My Mom Makes Me Smell Her Sweaty Feet

Tim Minchin

Another character added to the troupe of comedians officially skeptics and freethinkers, with Penn and Teller or Leo Bassi (and any other insurance that escape me). This is Tim Minchin, an Australian who began his career in 2002. Pianist, the peculiarity of his style lies in their numbers musically humorous framing (the way of Les Miserables, for that we understand). In their actions is very different issues, of course, but it touches us here can not stop the special interests that one of them is the claim of irrationality. And it addresses this issue with a clarity of ideas and an enviable eloquence. Is well known that the lesson goes. And plenty of it shows in the video that comes next, where it gets summed up in nine minutes a complete argument against those intellectuals who therefore reject positions in the assembly, without forgetting all the necessary arguments and their conclusions. Enjoy it as much as I enjoy it each time I see it:

He confessed follower of Richard Dawkins, an atheist (of course) and, as he himself says, "a tad obsessed "with religion, also deals with political and social issues, always exercising one of the most noble goals of humor: the critics. There are large discography and videography, and has received numerous awards. For dessert, here's another of their numbers (the subtitle is fellow blogger Ezequiel Del Bianco, of Watermelon Project, which we appreciate this work):

And if you want to know more, you site here Tim Minchin's official website.

Kasi Kasi Translation

A LESSON FOR DIALOGUE

We like to pick up those words with which we identify if any pronounced as we would ourselves. We could have accompanied the appointment comes after an analysis of its content, some thoughts about what it states, the ... But we decided that anything that we would add more, here and says it all:

"Normally I do not intend to have the last word. I do not like it gives me the least satisfaction. I hate the endless discussions, only due to reasons of prestige and not the need of dialogue. After the exchange of opinions try to manage to avoid a break and have recourse to conciliation. In the end I prefer to reach out to turn back. The purpose of dialogue is not to show that you the best, but agree or at least clarified each other's ideas. "

; (Norberto Bobbio)

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PRIDE AND PRAISE OF ATHEISM

by Sarastro

Our friend of Mozart's name makes us the honor of working on this blog (I will urge that is not the only time) no more and no less than intended dealt a thrashing. You enjoy the controversy.

Sanz Agustín Andreu, or what comes to be the same, the concrete particular of this particular Agora, we spent recent dates makes an interesting and no less wrong, post already threatened to challenge. And as one tries to be had for serious person and word, here I am.

For more teaching and better understanding, I will pick out a couple of points, which seem to me most striking and close to the absurdity of our beloved Augustine.

[...] be an atheist means only, not to accept the hypothesis of the existence of gods. Nothing more. Is a property of the person who does not add to it any other feature that is completely independent of its other features. You can be atheist and left and right or atheist, atheist and literate and illiterate or atheist, an atheist and a skeptic or atheist and believer in pseudoscience and / or the paranormal ... And none of those other features makes less atheist atheist.

But god man! Religion, the sense of transcendence, life and death, over the centuries, perhaps since before my dear Cantabria be devoted to painting the walls and caves of Altamira screw us, is something that marks the way of thinking, feeling, relating, to build individual and collective ...

think beyond the scope of this post to analyze or, better yet, re-testing of Lords listísimos which explain why throughout history the belief or lack of them have made the societies, economies, political systems, cultural standards and so on. have been and still are related precisely to religion.

neologism "Do we remember the acronym PIIGS? Does or does not refer to the countries of Catholic tradition? (Greece, obviously not Catholic but I understand it dispensable explain why comparable). And they have already fallen from around two! Greece itself largely Catholic island and evangelized by St. Patrick.

This may seem like a story but it is not. Having regard to the general level of "civilization" (I hope this term also we agree) from Catholic countries, Catholic societies compared with Protestants, surely we can reasonably take for a Lutheran Protestant (verbi gratia ) be proud of their status against a Roman Catholic or Greek Orthodox. Being an atheist or Protestant Lutheran or brother of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Roman Catholic or Maronite or is more, infinitely more! to be members or not of these faiths. If so, the fact or belief religion is nothing more than an anecdote as it is to be Real Madrid or Atletico, though fans of these teams, rightly claim that it's much more than that.

