Peace and War

Cognition

Rational Shmational

David P. Barash Ph.D. on December 26, 2019

Many who deny the existence of the human soul like to console ourselves that we are at least particularly rational. Not so fast.

Many who deny the existence of the human soul like to console ourselves that we are at least particularly rational. Not so fast.

Suicide

Thinking About Suicide: A Three-Part Hypothesis

David P. Barash Ph.D. on December 7, 2019

Suicide isn't only a tragedy; it's a deep, dark evolutionary paradox. Here's a biologically based hypothesis that might shed some light. (Or not.)

Suicide isn't only a tragedy; it's a deep, dark evolutionary paradox. Here's a biologically based hypothesis that might shed some light. (Or not.)

Teamwork

Chimps and Dogs Are Very Smart

David P. Barash Ph.D. on November 26, 2019

If you think that human beings are unique in our ability to engage in complex cognitive functioning, you have another think coming!

If you think that human beings are unique in our ability to engage in complex cognitive functioning, you have another think coming!

Animal Behavior

How Ethologists Learned to Respect Animal Minds

David P. Barash Ph.D. on November 21, 2019

Ethologists used to maintain that animals behaved "instinctively" and without much thought. In fact, the question of animal minds was a kind of third rail. But no more.

Ethologists used to maintain that animals behaved "instinctively" and without much thought. In fact, the question of animal minds was a kind of third rail. But no more.

Alcoholism

The Danger of Crazy Leaders

David P. Barash Ph.D. on October 16, 2019

There is a long, sorry history of mentally ill monarchs, prime ministers, and presidents. But never have the stakes been as high as they are now.

There is a long, sorry history of mentally ill monarchs, prime ministers, and presidents. But never have the stakes been as high as they are now.

President Donald Trump

Before There Was Donald Trump, There Was Titus Oates

David P. Barash Ph.D. on August 10, 2019

There is a history of sociopathic liars causing political chaos and social pain, but England, at least, pulled through.

There is a history of sociopathic liars causing political chaos and social pain, but England, at least, pulled through.

President Donald Trump

Threats, Truth-Telling, and Trump

David P. Barash Ph.D. on June 29, 2019

Research in animal behavior emphasizes the importance of a reliability component when it comes to communication. This has important implications when it comes to Donald Trump.

Research in animal behavior emphasizes the importance of a reliability component when it comes to communication. This has important implications when it comes to Donald Trump.

Beauty

Walt Whitman, Born 200 Years Ago, Offers a Key Lesson

David P. Barash Ph.D. on June 16, 2019

Walt Whitman was born a bit more than 200 years ago. His "Song of Myself" is a song for all of us—and for all living things.

Walt Whitman was born a bit more than 200 years ago. His "Song of Myself" is a song for all of us—and for all living things.

Environment

Two Contrasting, Inconvenient Climate Truths

David P. Barash Ph.D. on May 27, 2019

Right-wing extremists deny both the reality of global heating and the risk of nuclear winter—two truths for one planet.

Right-wing extremists deny both the reality of global heating and the risk of nuclear winter—two truths for one planet.

Genetics

Genes, Bodies, and Buddhism

David P. Barash Ph.D. on May 3, 2019

Genes create bodies, not vice versa. Yet the boundaries involved are not only indistinct, but misleading

Genes create bodies, not vice versa. Yet the boundaries involved are not only indistinct, but misleading

Fantasies

Game of Thrones Gets Real

David P. Barash Ph.D. on April 30, 2019

Episode 8.3 of "Game of Thrones" was downright terrifying, but perhaps not in the way its showrunners intended.

Episode 8.3 of "Game of Thrones" was downright terrifying, but perhaps not in the way its showrunners intended.

Genetics

We're All Extremists

David P. Barash Ph.D. on March 26, 2019

Pretty much everyone is against extremism and often perplexed by it. But an evolutionary view suggests it may be more "normal" than most people think.

Pretty much everyone is against extremism and often perplexed by it. But an evolutionary view suggests it may be more "normal" than most people think.

Wisdom

A Super, Surreptitious, Science Slice of Surprising Stuff!

David P. Barash Ph.D. on December 14, 2018

It's not a hoax, not a send-up of post-modernist bombastic nonsense, but a genuinely creative and unexpected bit of tom-foolery.

It's not a hoax, not a send-up of post-modernist bombastic nonsense, but a genuinely creative and unexpected bit of tom-foolery.

Depression

The Sad Saga of John Chau and the North Sentinelese

David P. Barash Ph.D. on November 28, 2018

A young American was killed evangelizing an uncontacted people on a remote island. His action raises psychological, evolutionary, and ethical questions.

A young American was killed evangelizing an uncontacted people on a remote island. His action raises psychological, evolutionary, and ethical questions.

Genetics

What if We Made a Humanzee? (Or Chimphuman?)

David P. Barash Ph.D. on September 13, 2018

Here's a controversial idea: it would be a good thing to make a chimp-human combo. First, a bit of background ...

Here's a controversial idea: it would be a good thing to make a chimp-human combo. First, a bit of background ...

Confidence

Deterrence Is a Sham

David P. Barash Ph.D. on September 4, 2018

Climate change, human rights, conventional war, environmental destruction—these and others are all crucially important. Looming over all of them, however, is nuclear war.

Climate change, human rights, conventional war, environmental destruction—these and others are all crucially important. Looming over all of them, however, is nuclear war.

Animal Behavior

Tardigrades, Trisolarans and the Toughness of Life

David P. Barash Ph.D. on September 1, 2018

There are more things in the real world, and in great novels, than are dreamed of by biologists and theologians: Meet tardigrades and their fictional cousins, the trisolarians.

There are more things in the real world, and in great novels, than are dreamed of by biologists and theologians: Meet tardigrades and their fictional cousins, the trisolarians.

Teamwork

Nuclear Abolition Part 2: What About the Animals?

Judith Eve Lipton M.D. on August 28, 2018

Regarding nuclear war and other catastrophes, who speaks for the trees and the animals? Is it time to start a Lorax Society?

Regarding nuclear war and other catastrophes, who speaks for the trees and the animals? Is it time to start a Lorax Society?

Environment

Nuclear Abolition: Armageddon to Transformation

David P. Barash Ph.D. on August 21, 2018

Nuclear weapons are the most important issue of our time, and indeed, of any time.

Nuclear weapons are the most important issue of our time, and indeed, of any time.

Creativity

Unintelligent Design

David P. Barash Ph.D. on August 5, 2018

Ironically, our bodies are in many ways very "unintelligently designed," providing more evidence — if any is needed — of our biological naturalness.

Ironically, our bodies are in many ways very "unintelligently designed," providing more evidence — if any is needed — of our biological naturalness.