(25 comments) SHARE        Wednesday, August 5, 2020
Masks and Motivated Reasoning The effectiveness of mask wearing is called into doubt by some people and by some studies. Although I believe the evidence shows that it is of value in controlling the spread of Covid-19, both infectivity and viral load, all evidence is subject to interpretation. All evidence has a possibility of being incorrect. All findings are underdetermined.
Series: Covid-19 (4 Articles, 9132 views), Ephektikoi (6 Articles, 7730 views)

(4 comments) SHARE        Monday, August 3, 2020
Motivated Reasoning We don't understand the world as much as interpret it. Things and events come to our attention, are perceived, evaluated and interpreted; sometimes more or less correctly; frequently quite incorrectly. We understand things in the context of our current beliefs, values, biases and emotional investment. It could not be otherwise.

(1 comments) SHARE        Sunday, July 26, 2020
Warts from Touching a Toad Science provides systematic methods of investigation which often have produced a useful and secure understanding of some aspects of the world. Each discipline and sub-discipline has a body of knowledge consisting of the findings of the researches and the methods used in research. All of these findings should be held tentatively, as a useful approximation, and subject to revision as understanding deepens.
Series: Ephektikoi (6 Articles, 7730 views)

(2 comments) SHARE        Sunday, July 26, 2020
Understanding through Existing Beliefs The more I read opinion and interpretation disguised as fact, the less I think any of us are able to understand the complexity of the world. Some can tell a plausible story, some can tell their story in an elegant way, and some can augment that with scholarly references. COVID-19 yields a case study.
Series: Covid-19 (4 Articles, 9132 views), Ephektikoi (6 Articles, 7730 views)

(5 comments) SHARE        Friday, July 24, 2020
Information and Communication I am going to use the neutral term communication to cover the transmission of information from one person to another. This may be spoken or written information, or perhaps communications transmitted by other means. We do not have a special term for information that is correct, although we have special terms for information that is incorrect, misinformation, and for information the is deliberately deceptive, disinformation.
Series: Ephektikoi (6 Articles, 7730 views)

(12 comments) SHARE        Thursday, July 23, 2020
Choking down word salad Some observations on the bizarre writing and speaking style of folks I have encountered in the media, on the Internet, and in life. At the end, you are left scratching your head and thinking, "What the heck is that all about?"
Series: Ephektikoi (6 Articles, 7730 views)

(10 comments) SHARE        Sunday, July 19, 2020
Trusting the experts Some thoughts about expert knowledge and its limitations. I discuss what I consider to be the five key factors influencing expert opinion, and why it might be important to know that.
Series: Ephektikoi (6 Articles, 7730 views)

(1 comments) SHARE        Tuesday, March 31, 2020
Gold Standard for Handling Covid-19 Chris Martenson has a very balanced approach to analysis of the Covid-19 Pandemic. He has done multiple videos tracking the course of the pandemic, discussing the exponential growth of infection. I find that his discussions are clear and that he is well informed. He is a neurotoxicologist by training. He brings a scientist's perspective to the issues.
Series: Covid-19 (4 Articles, 9132 views)