The story of denying the existence of god would, if true the tenets of Augustine, most important, "you are Zoroastrian, I Druze, this atheist and go to reeds." Well, okay, I cane I can go with a Zoroastrian, a Druze badly but, excuse, or as we like or we reason or feel the same ...
The difference between atheists and everyone else is extremely important and something that goes beyond religious nominalism: we accept or not accept in our daily life the fact magical, irrational, inexplicable? Do we, for good things for nothing?

, no!

And take this opportunity to, in the same way that affirmed my sense of rational superiority over believers (YES! I feel intellectually superior to those who refuse to live with magical thinking, this is the kind that is), two apparent confession inconsistencies with the above so far: I think in San Fermin and the Magi. But it also would be long to explain.

I do not presume an atheist, that's true, but my condition of being rational and looking for a life modestly in keeping with the reason compels me to repeat the excessive repetition of "excuse me, is I am an atheist and I tend to think that things just do not understand because they are lying, please explain yourself, and if you have no fucking idea what you're telling me, tell me, that nothing happens, do not be shy But do not ask me to believe things uncritically or just because. " Doctors, lawyers, psychologists, pharmacists, even telemarketers Vodafone officials or I am forced to ask that I often explain things or at least be assumed ignorance.

And I'll tell you another personal issue. I'm male, single father, come on, it is now called "householder." I have a seven year old daughter who just turned to reason and educated in atheism. Also in the knowledge and respect (and demand of respect for one) of religions past and present. But there is one aspect of education that she can not intervene because it is aware and will still take some years to be. The pillar that supports their education atheist, rational, far from magical thinking, is a family compact home to scrupulously respect her and I, sometimes with difficulty "in this house does not say no because it does not because not because it I say. " She, unlike me, is loving, sweet, sociable, no pride ... and believe me that all too often because of their age and from their ratio is more sensitive than intellectual Descojonado of laughter when she sees as the attitudes held by individuals prone to some form of magical thinking. I will not feel superior!

But we'll see! Is not it logical that I consider 'higher' (inverted commas here on purpose for you to understand me) from my love of music by Mahler who only listen to the Forty ... (I cut myself to write something politically incorrect.) Enough of substrate complexes cristianoide! Damn! (Pardon me). If there are people in all aspects, better than me, how not going to be worse?

[...] Finally, not a few atheists should understand that it is justified to criticize a believer merely for being. Religious belief is purely emotional and, as such, is not subject to the will of the subject: the believer is never because decide to be. And, on reflection, not the atheist it is usually (ever, rather?) As a result of a conscious and voluntary decision. Is there then any reason to feel proud of it?

a believer be accused claiming to believe incredible things, the believer can take it on face value may not have the intellectual ballast to shed the fear induced from most heinous and check it in the face to do / think / say things that are not objectively make head or tail.

We should not criticize a fool by the fact of being. No one has chosen to be silly, as it has not chosen to be high, short or walleye. Why criticize a whisper as to strive to seem high and it can be inferred from it? (I know of cases). Why naturally assume that a perfect fool not assume as a perfect idiot?

In this line, if a citizen is guilty of stupidity, what can we do? But if it is known or suspected not to be, how we will not repeat that parrot blame lies masked object in the absurdity of religion?

On the other hand, that of religious belief is not subject to the will of the citizen ... because like so many other things. I suspect that most atheists we claim we were educated practicing Catholics. It is not uncommon to find atheists who are soups with deep meapilas priests and several theological issues, Theosophy, Bible or Church history. And this is normal. Religion is something of paramount importance, both when you think of it as when you stop.

A friend of mine, something crafty, said he saw the light of atheism as a matter of cognitive dissonance. As readers of this blog are read and write, clearly explain what this mental phenomenon. The fact is that this young man coming into puberty, start to feel itchy crotch drag him to touch without really knowing why. Discussed the phenomenon in the playground and after consulting some manual reaches several conclusions, in particular two: it has begun to straws and this is the sin of the fat. Obviously, from his position as a believer finds that maintaining those practices associated with self-fulfilling lustful thoughts toward her classmates provokes a sense of guilt of a father and Sir. And only had two tracks, or let to believe in God or kept jacking. They won the straw.

