Philosophy – Page 14 – William M. Briggs

Wolfgang Smith’s Vision Of Oneness — Guest Post by Ianto Watt

We were talking this morning about the latest insanity when she said ‘I hate all these damn politicians!’ I answered, saying that she had to quit imagining that ‘politicians’ control…

Culture Philosophy

How A Science Becomes THE Science

Our main concern is what has become of science, now often called by those who control it The Science. This is, as mentioned, the Cult of Science. Members are easy…

Culture Philosophy

We Know Our Son Is Our Daughter: A Mini-Play In One Act

Say, Jesse, how ya been? Step in any more poop on the golden streets of Frisco? "Very funny. You know, that's awfully close to being racist." That so? What can…

Philosophy

Do Most People Enter Philosophy Already Atheist?

I am now only months behind in answering emails. I have a string of excellent questions from readers that I will try to get to at weeks' end. From reader…

Philosophy

Cognitive Bayes & Rationality: Why Theoretical Explanations Charging People With Conspiracy Theories Fails

Fun quiz time! This is some data: x = c(0, 1, 0, 1, 1, 0, 1, 1, 0, 1). Something caused that data to be. I know what it is,…

Philosophy

A Simple Proof Mathematics Is Discovered And Not Invented

This came up in an email thread, but for the life of me I can't find it. Since this is the second email (thread) from a colleague I have lost…

Philosophy Statistics

Dear Quacks & Experts: Your Loss Function Is Not Our Loss Function

Note to the colleague who wrote me. I lost your email! You asked excellent questions about the post Classical Statistics Has Outlived Its Usefulness: Here’s The Fix, which I meant…

Philosophy

Is A Material Bearer of Consciousness Intelligible? Part 2 — Guest Post by The Cranky Professor

See Part I here. In this essay, I will summarize and expound more on the “divisible parts problem” in materialism and why the concept of the soul (or ‘mental substance’)…

James on Top 10 Reasons AI Will Never Become Superintelligence: It Won’t Destroy Nor Save UsOctober 5, 2026
Assuming a 100% materialist world view, one must conclude that one's OWN thought processes are just so many particles exchanging…
Tellme on There Are No Such Thing As Gays (Or Transexuals)October 5, 2026
Other than impotent boys before puberty, and old men with low testosterone, all humans masturbate on purpose, or by accident.…
Brian (bulaoren) on Top 10 Reasons AI Will Never Become Superintelligence: It Won’t Destroy Nor Save UsOctober 5, 2026
Perhaps "Artificial Intelligence" is like an Artificial sex-doll; not the real thing, but close enough to get the job done.
Cary Cotterman on Top 10 Reasons AI Will Never Become Superintelligence: It Won’t Destroy Nor Save UsOctober 5, 2026
This is the first time I've come across anybody mentioning the obvious oh-eff-eff solution. Anything that requires electricity is completely…
Rich on Top 10 Reasons AI Will Never Become Superintelligence: It Won’t Destroy Nor Save UsOctober 5, 2026
We've all done this: On an old-fashioned calculator type "07734". Turn it upside-down. Friends say, "Ooh look! It says 'hello'".…