Author Archives: Steve

The placebo effect

Posted on May 15, 2012 by Steve

Think warm; be warm. Believe in the curative powers of a pill, and watch your body respond. How can it be that mere belief can affect physical reality? The placebo effect is one of the most difficult phenomena to reconcile … Continue reading →

Posted in Emotion | 1 Comment

Three a week: the physical world

Posted on May 9, 2012 by Steve

Everybody seems to be invested in the physical world. Three questions: Question 1: Does the physical world exist? Seems like an easy question to answer. Of course the physical world exists, we interact with it every day. What could be … Continue reading →

Posted in Three a week | 7 Comments

Three a week: Justification

Posted on May 1, 2012 by Steve

People who value truth seek justification for their beliefs. Three questions: Question 1: Is there a method to proper “justification”? Should all justification for a belief rest on empirical evidence? If there is no “tangible” evidence to believe in something, … Continue reading →

Posted in How to Think Critically, Three a week | Leave a comment

Three a week: Entities

Posted on April 3, 2012 by Steve

Things exist, right? Three questions: Question 1: What makes an entity, an entity? Is a house an entity? What makes this so? If we gut the house entirely, so it is just studs and a roof, is it still a … Continue reading →

Posted in Metaphysics, Three a week | Tagged metaphysics, three a week | Leave a comment

Three a week: Contradictions

Posted on March 20, 2012 by Steve

This post is about contradictions, and this post is not about contradictions. Three questions: Question 1: Why do contradictions sound alluring? “They went to a world where 2 became 3, where good became evil, and hot was cold.” Ooooooh! How … Continue reading →

Posted in How to Think Critically, Three a week | Tagged critical thinking, how to think clearly, how to think critically, three a week | 1 Comment

How the heck can you be “one with the universe”?

Posted on March 13, 2012 by Steve

For as long as I can remember, I have always been intrigued by Eastern worldviews. Until recently, I have frankly never understood them. How can you be “one with the universe”? What is the … Continue reading →

Posted in Culture, Metaphysics | 2 Comments

What is real?

Posted on March 4, 2012 by Steve

Two separate questions: What is real? And, what is “real”? The former is a grand metaphysical question. The latter, a question about the definition of “real”. Because we should always attempt to define our terms, here is a standard definition … Continue reading →

Posted in How to Think Critically, Metaphysics | Tagged critical thinking, metaphysics | 14 Comments

How to understand

Posted on January 10, 2012 by Steve

It is easy to take in information. Just open your eyes and ears. We are bombarded with data and information virtually all day, everyday. You can be filled up and brimming with facts in no time. I have written about … Continue reading →

Posted in How to Think Critically | Tagged critical thinking, how to think clearly, how to think critically, logic, reason | Leave a comment

Marriage

Posted on December 17, 2011 by Steve

I am getting married today to the wonderful woman mentioned in this post. Needless to say, I will not be writing much for the next couple weeks. If you haven’t read them yet, I would suggest the following: Why Reason … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | 3 Comments

Three a week: Happiness

Posted on December 13, 2011 by Steve

“The pursuit of happiness”. Sounds great. Three questions: Question 1: What is happiness? Be careful how you answer this question. It could have big implications on the nature of reality. For example, does happiness have to do with your subjective … Continue reading →

Posted in Culture, Three a week | Tagged culture, emotions, three a week | Leave a comment