However, the gradual and volition, do not forget, neglect of Magical Thinking is hard, accurate intelligence, reflection and, above all, grace. It is something that, as Augustine seems to say, happen unintentionally. In most cases, you come here because they want and this release is to be proud, yes!

Editor's Note: in a sample survey of four people, 75% Sarastro agreed to consider a "nonsense" the article criticized and completely accurate and timely the above criticism, which are not surprised by anything because they know too well the jerk condition of its author, which sometimes moves them to laughter and in others the desire to murder. While 25% felt that, as he sees it, his statements and those of Sarastro not necessarily contradict that in any case, at some little nuance, so that the alleged objections are not really such in substance and that, please let him alone for a time, which is trying to figure out the dreadful subtitling the last chapter of "House" has been dropped of Cinetube.

Tattoos With Silver Fern

And" AGORA " WHY?

Some of the visitors of this blog have shown, whether in personal dialogue with me or through comment on it, their misunderstanding about the title is headed. Since this is not casual or capricious, but was chosen deliberately, and after some reflection to reflect the spirit, intentions and goals of our space, it seems appropriate to clarify something.

The most common misunderstanding, that I will not deny that I find somewhat annoying although understandable, is to identify the title with the famous film by Alejandro Amenabar. I suspect there are few people who have discovered the term "agora" from the aforementioned film, and therefore it is inevitable that it relates only to this. To increase the ambiguity, the birth of this blog coincided in time with the premiere of the film in question.

I must say that in deciding the name you give the blog is not missed me above, and even I considered giving up the title that now has to avoid such identification. However, he finally concluded that I did not need me to be influenced by such a fortuitous circumstance.

Obviously, palabla agora has not invented or discovered Amenábar. It is a term that has become commonplace in the field of philosophy because of its connotations, which are precisely what led me to choose it. And later explain what they mean. In fact, the web pages dedicated to the philosophy or the like that include that word in their title are numerous.

actually inspired the title of the blog itself is cinematic, but it is far from Amenábar. Having decided that I would use the concept of "agora", I shrugged decide through which expression or formula would do it. Resonance is actually in the movie by Gus Van Sant My Own Private Idaho (1991), released in Spain as My Own Private Idaho but the original title I always thought it would have been more accurate to translate as "my Idaho particular "(a term which combine the meanings of" own ", own , and "private" private ). Is a reference too "private" to expect anyone to grasp, but neither was this the intention.

What, then, an agora? (And, as we are for clarification, pointing out that the word is feminine even if preceded by masculine article, just like other feminine nouns that begin with "a" tonic).

The agora was the vital center of the Greek polis. Materially, consisted of a large square in which stood the most important buildings, administrative offices and the headquarters for the assembly of citizens who debated and voted on the policy of the city. It was the quintessential public place, where focused, therefore, public life, from political and administrative activities to commercial activities. And what really concerns us here, this was a meeting place, common space for all citizens (the restricted category, in antiquity, to a very limited number of individuals, on the other hand). And, to that extent, a space for dialogue, for the exhibition and exchange of ideas and opinions. The place where Socrates surely haunted (in a dialectical sense, by course) to the sophists and Plato walked along with his disciple Aristotle holding discussions whose content, unfortunately, do not ever know.

And hence, ultimately, why such a name for this blog. Because of the hope, vain hope not, that also can be considered a space, albeit virtual, for dialogue, confrontation of views, sharing of views. Where anyone can express themselves freely with the only limit unavoidable but respect for people (not their ideas.) And whose host can ensure that there is a dose of hemlock reserved for those who dare "Not to recognize the gods of the city."

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Friday


not think you can regulate the transfer of free information if we start to do so;) is the new P2P, which has the main advantage guarantee you a mouthful fresh air and stretch your legs. There is also an inevitable component and morbid curiosity that makes need to connect to see that c * n * is in the pen drive ... no? Well if you click you will see that in NY there are a few.

Elf Yourself For Free

"PROUD TO BE ATHEIST? Not at all

Often I find atheists who, by the mere fact of being, are considered superior to believers, and so manifest and exhibit no break (and in some cases, this insistence is suspect because it seems to reveal some insecurity that belies the supposed superiority of that claim). It is not uncommon to find an atheist who does not hesitate to self-identified as more intelligent, rational or even more brave (before the existence and nonexistence) of any believer.

