How Do Chimpanzees Mourn Their Dead? Humans have complex rituals associated with the death another human being. These rituals may be culturally dependent but it is also a characteristic trait for our entire species. Do our closest relatives have rituals related to the death of another chimpanzee? Do they understand what death is? Do they … Continue reading How Do Chimpanzees Mourn Their Dead?
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Joking About Race
Joking About Race Comedians frequently joke about controversial or sensitive issues. However, is joking about race ever acceptable? Do people who frequently make racial jokes on some level actually racist? Does it perpetuate stereotypes and negatively effect social integration in the western world? I recently encountered a situation that made me re-think many of these … Continue reading Joking About Race
Do We Deserve Mars?
Do We Deserve Mars? In the coming decades humans will have to make a decision about whether our species is ready to colonize another planet. This may result in the possibility of permanent settlement. However, this raises important moral question regarding our presence in the universe. Currently, we are engaging in global activities that are … Continue reading Do We Deserve Mars?
Prometheus Fails
Prometheus Fails Science fiction in the media is often judged based on how scientifically accurate or plausible the story is. Prometheus tells the story of humanity visiting another habitable planet for the first time. During this trip they encounter another intelligent civilization. How realistic was this story? Did it depict a plausible scenario? Full Article: … Continue reading Prometheus Fails
Uncomfortable Relationship Between Factual Knowledge and the Human Population
Uncomfortable Relationship Between Factual Knowledge and the Human Population A recent National Science Foundation poll was conducted globally to better understand how factual knowledge is understood around the world. The poll revealed that some basic facts about our world and the universe are simply rejected, or not known by a large percentage of the population. … Continue reading Uncomfortable Relationship Between Factual Knowledge and the Human Population
Evolution and the Public
Evolution and the Public Evolution is frequently discussed in major media outlets like TV, newspaper and online. However, the people who write about evolutionary news and research are frequently unqualified to do so. This leads to the public becoming more and more misinformed about what evolution is and what is factual. In the future, major … Continue reading Evolution and the Public
The Inevitable Collision
The Inevitable Collision Astronomers have recently confirmed that the Andromeda galaxy and the Milky Way galaxy are on an unavoidable collision course. These two gigantic galaxies should collide in within the next 3.5 billion years. If humans - or some future form of our species exists during this collision, how will we be effected? What … Continue reading The Inevitable Collision
Developed World Economics for the 21st Century
Developed World Economics for the 21st Century Understanding how to organize a global economy has been one of the most difficult things for humans to do over the past few centuries. As we enter the 21st century we need to learn from past economic structures and deconstruct what has worked best and what has failed. … Continue reading Developed World Economics for the 21st Century
The “Othering” Process
The "Othering" Process It is a natural tendency for humans to 'other' i.e. to believe that the group (race, religion, ethnicity, culture, gender, country, sexual orientation, species etc.) that they are a part of is inherently the ‘right’ way to be human or to exist. For important evolutionary reasons this tendency is still ubiquitous today. However, … Continue reading The “Othering” Process
A Historically Contingent Discrimination
A Historically Contingent Discrimination Over the past few decades western society has made great strides to eradicate discriminatory practices and policies directed towards non-heterosexuals. However, we have to understand why this was even necessary in the first place. Why did people throughout the western world discriminate against non-heterosexuals? Is it inherently human to discriminate against … Continue reading A Historically Contingent Discrimination