It is notable that the so-called “new atheists” never did take on Putnam. Shows how lily-livered they really are, picking on the usual easy targets. Ditto for his critique of scientism. Putnam’s Mind, Language and Reality. Philosophical Papers, vol. 2. remains one of my favorite books. The Guardian obit. Martha Nussbaum on Putnam. EpistemologyethicsfunctionalismHilary PutnamJewish PhilosophymetaphysicsPhilosophy of Languagephilosophy…
In a world overpopulated with nth rate punditry (i.e. bad faith public intellectuals) I am of the view that one of the very few who rises above the crowd is Nassim Nicholas Taleb. He is truly independent-minded, not in any ideological or financial pocket, has theoretic/practical credibility and is the most cultivated of men. He cuts…
New single by The Relatives of Dallas. Their The Electric Word was powerful stuff. I assume that there is a new album in the making. acid funkfunkgospelmusicsoulthe relatives of dallas
We entered the house, I picked out a good seat by the sitting room, for I never liked leaving the company of skirts for long . . . ***** It all seems fine to me in its own fashion; and so, in the countryside I am happy in a country way, and in the city…
Long overdue! Here’s the entry written by Terry Nardin. aestheticscivil associationConservatismEpistemologyexperience and its modeshistory of political thoughtLiberal educationLiberalismMichael Oakeshotton human conductPhilosophy of historyphilosophy of social sciencePolitical philosophyrationalism in politicsReligion
The sixth in a series of excerpts from Minds, Models and Milieux: Commemorating the Centennial of the Birth of Herbert Simon. Mark Pingle Introduction Our collective rationality became more bounded on February 9, 2001. Herbert Simon emphasized we humans are cognitively constrained, and those constraints impact our decisions. Yet, Herbert Simon’s mind was less constrained than most of…
If your taste falls within the Creedence–Little Feat–Lil’ Band O’ Gold-ZZ Top–Gatemouth Brown–The Band realm with a dash of Zappa and Black Sabbath (and much more besides), all wrapped up in a highly delectable super gritty melodious acid driving funk groove — then you won’t be disappointed with Deltaphonic’s album Texas, Texas. They defy dumb…
Catastrophe then—yes, I am sure of it—whether it has happened or not; whether by war, bomb, fire, or just decline and fall. Most people will die or exist as the living dead. Everything will go back to the desert. ***** Can good come from evil? Have you ever considered the possibility that one might undertake…
Frank Zappafree speechmusic
The first in a series of abstracts from this special Human-Human Stigmergy issue. First up is Francis Heylighen. The concept of stigmergy was proposed by the French entomologist Pierre-Paul Grassé (Grassé, 1959) to describe a mechanism of coordination used by insects. The principle is that work performed by an agent leaves a trace in the environment…
manwithoutqualities 