To begin, we should remember that being an atheist means only, not to accept the hypothesis of the existence of gods. Nothing more. Is a property of the person who does not add to it any other feature that is completely independent of its other features. You can be atheist and left and right or atheist, atheist and literate and illiterate or atheist, an atheist and a skeptic or atheist and believer in pseudoscience and / or the paranormal ... And none of those other features makes less atheist atheist. Gregariousness and the inevitable need for identification of human beings do that very often more of an atheist holds the expectation that others will also qualify as such share their ideas and other ideological or intellectual. Not necessarily prove that these people and causes great confusion, and even leads them to conclude that another individual can not be an atheist "real" since it is not the sort of atheist who expect and want. In fact, even some that have arrogated personal mission to distribute the "card atheist" as if that power autoadjudicarse help them assert their own atheism.

belief (yes, belief) in the supposed superiority over religious believers that we mentioned at the beginning of the misunderstanding stems from the fact described at the beginning of the paragraph above. We can say that atheism, as intellectual position is more rational than religious belief, but this claim from the person holding it is, in itself, necessarily more rational is a logical leap unjustifiable. Being an atheist, as we said, means only an atheist. You can, for example, be an atheist and at the same time extremely irrational in other areas. And, again, that does not makes you a fake atheist, unless you intend to give this concept a personal meaning and restricted, which is what many atheists actually incurred.

Finally, not a few atheists should understand that it is justified to blame, since the alleged superiority, a believer merely for being. Religious belief is purely emotional and, as such, is not subject to the will of the subject: the believer is never because they choose to be. And, on reflection, not the atheist it is usually (ever, rather?) As a result of a conscious and voluntary decision. Is there then any reason to be proud it?

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The best underwater photographs Kinetics, 2010

It's amazing how nature designs ... no? This course is an eye, but ... what? The answer by clicking on the image, and many more as beautiful as this;)

Picture taken by the young Canadian photographer Keri Wilk, despite having only 24, takes over a decade taking pictures underwater. The picture won the medal silver in the competition Our World Underwater 2010 , in the "Super macro traditional."

Michelle Keegan Knickers

FIVE CHARACTERS, A FISTFUL OF JUDGMENTS

by Fernando Alfredo Rodríguez

This agora was born with a clear vocation to be a common space that would accommodate as many voices as they liked walking by it. Not until now has been very busy, but we remain hopeful that such things change. For now, their presence gives us the friend Fernando, through the article presented here. We hope you come back often.

JEAN-JACQUES ROUSSEAU (1712 - 1778) ...

Jean-Jacques Rousseau, French writer born in Geneva. Contradictory figure, influenced the Jacobins and their democratic and popular will as much as conservatives and romantics.

risk preferred to present himself as a "man of paradoxes" instead of remaining a "man of prejudice."

The society needs to establish within a learning environment conducive for through appropriate action for the purpose intended, the access of everyone to freedom independently. We then in school, but the purpose of Rousseau goes beyond the boundaries of the school or family and, in general, the social institution, to find a way of action to enable man to be freed Despite the mayhem that occurs in society I sensitive.

... WE SAID:

"Man is born free but everywhere in chains live."

"These two words fatherland and citizen should be effaced from modern languages."

"Nature has made man happy and good, but society does what depraved and miserable."

HUXLEY ALDOUS LEONARD (1894 - 1963) ...

anarchist was an English writer who emigrated to the United States. Member of the renowned family of intellectuals Huxley. Known for his novels and wide range of essays, also published short stories, poetry, travel books and stories for films and screenplays. Through his novels and essays, Huxley worked as a critic of social roles, norms and ideals. He was interested also by the spiritual themes, such as parapsychology and philosophy mysticism, about which he wrote several books. At the end of his life Huxley was considered a leader of modern thought.
was also a fine essayist, rationalist and skeptic.

... WE SAID

"God is not and can not be compatible with medicine, universal happiness and machines."

"Civilization has no need of nobility or heroism. These things are symptoms of policy failure."

