science

A collection of 401 posts

anti-vax

Vaccine Hesitancy and Brexit/Green Voting Linked

This is some interesting research. There is a link to being a Brexiteer and being hesitant to take a Covid vaccine. But, even stronger than this correlation is the new agey sort of anti-vax stance so that Green Party members are even more likely. iNews reports: People who voted for

Charles Darwin

Darwin Day: Can Capitalism Be Domesticated?

This is a guest post from Dr Joe Berger, science educator who wrote the book Science and Spirituality: An Introduction for Students, Secular People & the Generally Curious [UK]. Please grab a copy to help out. Since it was Darwin's birthday this last Friday, Joe thought he would

science

British Exceptionalism, Terrible Covid Stats and Brexit

Brexiteers are very much like rabid Republicans in thinking, rather intuitively, that the UK is exceptional; the UK, like Republican America, is far and away better than any other country. For everything. Until challenged, and then the metric and topic is very much cherry-picked. The problem with exceptionalism is that

anti-vax

Anti-Vax: Customer Interception Hotline

A little bit of fun for you this Saturday (well it is here). And a bit of the North for you: @rachelharpercomedyReply to @_curti5_ worried about vaccines? You’ll only feel a prick xxx ##fyp ##foryoupage ##comedy ##customerservice♬ original sound - Rachel_Harper_Comedy H/T Geoff Benson. Stay in

determinism

C Peterson on Quantum Indeterminacy

I recently had a discussion with C Peterson here about his understanding of quantum physics in the context of whether there is a deterministic framework underpinning reality, as this is part of a chapter for a book of my own previous and original writing, title as yet decided upon. Now,

Constitution

The Free Market and Big Tech

...the right still lays claim to America’s most-watched cable-news network, highest-rated political talk-radio shows, and most-read Facebook articles. The algorithmic programming of Facebook and Twitter — which directs readers away from dry reporting on local corruption and toward lurid conspiracy theories — has been a boon to the right in this

Abiogenesis

If Low-Level Life Exists on Other Planets, What of God?

With the news that certain cloud compositions on Venus are best explained by molecular Venutian life existing, this prompts some interesting questions. If life can only be explained by God, that naturalism struggles to explain abiogenesis, as certain theists (including creationists) claim, then why do we have complex sentient life

anti-vax

This Is for You, Anti-Vaxxers

I love this so much: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G8V4NG1HmE8   Stay in touch! Like A Tippling Philosopher on Facebook: A Tippling Philosopher You can also buy me a cuppa. Or buy some of my awesome ATP merchandise! Please... It justifies me continuing to do this!

Coronavirus

Masking Hypocrisy with Shouts of Personal Freedom

Mitigating the spread of COVID-19 is the objective of most governments. It is of utmost importance to understand how effective various public health measures are. We study the effectiveness of face masks. We employ public regional data about reported severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 infections for Germany. As face

Coronavirus

Why Is Covid Skepticism a Characteristic of the Right?

I was going to write a big article on this, but this video does a very good job of explaining many of the points, with the undercurrent being individualism vs collectivism. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SgBUZg5ZSjE   Stay in touch! Like A Tippling Philosopher on Facebook: A Tippling Philosopher

Dana Horton

The Quantum Physics Dilemma

Here's another offering from Dana Horton. Let's get quantum, and the Einsteinian "mind of God". The Quantum Physics Dilemma Or How Can I Get Doreen in Accounting to Get Off My Back (5 minute read) Quantum physics was one of our requirements in ministerial

DNA

Did God Give You Kidney Stones?

I would like to introduce you to Matthew Sabatine who will contribute a few pieces that can also be found on his own blog - details below. Over to him: DNA is often given supernatural attributes and its uniqueness is often hard to separate from God as an origin. I

evolution

Guest Post: Word of the Day

This post is from regular commenter Martin Zeichner - thanks muchly, and don't forget you can submit guest post requests to me through the contact details above. Today, he muses about words, particularly "social", and in this context, all of the influences on us humans: Anyone

Economics

Libertarianism, "I'm Alright, Jack", the Free Market and Pandemics

Something that I have noticed about libertarians is that they invariably seem to be people who have everything alright, thank you very much. It just so happens that their health is fine and they have a pretty good job. Many of them are comfortably middle class, and those who are

Coronavirus

Pandemic Response and Healthcare Top Concerns for Secular Voters

Secular Americans are Shaping Modern Political Landscape A new national survey demonstrates that issues related to science, including both the federal coronavirus response and climate change, are among the issues driving secular Americans to the voting booth this year. Secular voters’ biggest concern going into the election is the pandemic

Democratic Party

Katie Porter Rules

This here is the difference between Democrat and Republican politicians. Katie Porter is amazing. She fights for what is right and she fights for her constituents, not for vested interests. She not only eviscerates the US healthcare system (and the problem with no centralised procurement on behalf of citizens such

Coronavirus

Brian Tyler Cohen Eviscerates Trump

Brian Tyler Cohen is my favourite commentator and interviewer at the moment. This video is, from start to finish, right on the money. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yNUcx-3zdfE Watch it.   Stay in touch! Like A Tippling Philosopher on Facebook: A Tippling Philosopher You can also buy me a

Coronavirus

Out of an Abundance of Caution

As you will know, Donald Trump has tested positive for COVID-19 and has now been taken to hospital "out of an abundance of caution", as according to the White House. There are just a few things I want to say. Firstly, he has been taken to hospital most

Coronavirus

Mask Mayhem

Masks. Should we wear them? Is the science robust in their efficacy? Recently, I took it upon myself to thoroughly critique (elsewhere) a video that was doing the rounds: https://youtu.be/8UvFhIFzaac Some of you will love this video because it will support your conclusions with lots of data

climate change

"It'll Start Getting Cooler... I Don't Think Science Knows, Actually"

I'm afraid these comments are absolutely fundamental to understanding the Trump administration's approach to…everything. I am absolutely staggered and listening to this response at the blatant stupidity on the show. What disgusts me most is when, in response to: "We've had temperatures

science

Ebola, Obama, Covid & Trump

In the run-up to the 2014 midterm elections, Republican David Perdue excoriated President Barack Obama over his handling of the Ebola outbreak -- contending that Obama had "failed to lead" and "took a serious threat far too lightly."... Before he won his first term in 2014,

Brexit

Brexit: Can't Say I Didn't Warn You

Brexit seems something of the distant past, in a bygone era. It has been eclipsed by a global pandemic that has ostensibly let Bresiteers and Leavers completely off the hook. There were a number of things I clearly predicted that would come about. All of my predictions are coming true.

evolution

"Why Science and Atheism Don't Mix". Really?

Aah, John Lennox. So long since I've considered you. I remember attending a talk you gave in Southampton years ago on your faith (I can't remember the subject exactly, but it may have had connections to you being a mathematician). Lennox has written recently in the

conceptual nominalism

Dekonstructing the Kalam: CosmicSkeptic, William Lane Craig & Conceptual Nominalism

In my first video in this series on the Kalam as pertaining to leading light of internet atheism, CosmicSkeptic, I looked at running a commentary that hoped to highlight the need for clarity in many of the points that Alex O'Connor made in a vide debunking his former

Coronavirus

God and Masks

"We don't live in a Communist Country! It’s an individual choice. There’s been nothing scientific that says masks are effective. I choose not to wear it, but I don’t let thousands of people breathe on me.” [Source] Yes, and indubitably so, people are stupid.