epistemology

Neural Buddhism

by Brian on 02-04-2009

in belief,science

Part of an ongoing series on belief. David Brooks generated a lot of discussion with his column in May on “The Neural Buddhists“: Scientists have more respect for elevated spiritual states. Andrew Newberg of the University of Pennsylvania has shown that transcendent experiences can actually be identified and measured in the brain (people experience a [...]

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Skeptical of Skepticism

by Brian on 02-02-2009

in art,belief,civics,science

A follow-up to Identifying with Non-Belief.  If skepticism is the act of being skeptical, I’m ok with it, but if we go to a lot of trouble to define and systematize “Skepticism,” then we run the risk of falling into the same absolutist traps in which we don’t recognize the truest shape of reality because it’s [...]

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Designers’ Ego

by Brian on 12-12-2008

in civics,science

When I was a kid I wanted to be an architect. It started with a love of building forts — tree forts, snow forts, couch & blanket forts, cardboard box forts – and developed as I started to think about more ambitious fort plans that I didn’t actually have enough time and resources to build. I found the creative [...]

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