Montesquieu (1689 - 1755) ...

is one of the philosophers and essayists illustrated most relevant especially the articulation of the theory of separation of powers, taken for granted in modern discussions of government and has been implemented in many constitutions throughout the world.

His thoughts should be framed within the critical spirit of the French Enlightenment, as reflected in traits such as religious tolerance, the aspiration for freedom and his concept of happiness in a civic sense, if While differing from other authors of the period for seeking a more concrete and empirical as opposed to abstraction and deductive dominant.

Two points are fundamentally different in that the authors claim to original point of Montesquieu's contribution to the scientific study of human societies:

rush Montesquieu the scientific task of describing social reality as an analytical method and "positive" that does not stop at mere description of empirical facts, but attempts to organize the multiplicity of data of social reality in a small number of types.

Give a "sociological response" to the apparent diversity of social facts, under the assumption that there is an order or causality of these facts susceptible of rational interpretation.

is considered a precursor of liberalism and the one who developed the theory of separation of powers.

... WE SAID:

"I do not love God because they do not know him or the others because I know him."

"The republics have just been through luxury, monarchies through poverty. "

THOMAS PAINE (1737 - 1809) ...

was a politician and English-born American publicist. promoter of liberalism and democracy.

With wider discontent of the colonies, Paine promoted the rational ideas he calls "common sense". criticized excessive taxes decreed by the government of His Majesty as unfair and economically wrong, favoring smuggling and corruption, the prohibition of trade with other nations, causing loss of material wealth, and lack of continental representatives in the British Parliament. He argued that the solution to all these problems was independence, a position that reported in the most famous of printed brochures, Common Sense (Common sense , 1776), which reached the circulation of half a million copies.

The doctrine of "common sense" is a milestone in history, not policy decisions in support of doctrines based on history, religion, nation, the honor or a priori notions, but the criteria endorsed by the human experience and reason. Common sense paved the way for the Declaration of Independence, ratified on July 4 that year.

... WE SAID:

"The government in its perfection, is nothing more than a necessary evil in its imperfection, is an intolerable evil."

"The world is my country, mankind are my brethren, and do good; my religion. "

ADOLF HITLER (1889 - 1945) ...

chased an aggressive foreign policy expansionist to expand Lebensraum ("living space") German to Eastern Europe, and combat an alleged international conspiracy between Judaism, Freemasonry, Communism and capitalism by the U.S. government, English and Soviet. Its policy aimed to establish a New Order ( Neuordnung ) in Germany and the Aryan race would have a global hegemonic role.

... WE SAID:

"If you want to get the sympathy of the crowd, then you say the most stupid things."

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Spongiform

Some believe the mood as one of the most serious being in the world. And also that, depending on how you do it is legitimate to apply it to everything, even more serious things, because the humor turns out, among other things, a very efficient tool for criticism and complaint. And last but not even be necessary to say, we are convinced of the desirability and need to laugh at yourself.

Something as gray, dull, serious and boring as many believe is the philosophy is the main ingredient for one of the sites more fun we have known: Spongiform .

already clinched, as explained in its editorial last , however accumulated throughout its active existence the content enough to be able to have a good time ("good" long and "good" good ") to explore the occurrences of their creators.

With sections such as the Stoic philosophy course Paris Hilton, his "refute arguments within 24 hours (12 hours if Cartesian)", a surreal lecture notes on the De anima of Aristotle and his dictionary (Fideism: pasta prefer more broth in the soup. "), Certain is that it requires some background knowledge in the field to extract all the juice. However, there is a condition sine qua non : know what you know about philosophy, sure to find plenty to amuse you. As a tip, help you locate the wallpaper of Windows XP is a cloud spitting, spitting Schopenhauer; tremendously useful to impress your friends geeks.

His main responsibility, real philosophers (or something), now have another project which you may be more known: The World Today also highly recommended. Both one and the other case, intelligent humor ... Yes, that topic, but in this case is true.

As they say, give access to the brain:

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LITTLE BUT WHAT THIS TEACHES PHILOSOPHY PROFESSOR OF PHILOSOPHY

I received some comments about the fact that in this blog do not talk enough about philosophy. The truth is that at any time or place has been said that this is the main theme of this website. The intentions and objectives of the blog are clearly stated in the heading text that appears above under the title, and, in my opinion, so far its contents have remained faithful to this approach.

