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Excellent Beauty

The naturalness of religion and the unnaturalness of the world

Creativity
The Good Works of Bad Men

Eric Dietrich Ph.D. on March 26, 2018

Bad people contribute great things to humankind. How are we to deal with this? What moral stance is appropriate?

Bad people contribute great things to humankind. How are we to deal with this? What moral stance is appropriate?

Fear
The Murder of Children and America the Fearful

Eric Dietrich Ph.D. on February 26, 2018

Guns cause the very fear they are meant to stop. This fact suggests that keeping our children safe from guns will be very difficult.

Guns cause the very fear they are meant to stop. This fact suggests that keeping our children safe from guns will be very difficult.

Magical Thinking
Why I Hate Star Wars

Eric Dietrich Ph.D. on January 30, 2018

Star Wars succeeds because humans are primates. Our evolution was accomplished by wicked and powerful short-term magical and selfish thinking.

Star Wars succeeds because humans are primates. Our evolution was accomplished by wicked and powerful short-term magical and selfish thinking.

Ethics and Morality
Morality Is Objective

Eric Dietrich Ph.D. on December 23, 2017

Many people think that morality varies from culture to culture, person to person. But morality is as objective as mathematics or physics.

Many people think that morality varies from culture to culture, person to person. But morality is as objective as mathematics or physics.

Religion
On the Virtue of Not Knowing

Eric Dietrich Ph.D. on November 24, 2017

Dawkins's has said that religion teaches the false virtue of accepting our not understanding the world. Is he right?

Dawkins's has said that religion teaches the false virtue of accepting our not understanding the world. Is he right?

Religion
Is Science a Religion?

Eric Dietrich Ph.D. on October 30, 2017

It is common to hear that science is another religion. This view is wrong in all the ways that matter.

It is common to hear that science is another religion. This view is wrong in all the ways that matter.

Depression
Hillbilly Elegy

Eric Dietrich Ph.D. on September 30, 2017

Psychological science could help alleviate or even end poverty. Clearly the United States won't pursue this, but perhaps some other country will, eventually.

Psychological science could help alleviate or even end poverty. Clearly the United States won't pursue this, but perhaps some other country will, eventually.

Deception
False Is the New True—Part 2

Eric Dietrich Ph.D. on August 8, 2017

Humans have never really like the truth, simply because it is almost always inconvenient. So, what's different now about blizzard of lies we experience everyday? Backsliding.

Humans have never really like the truth, simply because it is almost always inconvenient. So, what's different now about blizzard of lies we experience everyday? Backsliding.

Philosophy
False is the New True

Eric Dietrich Ph.D. on July 23, 2017

By some great luck, we missed Orwell's 1984. But 2084 is only 67 years away, and we are right on track—thanks partly to philosophy.

By some great luck, we missed Orwell's 1984. But 2084 is only 67 years away, and we are right on track—thanks partly to philosophy.

Philosophy
How Paradoxes Populate Our Lives

Eric Dietrich Ph.D. on March 31, 2017

Have you ever experienced something that was too sad for words? Then you have also experienced a paradox. And paradoxes make our lives beautiful.

Have you ever experienced something that was too sad for words? Then you have also experienced a paradox. And paradoxes make our lives beautiful.

Ethics and Morality
The Ghost of Christmas Present

Eric Dietrich Ph.D. on December 23, 2016

Intelligent Design, a pseudo science, is back. This rough beast, insisting, "My ignorance is as good as your knowledge," now slouches toward Bethlehem to be born.

Intelligent Design, a pseudo science, is back. This rough beast, insisting, "My ignorance is as good as your knowledge," now slouches toward Bethlehem to be born.

Fear
Fear and Voting

Eric Dietrich Ph.D. on November 23, 2016

We all live in groups defined by shared fears, and shared ways of allaying those fears. Our fears therefore function as shibboleths. And thus my fears are invisible to you.

We all live in groups defined by shared fears, and shared ways of allaying those fears. Our fears therefore function as shibboleths. And thus my fears are invisible to you.

Intelligence
Weird Beliefs

Eric Dietrich Ph.D. on August 24, 2016

You have some weird beliefs, beliefs that do not fit well with all your other everyday beliefs. To you, though, these beliefs are not weird at all. What explains this?

You have some weird beliefs, beliefs that do not fit well with all your other everyday beliefs. To you, though, these beliefs are not weird at all. What explains this?

Fear
Is the World More Dangerous Now Than Ever?

Eric Dietrich Ph.D. on July 24, 2016

Fear of violence seems to be governing our lives these days. But should it? Could the world actually be safer now than it has ever been?

Fear of violence seems to be governing our lives these days. But should it? Could the world actually be safer now than it has ever been?