The Australian Academy of Science (AAS), an otherwise exemplary organisation, is upset because most Australians have a decent grasp of basic scientific facts.
Wait, let me start from the beginning.
A scientific literacy survey, recently carried out by Auspoll on behalf of the AAS, has found that science literacy of young Australian adults has fallen in the …
Continue Reading ›› 
"Isn't it enough to see that a garden is beautiful without having to believe that there are fairies at the bottom
of it too?" —Douglas Adams
People often write heartfelt pieces about the personal history of a certain belief of theirs. Virginia Heffernan recently attempted just that on her blog, when she felt an urge to explain …
Continue Reading ››
It seems the debate between science and philosophy,
triggered by Stephen Hawking, stubbornly refuses to evaporate, even though it’s a debate where
if one side wins, we all lose.
This time the debate comes in the form of, well, an actual debate,
hosted by iai.
The panel includes: developmental biologist and unrelenting philosophy critic, …
Continue Reading ›› 
One of my (many) favourite exchanges in Carl Sagan’s magnificent novel
Contact is that between the book’s protagonist, radio astronomer Dr Ellie Arroway, and charismatic preacher, Palmer Joss, about faith.
“Here, take a look out of that window,” says Ellie. “There’s a big
Foucault pendulum out there. The bob must weigh five …
Continue Reading ›› 
It seems that PZ Myers and I are in almost total agreement.
Almost. In
his response to my post on the
non-conflict between philosophy and science, he takes exception with my claim that scientists have a rather poor track record when it comes to doing philosophy:
After stating that scientists are philosophers … Continue Reading ››
What would it take for you to believe in bigfoot? Grainy footage of a Sasquatch
spying on campers? Or one
streaking across a dark highway? A ruddy
footprint in the mud? Not good enough?
How about a
genome sequence?
Well, now one exists. Allegedly.
This has to be one of …
Continue Reading ››
Science, art, philosophy: rational appreciation of the natural world