The author of this blog is a secondary school teacher who teaches the courses for specialty Philosophy. I understand it is that fact which has been lead to confusion. In the same way that other people have made the error of considering it a "blog school." Either one or another of the misunderstandings come from focusing respectively on each of the terms of the category "teacher of philosophy." However, some things can be clarified if, instead of serve them separately, we consider , and its combination to understand what they really do (but worth pointing out that what is going to say here is applicable to this professor of philosophy, without pretending to be extended to other).

The truth is that in my daily work with my students speak poorly of philosophy. By way of example, I mention only two of the issues that concerned me at the moment in the classroom: the responsible consumption and consumer rights on the one hand, and the phenomenon of culture from the perspective of social anthropology, on the other. And the truth also is that the philosophy of "pure" is an area that increasingly interests me less. In fact, most of my personal readings, issues reflection and research projects are not strictly philosophical.

thing that interests me and what I think mainly, both inside and outside the classroom, not so much a philosophy as content ( also) as rather a philosophy and attitude and action. And in fact I've always been convinced that this is what led me to a certain point in my life, deciding to devote to this discipline (something of which I have never regretted, although it seems lie.) I am referring to a way of dealing with the knowledge of reality, and therefore how to live within that reality, which is characterized by a holistic, reflective and critical (and, of course, self). Some features that other disciplines, for its methodology and areas of interest, do not possess the extreme degree that they are presented in philosophy. The philosophy teaches us, as no other know, to think. And, thus, contributes to a valuable personal growth. Hence also my particular interests in recent times, which mediate the contents of this blog: opposition to the irrational as a mechanism of knowledge course world, critical thinking, practical problems of social and political order that the city should address from a free-thinking, ...

I have no particular interest in my students, and by extension, any person with whom to share the little I know, know the Kantian table of categories or understand the phenomenological method Husserl (things that are not more, on the other hand) is mainly what I want to think, and think well, something much less common than we think. Think about it.

... although some will cost much.

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THE PRIDE DAY OF PRIMATE

Primate Pride Day, to be held on November 24, 2010 is an initiative promoted by the blog gods Without whose main platform for dissemination and mobilization is Facebook page created for that purpose. The aim of this event is to draw attention to the fact of common descent of different species of primates, among which is the homo sapiens , ie us. One of the motivations for doing this is to express an opposition to creationism, religious stance, denying the scientific evidence, rejects the fact of biological evolution. We take this as a trivial goal if we consider for example that, according to the latest surveys, only 45% of Americans accept evolution.

The election of November 24 for its conclusion is not accidental. On that date happened, though separated by more than a century, two crucial facts: the first, in 1859, the publication of The Origin of Species , Charles Darwin, the second in 1974, the discovery of Lucy , the Australopithecus afarensis fossil whose finding is one of the major milestones in the history of paleoanthropological research.

But best of what we can do it ourselves, are the promoters of the initiative themselves who can explain the meaning of his proposal. Therefore, we invite you to read his manifesto:

" 1. We are proud members of the order of primates. The inclusion in the group of primates is not only taxonomically but also reveals the evolutionary relationship we have with the other primates.

2. We are proud of "descent from an ape." Not an actual ape species, but an extinct ape, but to ape after all. We are not ashamed of our evolutionary origin.

3. We want to acknowledge the work of paleontologists who have helped to decipher our evolutionary origins and wish to continue developing the work of paleontologists, and the dissemination of their research.

4. We want to acknowledge all biologists and conservationists working to help conserve species of apes.

5. We declare that human beings are not separate from nature, but we are part of nature, as we relate to it in the ecological interactions and our evolutionary origin.

6. Express we are proud to be hominids, and that our closest relatives are the African apes. Comparative anatomy and genetics shows the phylogenetic relationship and this fact does not make us less like human beings.

7. We want the knowledge of human origins that reveals the science is available in all schools and denounce the blockade that make it religious fundamentalist groups.

