Various web links I found to be of interest recently:
by Mark English
One of (the) problems with philosophy is that -- unlike in science --
virtually nothing within the discipline is ever definitively
resolved. Old approaches are routinely exposed as logically flawed
or inadequate. But the usual pattern is that someone then comes
along and finds that the original view can be salvaged with some
small modifications and/or that the critique is also flawed.
... The general belief within philosophy is that the process of
collegial debate, discussion and review leads to a refinement
or clarification of views and so to a progress of sorts.
Refinement, yes. Clarification, I'm not so sure.
Often this process can all too plausibly be interpreted in one of two ways
(or both -- the ideas are not mutually exclusive): it can be seen as
a cover for what is essentially an ideological battle;
or merely as a competitive game, self-perpetuating and futile.
... The view that much philosophy is self-perpetuating and futile,
a game of sorts which ends not when some kind of "truth" or resolution
is finally arrived at but when people just get tired of that particular
game and move on to another, has often been more or less acknowledged
by philosophers.
Why isn't this guy in jail?
Clapper flat-out lied to Sen. Ron Wyden during a Senate hearing in March
when he said the NSA does not wittingly "collect any type of data at all
on millions or hundreds of millions of Americans."
Clapper has previously said he "responded in what I thought was the
most truthful, or least untruthful manner by saying no."
On Thursday, he said he had been falsely accused of lying
"because of a mistake and trying to answer on the spot a question
about a specific classified program in an unclassified setting."
Even though it was a friendly setting, was there not at least a giggle from the audience?
"Well prior to Edward Snowden, online jihadists were already aware that law enforcement and intelligence agencies were attempting to monitor them."
"...Flashpoint Global Partners, a private security firm, examined the frequency of releases and updates of encryption software by jihadi groups... It found no correlation in either measure to Snowden's leaks about the NSA's surveillance techniques, which became public beginning June 5, 2013."
About 80 percent of the risk for schizophrenia is known to be inherited, but scientists have struggled to identify specific genes for the condition. Now, in a novel approach analyzing genetic influences on more than 4,000 people with schizophrenia, the research team has identified distinct gene clusters that contribute to eight different classes of schizophrenia.
Collectively, our results link NAS (Non-caloric artificial sweeteners) consumption, dysbiosis and metabolic abnormalities, thereby calling for a reassessment of massive NAS usage.
Now, anyone with internet access and a web browser can enjoy reading a high quality up-to-date copy of Feynman's legendary lectures.
Volume I: mainly mechanics, radiation and heat Volume II: mainly electromagnetism and matter Volume III: quantum mechanics
AT&T, Comcast, Time Warner Cable use statehouses to curb public Internet service
The companies have succeeded in getting laws passed in 20 states that ban or restrict municipalities from offering Internet to residents.