Choice of religion as a Hobson’s Choice

This article at Paleolibrarian makes the argument that religion is a classic Hobson's Choice.

If you are unfamiliar with Hobson’s choice it is essentially the option of no options. It is the illusion of fair and free choice set within only one possible outcome. So if you’re offered just one option and you’re told you can take it or leave it, is that really a choice?
How many religions have urged that they would encourage you to engage in free thinking, as long as you come up with the right conclusions? Stir in threats of ostracizing those who come up with the wrong conclusion combined with the fear of hell, and many a believer has been convinced to draw the curve before plotting the data. All of this is compliments of the confirmation bias, the cognitive bias that causes us to seek evidence that leads us where we want to go and blinds us to conflicting evidence. Thus, many people "choose" religion after asphyxiating their own thought process. But it feels as though one is thinking freely all the way to the preordained conclusion that embracing one's religion--usually the religion one was taught as a child--is logical.

Continue ReadingChoice of religion as a Hobson’s Choice

Sign of the times regarding government surveillance

Back in June, ProPublica published an article advising methods for communicating over the Internet while maintaining privacy. Edward Snowden's revelations have now caused ProPublica to issue a big red flag on its article. Encryption might no longer be effective. How did we get to this point where it is obviously illegal for the government to break into my house and rummage through my drawers without probable cause, but they rummage through my data with the help of and coercion of corporate communications companies? They do it because they CAN do it. These revelations also point out that in the political world explanations are streams of sounds (or scribbles) that would lack any punch except that they are created by entities that can threaten violence. In the case of the NSA, it is the violence of the police state. It is a violence so pronounced that it has ruined the possibility of investigative journalism which, until recent times, was the People's best chance to keep their government in check.

Continue ReadingSign of the times regarding government surveillance

What is Quantitative Easing?

The more I hear about "quantitative easing," the more it is clear that it amounts to fucking with our nation's currency in a dangerous way. It's making me queasy, and like many things, there's very little straight talk in the mainstream media. I've recently run across a few things that amount to some straight talk. Here's one, and here's the other:

Continue ReadingWhat is Quantitative Easing?

Robert Sapolsky discusses the alleged uniqueness of humans

Excellent lecture by Robert Sapolsky. Scientists used to think that humans were unique in many ways when compared to other animals. The number of ways in which we are truly unique is dwindling, however, and that dwindling number is the focus of Sapolsky's talk. There is at least one way in which we are unique, and that is our ability to entertain a contradiction. Sapolsky, speaking to a graduating class, challenges them to take on this contradiction: They are highly educated and thus privileged human animals who are educated to such an extent that they realize that it is virtually impossible for one person to make a difference in the world. The more clear this becomes that it is impossible to make the world better, "the more you must."

Continue ReadingRobert Sapolsky discusses the alleged uniqueness of humans