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Where science meets art. The only necessary and sufficient book store in Melbourne.
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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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- David Papineau on Scientific Realism
- Stanford Encylcopedia of Philosophy
- Obese Child Removed from Parent Care
- Six 'Uniquely Human' Characteristics Now Found in Animals
- Is there a difference between patriotism & jingoism?
- Relativism
- Is Obama's Nobel Peace Prize Premature?
- IVF - how old is too old?
- These foolish things or three kinds of fools
- Holidays for All
USEFUL RSS FEEDS
Philosopher’s Zone
NYTimes – The Stone
Philosophy Now
RSA Animate
- The Green Corridors Initiative
- Governance governing government
- Why print money when we can print wealth?
- Building a resilient health and care system
- We'll always have Paris?
- Experimentation and equity in global cities
- Technology-enabled deliberative democracy
- Healthier placemaking
- Creating a sovereign wealth fund in Wolverhampton
- Economic recovery and climate action
Scientific American – Mind and Brain
- Asexuality Research Has Reached New Heights. What Are We Learning?
- Political Ads Can Target Your Personality. Here's What Could Go Wrong
- Why Writing by Hand Is Better for Memory and Learning
- People with Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome May Have an "Exhausted" Immune System
- How to Close the 'Orgasm Gap' for Heterosexual Couples
- Virtual Bar Scenes Are a New Tool to Study Why People Commit Crimes in the Heat of the Moment
- Anger Can Help You Meet Your Goals
- How Sleep Engineering Could Help Heal the Brain
- Dominatrices Are Showing People How to Have Rough Sex Safely
- Farmers in Crisis, Long Overlooked, Are Finally Getting Mental Health Support
TED talks
- War journalism should be rooted in empathy — not violence | Bel Trew
- The problem with food and climate — and how to fix it | Jonathan Foley
- How buildings can improve life — inside and out | Doris Sung
- The satellite helping slow climate change — right now | Millie Chu Baird
- What's possible when the arts belong to everybody | Lear deBessonet with Brian Stokes Mitchell
- “Cant de la Sibil·la” / "Quien Más Me Ama" | Maria Arnal
- Bravery, brilliance and RuPaul Charles | On the Spot | RuPaul Charles
- How to claim your leadership power | Michael Timms
- Why young people are worse off than their parents — and what to do about it | Scott Galloway
- Quantum computers aren't what you think — they're cooler | Hartmut Neven
THEMED RESOURCES
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Category Archives: Social and Political Philosophy
By what measures can we value human life?
The Fallen of World War II from Neil Halloran on Vimeo. It can clearly be challenging to convey the magnitude of loss after a tragedy, particularly when that number is in the tens of millions, yet that is precisely what … Continue reading
Posted in Critical Thinking, Ethics and Moral Philosophy, Social and Political Philosophy
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Science in the lead?
Is scientific progress outpacing progress in areas such as ethics and politics? What does progress in these areas look like?
Posted in Ethics and Moral Philosophy, Media Articles, Cartoons, Social and Political Philosophy
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Privacy vs Security
Discuss.
Posted in Media Articles, Cartoons, Social and Political Philosophy
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If it’s not right to rape a rapist, how can it be OK to kill a killer?
Discuss (1) this analogy and the (2) image below. (1) Here is the source article for the analogy. “That’s the thing. The reason why we would be hesitant to endorse it is that – what normal person would be paid to do something so … Continue reading
Posted in Critical Thinking, Media Articles, Cartoons, Social and Political Philosophy
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Are we individual or social creatures?
How does the concept of individuality affect politics? Commentary from The Stone New York Times. Here’s a pdf Evolution and the American Myth of the Individual – NYTimes.com
Posted in Media Articles, Cartoons, Social and Political Philosophy, Web links
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The Tale of the Slave
Robert Nozick’s dangerous question.
Posted in Media Articles, Cartoons, Social and Political Philosophy
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What Democracy is not…
Discuss.
The Fallacy of ‘Deepest Offence’
The Fallacy of ‘Deepest Offence’ By Peter Ellerton image via here Nothing is so central to a liberal society as the right to discuss ideas. Not being able to do this at all is totalitarianism – the banning of discussing, … Continue reading
Posted in Essay, Social and Political Philosophy
Tagged Fallacy, offence, offended
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When Should Science be Censored?
Calls to censor details of potential killer flu via ABC News The suppression of breakthrough research into deadly bird flu strains has been labelled scientific censorship by some, but others say it is a necessary step to prevent a possible … Continue reading
Posted in Booklets, Handouts and Worksheets, Ethics and Moral Philosophy, Media Articles, Cartoons, Social and Political Philosophy
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Reasons for Reason
Via MICHAEL P. LYNCH NYTimes The Stone Rick Perry’s recent vocal dismissals of evolution, and his confident assertion that “God is how we got here” reflect an obvious divide in our culture. In one sense, that divide is just over the … Continue reading
Philosophical Health Check
This is a fabulous online interactive to see how coherent your beliefs and values are as a whole (tpm online) Check your [philosophical]Tension Quotient! To take the philosophical health check (PHC), go through the statements below, selecting for each one … Continue reading
Philosophy in Senior Schools
(From my appearance on ABC Radio National’s ‘Philosopher’s Zone) http://www.abc.net.au/rn/philosopherszone/stories/2007/1911312.htm Philosophy is about asking childlike questions – how do we know the world exists? How do we know it hasn’t just started existing? Why can’t we go back in time? … Continue reading
Sweet & sour: Junior Master Chefs
Philosopher column in the Weekend Australian poses questions about this popular show. What is the fine line between not mollycoddling children vs exposing them unecessarily to pressure? Consumerism, social psychology & philosophy, rights & obligations of adults to children. Can … Continue reading
The Role of Men in the Modern World
News article about how modern men shape up to their ancient counterparts. Social and political philosophy. Human nature. The Role of Men in the Modern World (pdf)
Paid to not reproduce
FEMALE drug addicts in Wales could soon be offered money to use contraceptive implants to stop them falling pregnant. Political and social philosophy. TOK. Paid not to reproduce (pdf)
Do home-schooled kids get enough social education?
Q: * Do home-schooled kids get enough social education? *Should we be concerned with the potential effects of home schooling on children’s social integration? *Are some countries, such as Germany, right to ban home-schooling? Ask the Philosopher column in The … Continue reading
Civics should be a class act
Opinion piece about the teaching of ethics in NSW public schools, as an alternative to scripture classes. Written by Tim Soutphommasane, political theorist and author of Reclaiming Patriotism. Ask the Philosopher 2010 Mar06 Home schooling – social education (docx) (Uploaded by … Continue reading
Cognitive Bias in Reasoning
A list of topics from Wikipedia – visit there by clicking on the links – well worth the effort. Decision-making and behavioral biases Many of these biases are studied for how they affect belief formation, business decisions, and scientific research. … Continue reading
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
Why should I respect oppressive religions?
Religion and the ‘right’ to respect – comments on recent United Nations changes to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Ethics, religion, social and political philosophy. Johann Hari Posted from: http://www.independent.co.uk/opinion/commentators/johann-hari/johann-hari-why-should-i-respect-these-oppressive-religions-1517789.html Whenever a religious belief is criticised, its adherents say … Continue reading