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Summary of Entries on Urban Legends
What objectivity and the study of philosophy require is not an “open mind”, but an active mind - a mind able and eagerly willing to examine ideas, but to examine them critically.
~Ayn Rand
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Summary of Entries on Science
Not unexpectedly, seeing as I am a chemist, I have written about science quite a lot. Here are some recurring themes and opinions about science I have covered over 73 entries on this blog:- Science is, first and foremost, a method.
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- Science is, first and foremost, a method.
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Summary of "And What It Is Not" Entries
I am a man who cares very much about definitions. I would argue that many disagreements arise simply because the ones in disagreement are using different definitions of the words. I have shared my wish that words were more precise, that is, that they did not have such a wide range in meanings.[1] If words have fewer meanings, there is less chance ( Read more... ) -
Updated Summary of Entries on Education
This will be my final summary till... let's say 1500.First, I am ever grateful for living in a country where I have access to education.
Education is leisure for me[0], (just like exercise is leisurely for many.)Need for Education
I believe that education is a mental exercise, such that not educating oneself is mental laziness.
I believe that ( Read more... ) -
Updated Summary of Entries on the Soul
Last time around, I listed common statements made about the "soul" and my responses to them. This time around, I think I shall be brief and just make short statements of my current thoughts on the "soul", organized and cross-linked for your reading pleasure.- Anything with higher brain function has a "soul".[0] This higher brain function includes ( Read more... )
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Updated Summary of Questions I Have Posed That Have Not Received Satisfactory Answers
Last time around, no one tried any of these. For a few, I stumbled against or came up with some good/potential answers. I've added a few new ones. Oceans of gratitude will flow out to the brave souls who can give satisfactory answers to the following:
- "What makes a sound peaceful?"[1]
- "How does one describe something that can only be felt by ( Read more... )
- "What makes a sound peaceful?"[1]
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Summary of Entries on Grammar
Much of this I have already covered in discussing the linguistic subcategory of "translation", but let me now focus on the subcategory of grammar.
I've always loved grammar. I am probably better at understanding grammar than I am at any other skill. It is sad to me how many people do not understand it at all.
Just what is grammar?
It is the ( Read more... ) -
Summary of Entries on Origins
I have written a lot about origins, on various aspects of evolution, creationism, and intelligent design. To summarize these entries and state my views, it is crucial to define things, because a major reason for all the controversy stems from a lack of doing so.
First, the term evolution refers to at least 4 different things:- Astronomical Evolution ( Read more... )
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Summary of Entries on Disorders and Disabilities
I noticed while scanning my tags list looking for repeated topics that I have been distinguishing between disorders and disabilities in my entries. The former I have treated as a mental/psychological/hormonal occurence, whereas the latter I have treated as a physical occurence. I realize that the distinction may be blurred, and there are probably ( Read more... ) -
Summary of Entries on Pain
I begin with this one chiefly as a reminder to post more on pain from a neurological point of view with the inclusion of some interesting studies found in Ramachandran's Phantoms in the Brain. I've only posted 2 entries regarding pain, though I find it a fascinating concept. Of course to say that, one has to treat pain as if it were always this ( Read more... )