http://www2.uiowa.edu/dragon/Natural%20History%20Magazine%20%20Feature.htm
http://www.cnn.com/2004/TECH/science/02/12/coolsc.thickskulls/index.html
Sunday, June 20, 2010
Link: Thick Heads Win!
So, I'm listening to a class taught by Robert Wyman at Yale (free to download online) and he mentioned that 40% of Neanderthal skulls found are bashed in. Got me thinking about how I had heard that a correlation has been noticed been the 'invention' of stone tools and the thickness of hominid skulls. Two neato articles about this:
http://www2.uiowa.edu/dragon/Natural%20History%20Magazine%20%20Feature.htm
http://www.cnn.com/2004/TECH/science/02/12/coolsc.thickskulls/index.html
http://www2.uiowa.edu/dragon/Natural%20History%20Magazine%20%20Feature.htm
http://www.cnn.com/2004/TECH/science/02/12/coolsc.thickskulls/index.html
Saturday, June 19, 2010
Link: Evolution's Destiny - "The Future Is Wild"
I don't really think this is where evolution is headed. But it is interesting.
If humans don't ruin everything here's are some possible trends: bilateralality (flowers are heading that direction and animals, too. This shows a functionality of organ distribution), symbiotic relationships (bacteria, fungus, protists, and especially with photosynthesizers. Imagine if photosynthesis could happen with animals! Think of a sloth that photosynesized [you know how they have algae in their fur and all? bingo!]), increased niching (very specific eating habits), increased flexibility (that's what our brain gave us the ability--the ability to survive drastic climate changes and the accompanying diet shifts), possible increased intelligence, awesome camo and color changing, warmbloodedness, really, really complex social hierarchies and social structures...What else? It's okay to be wrong! Have fun speculating!!!
http://www.thefutureiswild.com/index.asp?level1id=3
If humans don't ruin everything here's are some possible trends: bilateralality (flowers are heading that direction and animals, too. This shows a functionality of organ distribution), symbiotic relationships (bacteria, fungus, protists, and especially with photosynthesizers. Imagine if photosynthesis could happen with animals! Think of a sloth that photosynesized [you know how they have algae in their fur and all? bingo!]), increased niching (very specific eating habits), increased flexibility (that's what our brain gave us the ability--the ability to survive drastic climate changes and the accompanying diet shifts), possible increased intelligence, awesome camo and color changing, warmbloodedness, really, really complex social hierarchies and social structures...What else? It's okay to be wrong! Have fun speculating!!!
http://www.thefutureiswild.com/index.asp?level1id=3
Unitarian Invitation
This was an invitation I sent to people to attend my teaching at a Unitarian church (on the evolution of morality). Someone said they liked it, so I thought I'd post it to keep.
Reasons I'd like for you to go:
1) There is no replacement for church. Only at a church can you find a group of people that are there for no other reason than they want to be (as opposed to economic gain), who can love you for a life time (long term relationships!), who are diverse in age and socio-economic background (inter-generational!), who are committed to personal growth (the deepest ethical teachings are always religious - religion and ethics are inseparable!) and reaching outward to the community (helping the poor, the environment, underprivileged youth, etc.) and who love you just for you!!! It's a family!
2) Kids/families need a church. It doesn't take a village to raise a child. Villages don't exist in America anymore. It takes a church to raise a child. (see above) Don't have kids? Other people's kids still need you.
3) Only UU provides that kind of a sanctuary (think of the meaning of that word) for people that like to ask questions (like me)--agnostics, atheists, liberal, progressive thinkers. If you come I can introduce you to atheists, agnostics, followers of Christ, Pagans, Humanists, Jews, you name it! They're there! Why are they there? Because it is a community of people that haven't gathered together because of a shared dogma, creed or mythology, but instead because of shared values. While there are no set doctrines there are set values and I'm of the opinion that's a hell of a lot more important than your opinion on several thousand year old mythological teachings. Check out what the church stands for here with the Seven Principles: http://www.uua.org/visitors/6798.shtml
4. Just try it. You may feel you have the above described type of community already. Kudos. Great. My church is -not- the end all, be all of the world. We don't have a monopoly on truth, nor morality, nor authentic community. But, I would still like for you to try it and know that it can be an option for you in the future (or for other people). I certainly don't think you're going to hell if you don't, but I'd sure like for you to try what I think is the best unknown gem in town - Unitarian Universalist Church of Tallahassee.
One reason I'm not inviting you:
1) To convert you. Identity is a really important thing for us humans and you don't have to change what religion you think of yourself as. Keep your religion, but still come. :)
Reasons I'd like for you to go:
1) There is no replacement for church. Only at a church can you find a group of people that are there for no other reason than they want to be (as opposed to economic gain), who can love you for a life time (long term relationships!), who are diverse in age and socio-economic background (inter-generational!), who are committed to personal growth (the deepest ethical teachings are always religious - religion and ethics are inseparable!) and reaching outward to the community (helping the poor, the environment, underprivileged youth, etc.) and who love you just for you!!! It's a family!
2) Kids/families need a church. It doesn't take a village to raise a child. Villages don't exist in America anymore. It takes a church to raise a child. (see above) Don't have kids? Other people's kids still need you.
