Teacher questioned about her virginity by school’s owner.… Read the rest
All entries by this author
Jerry Coyne Reviews Follies of the Wise
Sep 7th, 2006 | Filed by Ophelia BensonCrews takes on fields of inquiry which have caused rational people to succumb to irrational ideas.… Read the rest
Who needs sophistry, anyway?
Sep 7th, 2006 | By Ben NelsonScientists and philosophers need sophistry. This article will
show why and how. The argument will need to draw from the history and
philosophy of science of Pierre Duhem, as well as the concepts of
intellectual property and the science of persuasion.
I. A choice of arms.
As you are reading this, you may hear a popping noise. Do not fret: it
is the faint, disquieting sound of science being broken. It is this
tiny bit of irksome vibration that really gives content to the name,
“pop science”. Well-intentioned hands of varying degrees of competence
are to blame for it.
We all know of professional errors. The most recent case that comes to
mind is that of Dr. William Hammesfahr, a … Read the rest
Do come in, the door is wide open
Sep 6th, 2006 5:01 pm | By Ophelia BensonSo what is the British Association for the Advancement of Science up to?
… Read the restOrganisers of the British Association for the Advancement of Science (the BA) were accused of lending credibility to maverick theories on the paranormal by allowing the highly controversial research to be aired unchallenged. Leading members of the science establishment criticised the BA’s decision to showcase papers purporting to demonstrate telepathy and the survival of human consciousness after someone dies. They said that such ideas, which are widely rejected by experts, had no place in the festival without challenge from sceptics…Critics including Lord Winston and Sir Walter Bodmer, both former presidents of the BA, expressed particular alarm that the three speakers were allowed to hold a promotional
Pharmacists and Plan B
Sep 6th, 2006 | Filed by Ophelia Benson‘If a person’s purpose is to kill a fertilized egg, then I disagree with that.’… Read the rest
Zoe Williams on the HPV Vaccine
Sep 6th, 2006 | Filed by Ophelia BensonAs vaccine for cervical cancer becomes available in the UK, conservative opinion mobilises.… Read the rest
Peter Tatchell on Death Threats from Fanatics
Sep 6th, 2006 | Filed by Ophelia BensonAnti-gay hatred is free speech, but anti-homophobia is hate crime against religion.… Read the rest
Lancashire Hospitals Adopt Green Burqas
Sep 6th, 2006 | Filed by Ophelia BensonHorrifying naked women finally covered up. Whew.… Read the rest
Boy Born in Japan
Sep 6th, 2006 | Filed by Ophelia BensonRelief, rejoicing: baby not a worthless female.… Read the rest
Panels Should Have Been Balanced
Sep 6th, 2006 | Filed by Ophelia BensonIt’s reasonable to discuss woolly subjects, but skeptics should be on the panels.… Read the rest
Woolly BA Sessions Criticized
Sep 6th, 2006 | Filed by Ophelia BensonRobust challenge was lacking. … Read the rest
Rupert Sheldrake Claims Evidence of Telepathy
Sep 6th, 2006 | Filed by Ophelia Benson‘The odds against this being a chance effect are 1,000 billion to one,’ he says cautiously.… Read the rest
Aids Experts Condemn SA Health Minister
Sep 6th, 2006 | Filed by Ophelia BensonManto Tshabalala-Msimang tells those with HIV to eat garlic and beetroot.… Read the rest
The overwhelming majority
Sep 5th, 2006 10:36 pm | By Ophelia BensonA little more on that BBC article about attitudes to ‘honour’ killing and its evasiveness about who exactly gets killed in such killings.
Sometimes it is men; Dsquared provided the link to this nightmare.
A university student was murdered to “vindicate a family’s honour” after he fell in love with their daughter and made her pregnant, a court was told yesterday.
Student was Iranian, daughter and family were Bangladeshi, father disapproved of student, said there was already a marriage arranged for daughter; she was forbidden to see student, confined to house, phone taken away; they met anyway, she got pregnant, they planned to marry.
… Read the restOn November 20 Mr Ghorbani-Zarin was found dead in his car, a green Renault, in
Resistance is Futile
Sep 5th, 2006 6:09 pm | By Ophelia BensonMore Bruce Hood.
Religion and other forms of magical thinking continue to thrive — despite the lack of evidence and advance of science — because people are naturally biased to accept a role for the irrational, said Bruce Hood…This evolved credulity suggests that it would be impossible to root out belief in ideas such as creationism and paranormal phenomena, even though they have been countered by evidence and are held as a matter of faith alone.
No, it doesn’t suggest that. It may suggest it would be difficult, but it doesn’t suggest it would be impossible. Just for one thing, if it suggested that, then the existence of any skeptics would be ruled out.
… Read the restPeople ultimately believe in
Image of Virgin Mary Appears on Turtle Underside
Sep 5th, 2006 | Filed by Ophelia BensonOr not.… Read the rest
Jesus Camp, the Movie
Sep 5th, 2006 | Filed by Ophelia BensonEvangelical asks audience to ‘raise hands in prayer’ towards a life-size photo of Bush.… Read the rest
Frederic Jameson on Slavoj Žižek
Sep 5th, 2006 | Filed by Ophelia Benson‘Theory has no vested interests inasmuch as it never lays claim to an absolute system.’… Read the rest
More on Bruce Hood
Sep 5th, 2006 | Filed by Ophelia BensonSays difference between valuing sentimental objects and believing in magic is only one of degree.… Read the rest
Newsflash: Fay Weldon is Silly
Sep 5th, 2006 | Filed by Ophelia BensonHer new book beats up on nasty materialists and ‘Darwinians’; she has Found God.… Read the rest