about Odysseus’s journey from the beginning, when he is staying with the Phaiakians and Alkinöos asks him (in the last lines of Book Eight) to tell his story. After some polite throat-clearing he gets … Read the rest
Fact 1.5
Apr 8th, 2010 12:00 pm | By Ophelia BensonMore on Sam Harris’s 9 facts and why they don’t (I think) get us from is to ought. Just a little more, because the power is about to be turned off. Work is difficult around here these days.
… Read the restFACT #1: There are behaviors, intentions, cultural practices, etc. which potentially lead to the worst possible misery for everyone. There are also behaviors, intentions, cultural practices, etc. which do not, and which, in fact, lead to states of wellbeing for many sentient creatures…FACT #3: Our “values” are ways of thinking about this domain of possibilities. If we value liberty, privacy, benevolence, dignity, freedom of expression, honesty, good manners, the right to own property, etc.—we value these things only
Science Mag Articles Introducing A. sediba
Apr 8th, 2010 | Filed by Ophelia BensonA new species of Australopithecus casts new light on the evolution of the genus Homo.… Read the rest
New Hominid Species Found in South Africa
Apr 8th, 2010 | Filed by Ophelia BensonAustralopithecus sediba was bipedal with human-shaped hips and pelvis, but brachiated on apelike arms.… Read the rest
Would You Trust Popes to Choose for You?
Apr 8th, 2010 | Filed by Ophelia BensonWould you trust Joseph Ratzinger to choose for you the manner and time of your death?… Read the rest
Women ‘Helped Bogus Guru Lure Rape Victims’
Apr 8th, 2010 | Filed by Ophelia BensonA man masquerading as a guru and healer was helped by female followers to rape other women.… Read the rest
Vicar Complains of ‘Aggressive Secularists’
Apr 8th, 2010 | Filed by Ophelia BensonInstructs Anglican bishops ‘to attack the anti-religion agenda of the militant secularists.’… Read the rest
Cameron Pledges to Do Catholic Things
Apr 8th, 2010 | Filed by Ophelia BensonAsks for interview with Catholic Herald, tells it he will lower abortion age and stop assisted suicide.… Read the rest
Pope promises reform
Apr 7th, 2010 5:39 pm | By Ophelia BensonGood old Onion…
… Read the restCalling the behavior shameful, sinful, and much more frequent than the Vatican was comfortable with, Pope Benedict XVI vowed this week to bring the widespread pedophilia within the Roman Catholic Church down to a more manageable level…”This is absolutely unacceptable,” Pope Benedict said. “It seems a weakening of faith in God has prevented our priests from exercising moderation when sexually abusing helpless minors.”…Starting next year, specially trained cardinals will make unannounced visits to inspect and observe random churches in order to ensure they are not going beyond diocese-wide molestation caps. The inspector-cardinals will grade each parish based on long, private interviews with altar boys in darkened church basements, and careful observation of priests’ sexual activity….As a
Cheating with stipulative definitions
Apr 7th, 2010 5:16 pm | By Ophelia BensonI’ve been trying to argue with Sam Harris about his latest map for how to get from is to ought. It’s a list of 9 putative facts, which are true enough as far as they go, but I keep pointing out that the list doesn’t really confront the difference between avoiding the worst possible misery for oneself and avoiding the worst possible misery for everyone. No one’s paying any attention, but it keeps me out of trouble.
Russell discusses the same post.
… Read the restThe trick is to avoid cheating with stipulative definitions and to avoid relying on human psychology or human institutions. You are supposed to derive that I really, really ought to do X without relying on any
Fox News Ran Edited Tape of Acorn Meeting
Apr 7th, 2010 | Filed by Ophelia BensonEdited as in leaving out very important bits.… Read the rest
Criticism is not ‘Islamophobia’
Apr 7th, 2010 | Filed by Ophelia BensonSigned, Gita Sahgal, Peter Tatchell, Marieme Helie Lucas, Pragna Patel et al.… Read the rest
Pope to Get Pedophilia Down To Manageable Level
Apr 7th, 2010 | Filed by Ophelia Benson‘Weakening of faith has prevented our priests from exercising moderation when abusing helpless minors.’… Read the rest
Crucifix Nurse Loses Case
Apr 7th, 2010 | Filed by Ophelia BensonRemains petulant and defiant.… Read the rest