Everyone offended by this statement is a fool

To the best of my knowledge, there exists absolutely no scientific evidence today in favor of any statistically significant genetic difference in mental abilities across races. Yet, I do not think we understand genetics well enough to absolutely rule out such a possibility. So I do not rule out the possibility that African Americans, are, on [...]

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Yeah, right

Apparently there is something called World Homoeopathy day. A function was held in [Kanpur] to observe the World Homeopathy Day. Speaking on the occasion, Dr Anil Katiyar, a noted homeopath said, “The good aspect is that homeopathy is capable of curing a person completely and there are no side-effects from this mode of treatment.” I [...]

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Libertarianism and climate science denial

Ryan Avent on the incompatibility of climate science and some libertarians: That is to say, confronted by a problem demanding solutions inimical to libertarian beliefs, libertarians were faced with the choice of reneging on their beliefs or turning their back on science. Tellingly, they chose the latter. One might think that’s a rather drastic decision, given [...]

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Rights and responsibilites with respect to your children

As I wrote in the comments following this post, I believe parents — being responsible for the birth and day to day care of their children — should also have considerable freedom in how they choose to raise them. Short of physical abuse or gross neglect, they have an absolute right to bring their children [...]

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Bjorn Lomborg on global warming

Set aside 30 minutes today to watch this wonderful presentation by Bjorn Lomborg on global warming. Lomborg is no libertarian — he is a liberal who favours a welfare state and strong redistribution through taxation — and  indeed, there is no mention of any intrinsic value of freedom and property rights in his presentation. His [...]

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The power of the truth

“That which can be destroyed by the truth should be.” – P.C. Hodgell

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The war against AIDS (we have almost won it)

There is still no cure for AIDS, but science has come a long way towards controlling it. Antiretroviral therapy has progressed so much in the last two decades that, according to current reports, a person who started taking the drugs at age 20 will on average live another 43 years. And we can expect the [...]

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Atheism doesn’t necessarily imply common sense

Via a post by Althouse, I was alerted to this recent Richard Dawkins quote about children reading Harry Potter and other fantasy fiction: I think it is is anti-scientific – whether that has a pernicious effect, I don’t know… I think looking back to my own childhood, the fact that so many of the stories [...]

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Scott Aaronson on the singularity

The singularity is far, says Scott. In this post, I wish to propose for the reader’s favorable consideration a doctrine that will strike many in the nerd community as strange, bizarre, and paradoxical, but that I hope will at least be given a hearing.  The doctrine in question is this: while it is possible that, [...]

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The fear of knowledge

In inquisition-era Europe, you could be imprisoned, tortured or worse, burned to death for scientific enquiry. These days, you merely receive death threats.

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Ban all stem cell research?

From the still-under-construction Republican platform for this election: On stem-cell research — The 2008 Republican Platform calls for a ban on all embryonic stem-cell research, public or private. On gambling — Millions of Americans suffer from problem or pathological gambling that can destroy families. We support legislation prohibiting gambling over the Internet or in student [...]

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The great idea

“Once upon a time, there was a man who was convinced that he possessed a Great Idea.  Indeed, as the man thought upon the Great Idea more and more, he realized that it was not just a great idea, but the most wonderful idea ever. The Great Idea would unravel the mysteries of the universe, [...]

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The pursuit of science and an old email

I stumbled upon an old email today. It was written by me in December 2001. That’s very long ago, isn’t it? *** Suppose you ask me today … (no, this is not part of the email) So, what’s worth pursuing? Well, scientific knowledge is worth pursuing. What about happiness, money, comfort, security? Sure, all those [...]

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Trying Oil CEO’s for crimes against humanity?

Inflammatory rhetoric from doomsday-sayers isn’t anything new; nevertheless this statement by climatologist James Hansen strikes me as extreme. Special interests have blocked transition to our renewable energy future. Instead of moving heavily into renewable energies, fossil companies choose to spread doubt about global warming, as tobacco companies discredited the smoking-cancer link. Methods are sophisticated, including [...]

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God is relative

An excerpt from the 1954 Albert Einstein letter that was recently sold at auction for £170,000. The word God is for me nothing more than the expression and product of human weaknesses, the Bible a collection of honourable, but still primitive legends which are nevertheless pretty childish. No interpretation no matter how subtle can (for [...]

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