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The Scientific Fundamentalist

A look at the hard truths about human nature.

Evolutionary Psychology
Why Are Stepparents More Likely to Kill Their Children?

Satoshi Kanazawa on January 9, 2011

A paper forthcoming in Current Zoology presents the first critique of evolutionary psychology that makes any sense, as well as the first refutation of one of the core findings of evolutionary psychology.

A paper forthcoming in Current Zoology presents the first critique of evolutionary psychology that makes any sense, as well as the first refutation of one of the core findings of evolutionary psychology.

Politics
No Representation Without Taxation

Satoshi Kanazawa on January 2, 2011

I have a magic solution for our current problem of national deficit. I can more than double the individual tax revenue for the government while at the same time reducing the tax burden of the average taxpayer. How is that mathematically possible?

I have a magic solution for our current problem of national deficit. I can more than double the individual tax revenue for the government while at the same time reducing the tax burden of the average taxpayer. How is that mathematically possible?

Sexual Orientation
What If It Turns Out the Earth Were Flat After All?

Satoshi Kanazawa on November 28, 2010

Science is a cumulative endeavor. We build on past knowledge to attain even greater knowledge than before in a progressive manner. Unfortunately, however, science doesn’t always work as it should.

Science is a cumulative endeavor. We build on past knowledge to attain even greater knowledge than before in a progressive manner. Unfortunately, however, science doesn’t always work as it should.

Cognition
Why the New Hands-Free Texting App Will Not Reduce Car Accidents

Satoshi Kanazawa on November 21, 2010

A company in Boston, AdelaVoice, has invented a smart-phone application called StartTalking that allows drivers to send and receive text messages while driving. Unfortunately, however, such a hands-free texting device will not reduce the likelihood of an accident while texting.

A company in Boston, AdelaVoice, has invented a smart-phone application called StartTalking that allows drivers to send and receive text messages while driving. Unfortunately, however, such a hands-free texting device will not reduce the likelihood of an accident while texting.

Evolutionary Psychology
Why Is It Permissible to Profile Packages But Not Passengers?

Satoshi Kanazawa on November 14, 2010

After three bombs were discovered in October among packages sent from Yemen to Chicago, FedEx, UPS, the US Postal Service, and the Royal Mail have all suspended service from Yemen. Why isn’t anybody upset about this?

After three bombs were discovered in October among packages sent from Yemen to Chicago, FedEx, UPS, the US Postal Service, and the Royal Mail have all suspended service from Yemen. Why isn’t anybody upset about this?

Intelligence
Why Intelligent People Use More Drugs

Satoshi Kanazawa on November 1, 2010

The human consumption of psychoactive drugs, such as marijuana, cocaine, and heroin, is of even more recent historical origin than the human consumption of alcohol or tobacco.

The human consumption of psychoactive drugs, such as marijuana, cocaine, and heroin, is of even more recent historical origin than the human consumption of alcohol or tobacco.

Evolutionary Psychology
Why Does Intelligence Affect Smoking Differently in the US and the UK?

Satoshi Kanazawa on October 24, 2010

Several recent studies show that more intelligent Americans are more likely to smoke cigarettes, consistent with the prediction of the Hypothesis, whereas more intelligent Brits are less likely to smoke cigarettes.

Several recent studies show that more intelligent Americans are more likely to smoke cigarettes, consistent with the prediction of the Hypothesis, whereas more intelligent Brits are less likely to smoke cigarettes.

Intelligence
Why Intelligent People Smoke More Cigarettes

Satoshi Kanazawa on October 17, 2010

Research shows that more intelligent American children grow up to smoke more cigarettes more frequently than their less intelligent counterparts.

Research shows that more intelligent American children grow up to smoke more cigarettes more frequently than their less intelligent counterparts.

Alcoholism
Why Intelligent People Drink More Alcohol

Satoshi Kanazawa on October 10, 2010

Drinking alcohol is evolutionarily novel, so the hypothesis would predict that more intelligent people drink more alcohol than less intelligent people.

Drinking alcohol is evolutionarily novel, so the hypothesis would predict that more intelligent people drink more alcohol than less intelligent people.

Intelligence
Girls Are More Intelligent Than Boys

Satoshi Kanazawa on October 3, 2010

The male advantage in general intelligence does not emerge until after puberty.

The male advantage in general intelligence does not emerge until after puberty.

Evolutionary Psychology
We Are NOT at War

Satoshi Kanazawa on September 26, 2010

Contrary to what you hear on the news, we are currently not at war.  But then again, there is no other way to describe the current situation of conflict.  There are no names that we can use for it, because the situation had never existed in the history of human civilization.

Contrary to what you hear on the news, we are currently not at war.  But then again, there is no other way to describe the current situation of conflict.  There are no names that we can use for it, because the situation had never existed in the history of human civilization.

Religion
Why Are Women More Religious Than Men? II

Satoshi Kanazawa on September 19, 2010

Women in virtually every society and culture are more religious than men, and the empirical evidence suggests that the reason is not gender socialization. So what explains the higher level of religiosity among women?

Women in virtually every society and culture are more religious than men, and the empirical evidence suggests that the reason is not gender socialization. So what explains the higher level of religiosity among women?