Tag Archives: psychology

Some words from the tiger-styled…

Posted on 23 January, 2011 by Simon

Well, having read and briefly commented on the notorious excerpt by Amy Chua of her book about raising children in a “Chinese style”, I was most interested to read what her eldest daughter had to say on the matter (caveat: … Continue reading →

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Ramachandran on “paradigm shifts” in science & language

Posted on 22 January, 2011 by Simon

At the “Edge world question center“, neurologist VS Ramachandran gives a very interesting, Kuhnian sort of answer to the question, “what scientific concept would improve everyone’s cognitive toolkit?” You can read the many other answers here.

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Frampton on Montaigne & mirror neurons

Posted on 22 January, 2011 by Simon

Saul Frampton finds neurological work on mirror neurons to be in sympathy with the thoughts of Michel de Montaigne, and argues for the importance of physical proximity to our moral sense (and, so, against an over-reliance on “remote” technological forms, … Continue reading →

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Nature magazine on light, learning & memory

Posted on 20 January, 2011 by Simon

Nature magazine reports on the “third [type of] photoreceptor” and on the gradual acceptance of its various roles within neuroscience. Interesting in itself, and as a glimpse of how theory-acceptance might occur in (this) science.

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Has Sam Harris shown that science can determine morally right actions?

Posted on 20 January, 2011 by Simon

Sam Harris replies to Jerry Coyne’s periphrasis of Russell Blackford’s criticisms of his book (!). Russell Blackford, again via the medium of Jerry Coyne’s blog, has penned the first instalment of a reply to Harris’ reply. It all makes for … Continue reading →

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Can neuroscience determine human values? Blackford reviews Harris

Posted on 15 January, 2011 by Simon

Russell Blackford reviews Sam Harris’ book, The Moral Landscape.

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Does reductionism reduce our human values?

Posted on 13 January, 2011 by Simon

Guy Kahane questions whether reductionism really does reduce our human values.

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ESP & statistical analysis

Posted on 12 January, 2011 by Simon

Benedict Carey reports on the methodological furore following the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology‘s decision to publish a research paper finding evidence for extra-sensory perception; while Andrew Cullison examines what critiques of the methods of analysis used in that … Continue reading →

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Conceptual history of psychology

Posted on 9 January, 2011 by Simon

Psychiatrist E James Lieberman reviews John Greenwood’s Conceptual History of Psychology, via a slightly tenuous simile with the recent history of music.

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Der Spiegel: on trusting authority

Posted on 7 January, 2011 by Simon

This article in Der Spiegel raises interesting questions about how far we should trust expert opinion. Whilst it’s careful not to say that manmade climate change is bunkum (there’s still an awful lot of evidence that it isn’t – and … Continue reading →

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