Category Archives: Philosophy of Science

Intelligent Design – the Myth of Irreducible Complexity

How irreducible complexity, a stalwart of the Intelligent Design movement is NOT supported by the bacterial flagellum. Philosophy of science, philosophy of religion, hypothesis. Mark Perakh discusses how Intelligent Design proponents created the myth that bacterial flagella look like man-made … Continue reading

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Free Will vs the Programmed Brain

If our actions are determined by prior events, then do we have a choice about anything—or any responsibility for what we do? Scientific American. Free will, philosophy of mind, determinism. By Shaun Nichols Many scientists and philosophers are convinced that … Continue reading

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Alternative Medicine – Sincerity no substitute for evidence

HOW many readers have gone to dinner parties and listened to otherwise intelligent people assert that alternative medicine can be just as effective as mainstream, scientific medicine? Generally, the argument is that alternative medicine, in all its many forms, is … Continue reading

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Do Subatomic Particles have Free Will?

If we have free will, so do subatomic particles, mathematicians claim to prove. Article from New Scientisty magazine. Philosophy of mind, consciousness, free will.   Do subatomic particles have free will? http://www.sciencenews.org/view/generic/id/35391/title/Do_subatomic_particles_have_free_will%3F Do subatomic particles have free will? By Julie … Continue reading

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Tackling the Problem of Free Will

For years, the frustrating lack of progress on the problem of free will has been a scandal in philosophy. Now it looks as if neurobiology may help us out – and indeed it may, says John Searle, but don’t think … Continue reading

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A Wolf in Sheep’s Lab Coat – Pseudoscience in the 21st Century

Slides from a presentation on science, pseudoscience and critical thinking. Includes 10 signs useful in sorting pseudoscience from the real deal. A Wolf in Sheep’s Labcoat (ppt) (Uploaded by Mike McRae.)

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Evolution and the Second Law of Thermodynamics

By viewing evolution as the motion of energy flows toward a stationary state (entropy), evolution can be explained by the second law of thermodynamics, a law which conventionally describes physical systems. In this view, a cheetah serves as an energy … Continue reading

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Scientific Theory vs Scientific Law

An explanation of the difference between a theory and a law in science. Philosophy of science. Theory vs Law (wmv)

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Characteristics of a Good Hypothesis

How to tell if your explanation is a good one. Science and pseudoscience. podcasts-Hypothesis (wmv)

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Philosophy of Science

  Podcast from Radio National’s ‘The Philosopher’s Zone’. All about Philosophy of Science. About 18 Mb. Philosophers Zone – Philosophy of Science (mp3)

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New Scientist website

About the best access to general science and topical issues relating to science you can get. http://www.newscientist.com/

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15 Answers to Creationist Nonsense (pdf)

Scientific American – 15 answers to creationist nonsense.  Includes evolution, as you would expect.  From Scientific American. 15 Answers to Creationst Nonsense (pdf)

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Evolution: science and belief – Intelligent Design?

A special report reprinted from Natural History magazine. IDNatHIsMus

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Science and Truth

More gems from New Scientist. Philosophy of science. Ontology. The truth is out there New Scientist vol 165 issue 2226 – 19 February 2000 Instruments such as microscopes or telescopes can reveal the physical world to us, showing a cell’s walls or … Continue reading

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Free Will and the Mob

How much of what we do is free will and how much is because of the ‘mob’ we find ourselves in? New Scientist. Political philosophy, philosophy of mind, social philosophy. Free Will and the Mob They made me do it … Continue reading

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Sex, brains, robots and Buddhism: looking for free will

Great article from New Scientist on Free Will. Sex, brains, robots and Buddhism: looking for free will New Scientist vol 178 issue 2394 – 10 May 2003, page 46 How much free will do you think you have? Does understanding how cause … Continue reading

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Pope and Darwin

Scanned article about religion and science and how they interact. Some intelligent design comments. Based around statements by Pope Benedict.

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Ethical Dilemmas in Science

Where do we draw the line and what are we currently doing in science? Ethical Dilemmas in Science (doc)

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Can Science Save its Soul

New Scientist article about science and its purpose. What does it tell us about our lives and how should we do science? Philosophy of science. Can Science Save Its Soul (doc)

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Hypothesis booklet

All about hypothesis forming, the characteristics of a good hypothesis, testing hypotheses and hypotheses in the social sciences. Lots of worksheets included. Hypothesis

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