Why Evolution is True is a blog written by Jerry Coyne, centered on evolution and biology but also dealing with diverse topics like politics, culture, and cats.
I commend three items to your attention for weekend reading, assuming that you’re not gallivanting about this Labor Day weekend, mingling with crowds and spreading viruses. You can access each article by clicking on the screenshot of its title. First up we have an attack on science, seen as “scientism”, from Catholic philosopher Edward Feser, … Continue reading Weekend reading: three easy pieces
I’m looking for readers to help invent a new word, since the concept I want to encapsulate isn’t represented by any words or phrases I know. And here’s the concept. You’re all familiar with the ploy that theologians use when you criticize their ideas. Many of them—most notably Edward Feser, but also Alvin Plantinga and … Continue reading Neologism wanted
While driving back from the grocery store (I shop early), I was forced to listen to Krista Tippett’s “On Being” show on NPR. It’s the show I love to hate, and because my radio dial is set on the local public radio station, I have to hear her on Sunday morning drives. What I love … Continue reading A mundane Sunday sermon on the nonexistence of the afterlife
There’s a time when “blarney” becomes crazy and harmful, and we have two cases that appeared at the same time. The first represents the New York Times‘s recent presentation of woo in extenso, with almost no critical remarks. The editors are soft on astrology, they’re soft on dowsing, they’re soft on religion, and now they’re … Continue reading Two bits of Irish woo
The greeting above is written in NekoFont; a font made of cat photos. You can make your own message at the link. It’s the start of another lousy week, Monday, September 28, 2020: National Strawberry Cream Pie Day, National Drink Beer Day, World Rabies Day, and the final day of Yom Kippur (the Jewish Day … Continue reading Monday: Hili dialogue
It’s the Sabbath for cats and Jewish people: Saturday, January 23, 2021, and National Pie Day. It’s also National Rhubarb Pie Day, the worst pastry ever invented. I have no truck with this pie (the odious rhubarb is often mixed with strawberries, to the great detriment of the latter), though I know some people favor … Continue reading Saturday: Hili dialogue
Edward “Dogs Don’t Go to Heaven” Feser is able to discern the most extraordinary conclusions about reality from simply plumbing his brain and channeling revelations, being sure to weed the true revelations from God’s Fake News (see the first link). In other words, he’s a theologian: a Catholic who’s an associate professor of philosophy at … Continue reading Edward Feser godsplains why atheists don’t understand religion, and why there is absolutely, positively a God (the Catholic one)
The email below arrived this morning from a retired officer in the U.S. Air Force who had read my critical review of Michael Behe’s new Intelligent-Design book in the Washington Post. (I am, by the way, pleased that virtually all the commenters at the Post accept evolution and reject ID—something I didn’t expect). Re the … Continue reading I get emails from Christian creationists
I’ve already written twice about the views of Christian List on free will, views called to my attention by Michael Shermer (see here and here). My interpretation of List’s views are that while he’s a physical determinist for molecules, he thinks that there is true libertarian “you could have done otherwise” free will on the … Continue reading Once more: Why Christian List’s “proof of free will” fails
Sorry, I’m not yet done with panpsychism. The more I read about this theory, the more I’m puzzled that seemingly rational people accept such a grossly benighted view of consciousness. Seriously! Especially atheists, for panpsychism resembles theology in several ways: There is not a shred of evidence supporting its tenets. It was invented to plug … Continue reading Another panpsychist flogs a dead theory
