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 was deeply disturbed to read that James Lindsay, who styled himself a liberal, was so incensed at wokeness that he declared he was voting for Trump. I called this “cutting off his nose to spite his face.” But according to this new Atlantic article by Yascha Mounk, Lindsay’s not the only one who did … Continue reading Yes, wokeness drove people to Trump. But will it decrease under Biden?
Good morning on the first Sunday of the month, February 6, 2022: National Chopsticks Day. The Chinese don’t use knives or similar implements because of the way the food is prepared: you don’t need to “butcher at the table.” In fact, I always eat rice from a bowl with chopsticks, even if I’m not eating … Continue reading Sunday: Hili dialogue
I thought that The Conversation was largely a news and scholarly opinion website, but every once in a while they slip in some religious nonsense that baffles and saddens me. (For one example, see this risible argument for religiously based brain/mind dualism, and this ridiculous slice of tripe explaining why morality requires God). And now we have … Continue reading The Conversation kisses the rump of religion again
In a new piece in the Dailiy Beast, authors Komi German and Greg Lukianoff define what they mean by cancel culture (the best definition I’ve yet seen), show how pervasive cancel culture is (and worsening), and identify the Perpetrators of Cancellation. There is, however, one flaw connected with identifying the perps. Both authors work for … Continue reading What on earth is “cancel culture”?
Well, the Democrats just gave Linda Sarsour and CAIR exactly what they wanted: a resolution (text here) condemning not just anti-Semitism (implicitly aimed at bigot Ilhan Omar), but all forms of “hate” under the sun, most notably Islamophobia. Of course all bigotry, including that against Muslims, is reprehensible, but there is considerable irony that the same … Continue reading House passes the Democrats’ “all lives matter” resolution
As you’re reading this, on the morning of Wednesday January 15, 2020 (unless you’re on the other side of the International Dateline), I’ll be winging my way to Boston and Cambridge for some R&R. It’s a double food holiday, too: National Bagel Day and National Strawberry Ice Cream Day. Beyond that, it’s National Pothole Day … Continue reading Wednesday: Hili dialogue
We’re past the apogee of the week, so it’s now Thursday, June 3, 2021, National Egg Day. Eggs are good for you! If you want something not so good for you, it’s also National Moonshine Day (in the U.S., “moonshine” is illegally distilled and usually vile whiskey. Further, it’s Chimborazo Day, celebrating the mountain in … Continue reading Thursday: Hili dialogue
My answer to both questions above would be “no”. Although there are atheist conventions, groups, and websites (this isn’t one: I am a nonbeliever and write about it, but deal with many things other than godlessness), I don’t think of myself as part of an atheist “movement”, and I doubt that many readers do, too. … Continue reading Is there an atheist “movement”, and is it afflicted with toxic misogyny?
As Grania mentioned, I’m recovering from food coma (only the second time in my life), so I have time to write a bit. Two days ago I wrote about Bari Weiss’s New York Times piece about “The Intellectual Dark Web” (IDW), which I thought was one of her less successful columns. The people highlighted as … Continue reading Criticisms (mine and others) of Bari Weiss’s “Intellectual Dark Web” piece
If you’re like me and abhor discrimination against gays, women, or ethnic minorities, and have worked for their equality in the past—and yet are also uncomfortable with “identity politics”—you need to do some hard thinking. Why is it okay to be in favor of all the “rights” movements I just mentioned, yet not be in … Continue reading What’s the difference between identity politics and older movements for gay rights, women’s rights, and civil rights?
