No apology for sociobiology

Despite the rhyming title, this is a serious topic. But not always a controversial topic . . . Sociobiology is an un-controversial field of study as long as we stick to studying animals other than human animals. Here's how John Alcock describes sociobiology in The Triumph of Sociobiology (2001): "Genetic differences help explain why people develop differences in at least some aspects of their behavior." (Page 53). Here's another way to put it: "Sociobiologists want to know the evolved function or purpose of whatever aspect of social behavior they are studying." Alcock is a prolific and highly respected biologist who teaches at the Arizona State University. His textbook, Animal Behavior, is currently on its eighth edition. I used his textbook when I took a class on animal behavior a few years ago. It is a terrific resource, highly organized and thoroughly researched. [More . . .]

Continue ReadingNo apology for sociobiology

Frans de Waal responds to conservatives who try to shove bonobos back into the closet

World-renowned primatologist Frans de Waal is tired of reading the nonsense written by conservatives who are working hard to do the same thing to bonobos that they have been doing to climate change: change the facts to fit the politics. Why are conservatives embarrassed by the bonobo?  Is it, perhaps, because…

Continue ReadingFrans de Waal responds to conservatives who try to shove bonobos back into the closet

Personal ads indicate you’re not as free as you want to believe

Are you sure you want to be "free"?  Freedom is such a strange concept. I've never understood it in the context of personal decision-making.  Americans claim to love "freedom," but how much freedom can you stand?  Freedom implies occurrences that are unhinged from naturalistic laws.  Freedom implies a mechanism that…

Continue ReadingPersonal ads indicate you’re not as free as you want to believe

Bridging Engineering Compromises

In recent news, another highway bridge collapsed. Every 20 years or so, a major bridge fails unexpectedly. The nature of civil engineering is to understand how things fail, and design the next generation to avoid that failure. Each failure leads to better designs. Each of the major bridges that collapsed…

Continue ReadingBridging Engineering Compromises

Gullibility Exposed

Here's a cute video by "AngryLittleGirl" called "Gullible is not in the Dictionary" [youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OruQy-X32O0[/youtube] It makes the simple point that one should check the source when someone presents a "fact" such as "95% of Americans are scientifically illiterate" or "Jesus rose from the dead". That reminds me of "Passion of…

Continue ReadingGullibility Exposed