8. We declare that the opposition made by creationists regarding the relationship of humans with other primates and our evolution is scientifically dishonest and responds only to doctrinal concerns. Creationists have a right to believe whatever they want but can not pretend to ignore the fossil evidence, or DNA, or to pass their religious beliefs as an explanation at the same level of science. "

Some points are clarified in a message that, as a circular was sent to members of the Facebook group" Support Primate Pride Day. "Reproduce below an excerpt from the message:

" I have received some responses from some blogs where they say that the conclusion is unnecessary because evolution is widely accepted. Which is not true in most of Latin America, or why a day for this taxon, and not one for "Pride Eukarya" or "Pride Corda". It would say that would have a very long day for each taxon, and that it is important claim of evolutionary biology, human evolution and why, on the day commemorating the publication of "Origin" and the discovery of the famous fossil "Lucy".

Some have asked me to change the name to "Day of the claim of human evolution and membership in the order of primates." Thanks, but I think it can say the same for "Primate Pride Day."

Others have criticized the use of the word "pride", as we have not done anything to be primates. They say you can only be proud of what it has fought and worked, and not be proud of an evolutionary condition. The truth is that this condition of "pride" is intended to creationist circles they put down, crossed out and demonized the idea of \u200b\u200bbeing descended from monkeys or related to them. There is precisely what the "pride."

hope to understand that the idea is to promote reflection on our biological and our evolution, rather than stay in pointless discussions. "

So, you know, supports Primate Pride Day, against those who deny the facts on the basis of irrational beliefs, for who you are, so we ... piece of primate.

Your Family Tree.

What Item Would Have Immense Value In 200 Years

Cards

I have not yet clear that this is going ... but cool. The only thing it says nothing about "get well" or "congratulations." It will not be all business ... you? are for sale.

Dune Buggy Blue Prints/plans

IMOV Lanzarote


This international competition looks really interesting, especially for canaries. And the sign denotes a special sensitivity to the landscape, I imagine that the projects will also ... or at least the winner! Click on image for details.

Drinking Soda Canker Sore

Peter Zumthor Buildings and Projects 1986-2007 Architectural Competition

I just read that Peter Zumthor will be responsible for making the Hall annex to the Serpentine Gallery 2011. I think I've said to the architect on the blog, but we're going to do ... if I mola, me mola. As yet no information about the project in question, I leave a nice collection of models ... very good from my point of view. No need to look far to see that this architect is an exceptional. (And the models are very expressive, click the image to view ... very pretty!)

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RIDLEY: "WHAT MAKES U.S. HUMAN

(This corresponds to the "Readings", which you can view the presentation here )

Matt Ridley.

What makes us human
( Nature via nurture. Genes, Experience and What Makes Us Humans ).
Translation Teresa Carter and Irene Cifuentes.
Year: 2003.
Edition: Taurus, Madrid, 2004.

The author, Matt Ridley is a science journalist (The Economist , The Daily Telegraph ) and a Ph.D. in zoology from the University of Oxford. Specializing in areas of genetics and evolution.

The theme of the book it falls into the category of behavior genetics.

As main thesis, Ridley argues that human behavior is shaped by the confluence of experience and heritage, from the idea that there are two sources of influence and facing opposite because the genes act in accordance with the environment ("nature via nurture") respond to the environment as turn on and off (this biological phenomenon is explained in the text very clear and accessible). Accordingly, it highlights the lack of meaning of the classic debate between environmental and genetic, one of which historically have had more weight in various sciences, both natural and human, and the ability to overcome reformulating the terms in which it has been producing traditionally settled on misconceptions that the latest scientific discoveries have come to override.

"I think that the nature or heredity and environment explain human behavior. (...) The discovery of how genes actually influence human behavior and how human behavior influences genes, is about to give a whole new way to debate. And it is not nature versus the environment, but nature via the environment. (...) The genes are designed to be guided by the environment. (...) Will have to abandon the ideas we cherish (...) our genes are not puppet masters pulling the strings of our behavior, but puppets mercy of our conduct; (...) instinct is not the opposite of learning, (...) environmental influences are sometimes less reversible than genetic and (...) nature is designed to support the environment . (...) The more we uncover the genome more vulnerable to experience genes appear to be. " (pp. 15-16).

