Fascinating!

Blockchain

Send us a Text Message.Blockchain is the technology that makes Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies possible. Blockchain technology functions without a central authority, and the implications on account of this are profound.

Biodome

Send us a Text Message.The Biodome project was an attempt to create a closed self-sustaining ecological system, with the goal of replicating the ecological system that had evolved on Planet Earth. The experiment began to fail quickly and it...

Karl Marx

Send us a Text Message.A look at the development and influence of Marxism on Planet Earth, from the Vulcan's-eye view.

Slavery Lite

Send us a Text Message.In modern times on Planet Earth, the practice of slavery has come to be regarded as morally abhorrent, and unjust to the victims of slavery; but there is an asterisk.

Another Fine Mess!

Send us a Text Message.Student loan indebtedness has grown into a major problem. The problems that have arisen demonstrate the folly of attempts at intelligent design and social engineering in general. How does all of this look to...

Making (Non)Sense

Send us a Text Message.What it the proper response by government to the problem of "misinformation" on social media? Hear commentary from Rik about a recent episode of Sam Harris' Making Sense podcast, where Sam's guest is legal scholar...

Further on YouTube Channel

Send us a Text Message.Searching on YouTube for "Fascinating" can be difficult because so many different things come up. To find my YouTube Channel, search instead for "Fascinating@pregodenada". The channel, identified by the Vulcan salute, should then appear...

Moral Blackmail

Send us a Text Message.It's high time Earthlings threw off the shackles of unearned guilt which makes them vulnerable to moral blackmail. Recognize it for what it is, and DO NOT PAY - it only encourages them.

Fascinating! YouTube Channel

Send us a Text Message.The Fascinating! YouTube Channel is now active, with the first three videos uploaded. There is an introductory essay, and there are re-creations of two popular podcast essays from the first three seasons: Learning from...

Season 3 Recap

Send us a Text Message.A review of the essays published during Season 3 of Fascinating!

Social Construction

Send us a Text Message.Academics have taken the idea of social construction to some pretty flaky places, but that doesn't mean we should ignore it entirely. Properly understood, and reconciled with evolutionary thinking, this idea can produce valuable insights.

Is Ego an Illusion?

Send us a Text Message.Conventional thinking tells us that the self is something that mostly gets in the way of ethical behavior. The argument that ego is illusory seems to be an attempt to support the widespread notion that...

AI: Catastrophe or Apocalypse?

Send us a Text Message.How concerned should we truly be about the increasing use of machine technology to amplify human intelligence?In this essay, senior contributing editor Prego de Nada argues that in spite of widely publicized concerns, the news is...

Ten Things You Can Do to Wean Yourself from Intelligent-Design Thinking

Send us a Text Message.Evolutionary thinking is the scientific alternative to intelligent-design thinking. Most Earthlings, however, are still not aware of the nature and the scope of evolutionary thinking, and of how pervasive intelligent-design thinking still is.Have a look.

Ardnassac

Send us a Text Message."Ardnassac" is Cassandra spelt backwards. In ancient Greek mythology, Cassandra made accurate prophesies but nobody believed her. We now have Ardnassac, who makes mistaken prophesies, but everybody continues believing him.Listen to this episode to...

Short Take - Buddhist Golf

Send us a Text Message.A comparison of the Celtic Way of Golf with the Buddhist Way of Golf

Short Take - Redlining

Send us a Text Message.What exactly was redlining supposed to do, and how did it get started? Another sad lesson from an attempt at social engineering.

Short Take - Capital Punishment

Send us a Text Message.A proposal for how we ought to view the morality of capital punishment.

Framing

Send us a Text Message.Examples of the use of framing as a tactic of misdirection by cynical operators on Planet Earth.

Emergence and Emergent Order

Send us a Text Message.A concise and accessible explanation of the implications of emergent order in nature, and how this idea is a "universal acid" that defeats all attempts to contain it.

Learning from Behavioral Economics

Send us a Text Message.A discussion of the works of psychologist Daniel Kahneman and of economist Vernon L. Smith, who shared the Nobel Prize in Economics in 2002.

Michael Sandel on Meritocracy

Send us a Text Message.A critique of communitarian philosophy as a particularly awful example of intelligent design thinking.

Ayn Rand

Send us a Text Message.Thoughts on why Ayn Rand is such a polarizing figure, and why her writings deserve serious attention.

The Moral Landscape, Part 2

Send us a Text Message.Further discussion of the idea of moral principles from a utilitarian point of view, with examples from Sam Harris' Making Sense podcast, where he interviews fellow neuroscientist Eric Hoel.

The Moral Landscape, Part 1

Send us a Text Message.An introduction to the moral philosophy of utilitarianism, as presented in Sam Harris's 2010 book, "The Moral Landscape"

Season 3 Intro

Send us a Text Message.A reiteration of the motivation behind these podcasts, with a look forward to some of the essays to be published in the coming season.

Season 2 Recap

Send us a Text Message.A brief review of the lessons from nature that were covered in the Season 2 podcasts. Look for Season 3 to begin in the springtime.

Equality

Send us a Text Message.Equality of outcomes doesn't just happen on its own, and simply striving for equality of opportunity has not worked, and is not going to work. Equality of outcomes can only be insured by wise and compassionate...

Justice

Send us a Text Message.What is meant by "justice"? Earthlings can't seem to agree even on what it means, much less how to achieve it. It might be a good time to think a little deeper.

Second-Guessing Evolution

Send us a Text Message.Has nature left Earthlings with an unfortunate set of evolved traits? The modern world is quite different in many respects from the world in which Earthlings evolved, after all. Is it time to step...

Straw Man

Send us a Text Message.The straw man argument is a classic debating tactic. You set up a straw man by putting words into your debating opponent's mouth that they never spoke, and then by demolishing the straw man's argument...

Friedrich Hayek

Send us a Text Message.Friedrich Hayek was arguably the deepest-thinking philosopher/economist of the twentieth century. His ideas have already been deeply influential and will undoubtedly become more and more influential. Learn why in this installment.

Brown Cigarettes, a Beret and a Boyfriend

Send us a Text Message.How to become a member of the French Intellectual Elite

The Intellectual Climate at the University

Send us a Text Message.A message to young Earthlings about higher education in today's world

Should We Resent Rich People?

Send us a Text Message.Do you believe that the only path to riches lies in doing harm to others? You might wish to reconsider this belief.

Value

Send us a Text Message.What do we mean by "value", and how does value arise?

The Challenge of Climate Change

Send us a Text Message.Earthlings - you cannot afford to f**k this one up.You can deal with the challenge of climate change, but it's going to take more than good intentions combined with coercive policies.

Property

Send us a Text Message.What do we mean by "property", and what is the origin of this concept?

Season Two Introduction

Send us a Text Message.Recapitulates the theme of evolution vs. intelligent design, with focus on ecnarongi, and hints of themes to be covered in future season two essays.

Season One Recap

Learning from sociobiology

Blame

Send us a Text Message.Blame as a substitute for diagnosing problems

MINE!

Send us a Text Message.An examination of an Earthling meme

Better Thinking

Send us a Text Message.Tips for improving your reasoning skills

Learn from fractal geometry

Send us a Text Message.Is control an illusion? Insights from fractal geometry into why nature is unpredictable.

Book reviews: Krugman v. Shermer

Vulcans and Earthlings

Send us a Text Message.A discussion of emotionality

Ganja golf

Send us a Text Message.Consider using ganja as an enhancement to the process of learning and improving your game

Examples of self-organization

Intro to self-organization