3) Only UU provides that kind of a sanctuary (think of the meaning of that word) for people that like to ask questions (like me)--agnostics, atheists, liberal, progressive thinkers. If you come I can introduce you to atheists, agnostics, followers of Christ, Pagans, Humanists, Jews, you name it! They're there! Why are they there? Because it is a community of people that haven't gathered together because of a shared dogma, creed or mythology, but instead because of shared values. While there are no set doctrines there are set values and I'm of the opinion that's a hell of a lot more important than your opinion on several thousand year old mythological teachings. Check out what the church stands for here with the Seven Principles: http://www.uua.org/visitors/6798.shtml
4. Just try it. You may feel you have the above described type of community already. Kudos. Great. My church is -not- the end all, be all of the world. We don't have a monopoly on truth, nor morality, nor authentic community. But, I would still like for you to try it and know that it can be an option for you in the future (or for other people). I certainly don't think you're going to hell if you don't, but I'd sure like for you to try what I think is the best unknown gem in town - Unitarian Universalist Church of Tallahassee.
One reason I'm not inviting you:
1) To convert you. Identity is a really important thing for us humans and you don't have to change what religion you think of yourself as. Keep your religion, but still come. :)
Saturday, June 12, 2010
Vid: "The Empathic Civilization"--Our Nice Identity
Here's why this important--we do what we are. If you believe that humans are innately empathic and generous (which there's solid evolutionary evidence for) then you're more likely to act that way. Another reason why a deep understanding of evolution can make us a kinder society!
Sunday, June 6, 2010
All Analogies Are Lies...But Some Are Helpful
Analogies and metaphors are lies. Yet they tell the truth by telling a lie.
I can't help but think about this thoughts relevance to religion. Religion, in my most un-humble opinion, is a lie, and yet, it can be such a helpful lie.
A quote from an email about this from a dear friend:
"A mother told me that her little girl asked if Santa was real, and the mom explained that even though he wasn't real, everyone pretended he was because it was fun and part of the ceremony of Christmas. So the little girl fell asleep by the tree waiting for Santa that Christmas eve, just like she always had. That's faith like a child to me: accepting truths, asking questions, and understanding truths deeper instead of rejecting them...I want truth, beauty and illumination like I always did, so even if Santa never comes I'll fall asleep with christmas lights on my face."--Nick Culp
Futhering the idea: Think of light. We speak of light being a wave, but we also speak of light being a wave. It's really neither. And both. Using those terms is lying, but it's helpful lying. It serves a purpose giving us a platform to think of it. These teaching tools abound in science--from the nature and function of electron shells, to multidimensional universes, to string theory and maybe even the nature of time itself.
This may sound weird, but kinda like a holodeck in Star Trek. Nothing in it is real, but its simulations can be very helpful in learning about the real world and how to operate in it. Religious truth can have a similar function. It doesn't have to be real to give us a way of thinking about our own identity, the nature of reality and our function in it and that is valuable.
One more example of a more practical nature--hurricanes. Ever wonder why we name hurricanes? It personifies the threat. It gives it a personality. People understand agency. They don't understand pressure zones, wind patterns, storm surges, storm cells, etc. Putting a name rather than a string of numbers literally saves lives. Using a metaphor gives people a mental tool to address the threat and without hyperbole keeps them from turning into a casualty. Lying saves lives!!
Here's a fascinating talk from TED about this way of thinking. The summation is that this writer uses the idea of "muse" or "daemon" or "genius" to embody her creativity to separate and protect herself from the pressure, ridicule and fear that can accompany making your living off of being creative. She doesn't think they're real, and yet the mental exercise improves her ability to produce great works of litterature. Think about how this way of thinking might influence our perception of religion's function.
I can't help but think about this thoughts relevance to religion. Religion, in my most un-humble opinion, is a lie, and yet, it can be such a helpful lie.
A quote from an email about this from a dear friend:
"A mother told me that her little girl asked if Santa was real, and the mom explained that even though he wasn't real, everyone pretended he was because it was fun and part of the ceremony of Christmas. So the little girl fell asleep by the tree waiting for Santa that Christmas eve, just like she always had. That's faith like a child to me: accepting truths, asking questions, and understanding truths deeper instead of rejecting them...I want truth, beauty and illumination like I always did, so even if Santa never comes I'll fall asleep with christmas lights on my face."--Nick Culp
Futhering the idea: Think of light. We speak of light being a wave, but we also speak of light being a wave. It's really neither. And both. Using those terms is lying, but it's helpful lying. It serves a purpose giving us a platform to think of it. These teaching tools abound in science--from the nature and function of electron shells, to multidimensional universes, to string theory and maybe even the nature of time itself.
This may sound weird, but kinda like a holodeck in Star Trek. Nothing in it is real, but its simulations can be very helpful in learning about the real world and how to operate in it. Religious truth can have a similar function. It doesn't have to be real to give us a way of thinking about our own identity, the nature of reality and our function in it and that is valuable.
One more example of a more practical nature--hurricanes. Ever wonder why we name hurricanes? It personifies the threat. It gives it a personality. People understand agency. They don't understand pressure zones, wind patterns, storm surges, storm cells, etc. Putting a name rather than a string of numbers literally saves lives. Using a metaphor gives people a mental tool to address the threat and without hyperbole keeps them from turning into a casualty. Lying saves lives!!
Here's a fascinating talk from TED about this way of thinking. The summation is that this writer uses the idea of "muse" or "daemon" or "genius" to embody her creativity to separate and protect herself from the pressure, ridicule and fear that can accompany making your living off of being creative. She doesn't think they're real, and yet the mental exercise improves her ability to produce great works of litterature. Think about how this way of thinking might influence our perception of religion's function.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)