A controversy in animal psychology centers on whether or not an animal can recognize itself in a mirror. But a number of scientists are beginning to doubt that the mirror test shows animal self-awareness.
Month: November 2019
Do we need to think beyond current physics to understand nature?
Have we run out of rungs on our current ladder?
Phillip Johnson: Jun 18, 1940–Nov 2, 2019 (aged 79)
The father of intelligent design theory. Peacefully in his sleep. Updated.
Science journalist tells Steven Pinker, yes, we ARE living in a post-truth society
Evolutionary psychologist Steven Pinker is rebuked for the view he represents in a recent essay for Skeptic, “Why We Are Not Living in a Post Truth Era”
Darwinism is dead and the butterflies did it
No, but seriously, if “‘species’ are simply not what we thought they were,” as the researchers’ media release reads, all those carefully thought-out explanations of the neo-Darwinian origin of various butterfly traits must compete with “a complete morass of inter-connectedness.” Darwinism is dying and people are wisely refraining from spelling that out.
More Neanderthal eagle jewelry found in the Iberian Peninsula
Most likely the underlying issue for the dissenters is that the anthropologists are Darwinians and in any Darwinian scheme, someone must be the subhuman. Otherwise, there is no beginning to human history. The Neanderthals are convenient for the purpose. If we found a Stone Age laptop among the Neanderthal artifacts, the same people might still be claiming it didn’t prove anything.
The “rise of the greedy-brained ape”?
It’s helpful to be reminded that the science cognoscenti see the rest of us that way. They may see themselves that way, though vanity more likely gets in the way at the last, critical moment. No wonder so many people these days are “anti-science.”