PACTISS recommends
Where science meets art. The only necessary and sufficient book store in Melbourne.
Hope our friends enjoy the new look and feel – now optimised for mobile devices for access on the go.
PEOPLE
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Coordinator: Peter Ellerton
Web guy: Jason Etheridge RESOURCE COLLECTIONS
NEW RESOURCES
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- A nice Philosophy of Mind summary
- The power of categorical logic
- What exactly is the scientific method and why do so many people get it wrong?
- Paralympic athletes faster than olympic athletes — what does this tell us about difference?
- Logic: if + then = why? How can we understand the power of logic?
- How do we ensure we are exposed to new ideas? A parody with bite.
- A Life of Meaning (Reason Not Required) – What is the nature of our relationship with reason?
- Can you name this cognitive bias?
- By what measures can we value human life?
- Teaching philosophy improves standardised scores
- Are we in control of our own decisions?
- Neuroscience and education: myths and messages
- Free will is not as free as we think – and that’s ok.
- Where’s the Proof in Pseudoscience?
- Science in the lead?
RANDOM POSTS
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- We are all just computer simulations
- Reasons for Reason
- Is Mathematics Discovered or Invented?
- Scientists and Global Warming (Does the analogy hold?)
- A Critical Thinking Matrix
- General philosophy essay marking criteria
- Straw man fallacy from Dilbert
- The quest for Renassaince Man
- Philosophy of Mind Questions
- The dilemma of giving
USEFUL RSS FEEDS
Philosopher’s Zone
NYTimes – The Stone
- Athens in Pieces: The Stench of the Academy
- Athens in Pieces: The Art of Memory
- Socrates Wants You to Tidy Up, Too
- In Memoriam: What Would Gary Gutting Do?
- The Gender Politics of Fasting
- Affirmative Action and College Admissions: ‘The Problem With Meritocracy Is That It Isn’t Meritocratic’
- The Christmas Time Capsule
- In Praise of Wonder
- Would Human Extinction Be a Tragedy?
- I’m for Affirmative Action. Can You Change My Mind?
Philosophy Now
RSA Animate
Scientific American – Mind and Brain
- Remembering Why Curiosity Should Be Boundless
- 7 Beliefs of Emotionally Healthy People
- Humans Are <em>Still</em> Mating with Neandertals
- The One Change That Boosts a High School's Academic Performance
- Our Brains Really Remember Some Pop Music
- We Can Actually Prevent Depression in Some Cases
- Drunk Witnesses Remember a Surprising Amount
- Are Intellectuals Suffering a Crisis of Meaning?
- Can a Woman Sound Presidential?
- Why the Secrets You Keep Are Hurting You
TED talks
- The age of genetic wonder | Juan Enriquez
- A love story about the power of art as organizing | Aja Monet and phillip agnew
- 3 ways to practice civility | Steven Petrow
- How doctors can help low-income patients (and still make a profit) | P.J. Parmar
- Why noise is bad for your health -- and what you can do about it | Mathias Basner
- How women in Pakistan are creating political change | Shad Begum
- Ink made of air pollution | Anirudh Sharma
- What your breath could reveal about your health | Julian Burschka
- How we can help the "forgotten middle" reach their full potential | Danielle R. Moss
- 7 common questions about workplace romance | Amy Nicole Baker
THEMED RESOURCES
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Category Archives: Resource Collections
Indian High Court Rules Astrology is a Science
MUMBAI: Astrology has been debunked by most world scientists including India’s renowned physicist Prof. Yash Pal. However, it is “science” in India. Philosophy of religion, philosophy of science,TOK, appeal to tradition, logical fallacies, reasoning. Astrology is a science_ Bombay HC … Continue reading
Evolution comic
One of the best and most easily understood introductions to evolution around. Philosophy of science. Evolution comic (pdf)
The Truth Wears Off
Is there something wrong with the scientific method? Philosophy of science. From the New Yorker. The Truth Wears Off (pdf)
The Relativity of Wrong – Isaac Asimov
Are all wrongs equally wrong? TOK, philosophy of science, nature of truth, inductive reasoning. Asimov – The Relativity of Wrong (pdf) Full text below
STEM conference
Nature of Science – philosophy of science STEM conference – Nature of Science Presentation (pptx)
Does Truth Matter? – Carl Sagan
Good Sagan stuff. Philosophy of science. Does Truth Matter and related articles – Carl Sagan (pdf) Full text below
Funny Proofs of God’s Existence
In a Word document. Proofs of God’s existence
Brain science and the search for the self
Nice little overview of how the whole thing started. From New Scientist magazine. Philosophy of mind, consciousness, self. 20 March 2009 by A C Grayling AFTER John Locke published his Essay Concerning Human Understanding in 1690, he sent copies to various … Continue reading
Evidence for consciousness being a brain-wide activity
Electrodes implanted in the brains of people with epilepsy might have resolved an ancient question about consciousness. Philosophy of mind, consciousness. From New Scientist magazine. ‘Consciousness signature’ discovered spanning the brain 00:00 17 March 2009 by Anil Ananthaswamy For similar stories, … Continue reading
Did aversion to bitter tastes evolve into moral disgust?
People’s visceral reaction to incest or betrayal by others could stem from a natural aversion to potentially toxic foods. Moral Philosophy, ethics. Another revealing article from New Scientist magazine. 19:00 26 February 2009 by Ewen Callaway For similar stories, visit the The … Continue reading
David Papineau on Scientific Realism
From Philosophy Bites. Philosophy of Science. Nice piece and quite short. David Papineau on Scientific Realism (mp3)
Psychology and Psychics – Why some people think they are psychic.
Interesting article on why people may feel psychic from New Scientist. Philosophy of mind, human nature, psychics, psychology. New Scientist Belief Special 28 January 2006 Glad to be gullible Clare Wilson It is five minutes past midnight and I am alone … Continue reading
Immoral advances: Is science out of control?
How do we place a moral value on science? What issues are here and on the horizon that will test our moral boundaries through the advancement of science? Philosophy of science, ethics, moral philosophy. From New Scientist magazine. Immoral advances: … Continue reading
Both sides of the debate…
Irrational ideas. Intelligent design. Philosophy of religion. Philosophy of science. (cartoon)
How Science Works
A lovely description of the process of science. David Goodstein, B.S., M.S., Ph.D., is Vice Provost, Professor of Physics and Applied Physics, and theFrank J. Gilloon Distinguished Teaching and Service Professor, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena,California. Philosophy of science. HowScienceworks
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
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
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
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
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)