YouTube video here: The God Delusion: Towards a Materialist Atheist Synthesis I this [article] I want to both introduce you to an interesting tension in modern philosophical theory and also introduce you to a potentially interesting new way to approach this tension. The tension I am speaking about is the tension of the existence or … Continue reading The God Delusion: Towards a Materialist Atheist Synthesis
Tag: science
The Advanced Apes Podcast with Dr. Jonathan Marks
The Advanced Apes Podcast with Dr. Jonathan MarksFor the past few years, biological anthropologist Dr. Jonathan Marks has been a tremendous influence to me academically. I love his books What It Means To Be 98% Chimpanzee, and Why I Am Not A Scientist. Last week I had a chance to interview him for a The … Continue reading The Advanced Apes Podcast with Dr. Jonathan Marks
Are Chimpanzees Cultural?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uhacaxJ240Q For the past two months I, along with my two friends Alicia Herbert and Drew Hewitt, have been working on launching a new YouTube channel. We want this channel to be educational and focus on evolutionary and environmental science. Our first video is on chimpanzee culture. If you have any thoughts or comments, I … Continue reading Are Chimpanzees Cultural?
“Chimpanzee Fire”
I recently watched a BBC documentary about the Congo. It was part of a larger documentary series on Africa narrated by David Attenborough that I highly recommend. Whenever I watch BBC nature documentaries I feel like I learn something new each time. But while I was watching Congo, one scene in particular caught my attention. … Continue reading “Chimpanzee Fire”
Evolution of Suicide
Evolution of Suicide Researchers have known for two centuries now that male suicide occurs at a much higher rate than female suicide. Can a cultural explanation alone explain this disparity? What do evolutionary theorist know about suicide? And can it help us decrease the male suicide rate? Full Article: Evolution of Suicide on The Advanced … Continue reading Evolution of Suicide
The Real Culture Wars
The Real Culture Wars When we think of culture, we tend to think about material products of human civilization and/or variation of traditions, rituals, and beliefs between different human populations. And of course, these are products of human culture. But does culture distinguish humans from all other animals? Are any other animals cultural? If so, … Continue reading The Real Culture Wars
21st Century Neanderthals
21st Century Neanderthals A few months ago I pondered what it would have been like if other species within the genus Homo had survived into contemporary times. I hypothesized that based on our poor track record of violent conflict modern humans would have treated them very poorly. We may have a chance to see if I am right, … Continue reading 21st Century Neanderthals
The Importance of Evolutionary Anthropology
The Importance of Evolutionary Anthropology As an evolutionary anthropologist, I am constantly confronted with the public perception that anthropology has no practical utility. Throughout America and Canada, there is a disturbingly negative perception of anthropological inquiry. This is why Governor Rick Scott was confident to proclaim that anthropology was not a vital interest to the … Continue reading The Importance of Evolutionary Anthropology
The Adaptation Program
The Adaptation Program Yesterday, I read a famous scientific article on adaptation by evolutionary biologists Stephen J. Gould and Richard Lewontin, titled “The Spandrels of San Marco and the Panglossian Paradigm: A Critique of the Adaptationist Programme” (Gould & Lewontin, 1979). Gould & Lewontin criticize what they call the “adaptationist programme” school of thought within … Continue reading The Adaptation Program
Welcome to “Forms of Life”
Welcome to "Forms of Life" Ben Buller, the newest addition to The Advanced Apes, introduces Forms of LIfe, a new blog. Forms of Life will attempt to highlight good and bad treatment of science in popular and academic literature, as well as brainstorm interesting facets of the intersection between science and philosophy. Full Article: Welcome … Continue reading Welcome to “Forms of Life”