"Genes themselves are implacable little determinants, which produce non-stop entirely predictable messages. But they are far from having a stock unchanged, due to manner in which the promoters of activated or deactivated in response to instructions external. Instead, they are mechanisms for extracting information from the environment. Every minute, every second, change the pattern of genes being expressed in the brain, often as a direct or indirect response to what is happening outside the body. Genes are the mechanisms of experience. " (p. 418)

As a strategy to defend the thesis exhibition above, the author uses a development that is interspersed experience counts and supporting data with a tour of the major milestones of the controversial environmental-genetic, so that shows how the main thesis is supported by empirical data at the same time to show the errors of approach of the leading representatives of both sides of that controversy.

Some of the topics discussed in the text, in a non-exhaustive, are:

-The discovery of the complete human genome sequence as its impact on gene-environment debate (pp. 11-14).

-The comparative human-animal as a way to determine the human idiosyncrasy: positions of various thinkers (pp. 21-38).

-The previous comparative concrete in sexual behavior (pp. 38-48).

-The human uniqueness compared to other primates from the point of view of genetics (pp. 48-71).

-instincts. The theory of W. James. Love as an instinct and its biological basis (Chapter 2).

-experimental support to the theory of gene-environment interaction (pp. 92-95).

-Lo nature and nurture in gender differences and gender: biological traits, gender roles, sexual orientation, functions and brain and mental abilities (pp. 96-120).

-nativist position of Galton and about the same as inaugurator of nature-environment debate (pp. 123-130).

-Twin studies and providing results to the controversial nature-environment. On the heritability of different traits: physical, personality, intelligence, ... (Pp. 130-168).

"The research on the causes of schizophrenia. The pluricausalidad of mental phenomena as another support for the theory of gene-environment interaction (chap 4).

-The evolutionary theory of Piaget (pp. 215-218).

-The K. nativism Lorenz (pp. 218-223).

"The theory of imprinting (Chapter 6). Interpretation from the same range of phenomena: homosexuality (pp. 268-277), the acquisition of language (págs.284-290), aversion to incest (pp. 290-295).

-deterministic theories of learning: Pavlov, Watson, behaviorism (chapter 7).

-F. Boas and cultural anthropology and its influence on the heredity-environment debate. Cultural learning. Culture in the evolutionary process (pp. 340-387).

-Sociobiology (pp. 407-418).

-Various consequences of the approach advocated in the book: about the relativity of the influence of parental education (pp. 421-430), on the influence of peer groups (pp. 430-437), on the Meritocracy (pp. 437-443), the concept of "race" (pp. 443-447), on the individuality (pp. 447-451), about free will (pp. 451-462).

In parallel and complementary to the main line of development work, it is the theme of utopia (as an appendix at the end of some chapters: 2 nd, 3 rd and 5 th to 8 th) :

"One of the common sins patents in the nature-environment debate has been the utopianism, the idea that there is an ideal model of society that can be derived from a theory of human nature. Many of those who thought understanding of human nature were ready to make prescription description and drew a model of a perfect society. This is a common practice among the supporters of nature as between supporters of the environment. Yet the only lesson to be drawn from the utopian dream is that all utopias are awful. All attempts to create a society in reference to a narrow conception of nature human, either on paper or on the streets, just producing something much worse. I intend to finish each chapter making fun of utopia which involves bringing any theory too far. " (p. 120).

and discussed as such utopias resulting from taking the positions of nativism and extreme environmentalism:

-Plato The Republic (p. 120).

-Galton's eugenic society (p. 169).

-El Huxley's Brave New World (p. 255).

-Nazism and theoretical support for K. Lorenz to it (p. 295).

-Skinner and Walden Two (p. 337).

- of Commons (p. 387).

Essential to update knowledge of the area of \u200b\u200bconcern which may have as a reader to both the general public as a work of disclosure, and the specialist. It is a very clarifying text, which breaks some of the more established topics in the scientific and philosophical debate and makes the most reliable way to do this: from empirical data without any speculation which inevitably takes place in a vacuum. Of equal interest from the point of view of natural science, humanities or philosophy.

This book has been two issues in our country, that of Taurus which is referenced at the beginning of this article and another in paperback by Punto de Lectura in 2005. The latter is currently out of print, but the first can be found with relative ease.

Matt Ridley's Web Site: http://www.rationaloptimist.com/