There’s a difference between inquiry and mere sounding off.
Category: Latest News
Welcome to our archive of news stories relevant to the project of fighting fashionable nonsense. The stories are drawn from the electronic pages of the world’s media. On this page, you’ll find links to those stories that have been featured on Butterflies and Wheels during the current year. At the bottom of the page, you’ll find links to separate archives of stories from previous years.
We’re always pleased to hear about news stories that you think should be featured on Butterflies and Wheels. Just send an email here, if you want to point one out to us.
A note about links
Inevitably links go out of date. We suggest, therefore, that you make hard-copies of the stories that particularly interest you.
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The Hidden Imam Will Protect You – Not
Mullahs ruled it okay to build new houses in Bam despite seismologists’ warnings.
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Elaborated Code Revisited
Polly Toynbee on a study of class and language.
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The Uses of Scientific Literacy
It promotes critical thinking and undermines superstition, for a start.
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Best Books
Scott McLemee, Claire Dederer and others choose their favorites.
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Strong Reciprocity Explains Altruism
Game theory looks at strategies to promote kindness and punish cheating.
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Moral Imperative to Fund GM Foods
Scientific ethics group says crops suitable for poor countries need more funding.
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Most Overrated and Underrated Ideas of 2003
Mary Lefkowitz says monotheism is overrated; B&W agrees.
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History Shmistory, This is a Movie
Historians watch ‘Cold Mountain’ and notice some flaws.
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Everything is Fake, Including This Review
Michael Bywater reviews a book about faking and inauthenticity.
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Journey From Frying-Pan to Fire
Eagleton leaps from hip ‘theory’ to Alisdair MacIntyre. Ouch.
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Wilentz v Hitchens v Gitlin
Historians disagree about Hitchens’ views on September 11.
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Mao’s Second Century
Bag the whimsical thought, keep the authoritarian state.
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Iranian Earthquake Toll Rises to 25,000
Heavy roofs on mud-brick walls with no support beams.
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Science Books in 2004
The Guardian offers a preview of books from Dawkins, Penrose, Diamond, Dunbar and others.
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Future History
History for 2004 from Browning, Keegan, Bullock, Starkey, Waterfield and more.
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Another Candidate for Jesus
Lieberman scolds Democrats for not godbothering, Dean acquiesces.
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Richard Dawkins at B&W
We asked for a comment on Soapy Joe, and were obliged.
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Questions and Quarrels Over Climate Change
Was the Medieval Warming Period regional or global?
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A Bastard Discourse
Psychoanalysis subverts the essence of western rationality.