Empathy Makes Cooperation – And Civilization – Possible

 https://phys.org/news/2019-04-empathy-secret-ingredient-cooperation-civilization.html#google_vignette

A Different Look At Sociology

"Bernard Lahire has dropped a bombshell with the publication of Structures Fondamentales des Sociétés Humaines (“Fundamental Structures of Human Societies”, La Découverte, 2023). In nearly 1,000 pages, the CNRS research professor at the Centre Max-Weber in Lyon (southeastern France)1 re-examines some 150 years of sociological practice that in his view has strayed too far into hyperspecialisation and become isolated from the life sciences. In the past 30 years, his research has focused on various topics ranging from school dropout rates to political action, illiteracy, and artistic creation. But he has long felt the temptation, dating back to his doctoral dissertation, to expand his field of investigation to other disciplines like history, psychology, and linguistics, along with a need to reconsider the status of the social sciences, a subject broached in his most recent work2. His proposals to revolutionize sociology are the fruit of these years of reflection."

Click on the link below for the details of this novel view of sociology:

Sociology needs to reconnect with science

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While on the subject, there's a reason why conservatives don't like sociology (link).

What Is Your Role In Promoting A Better Society?

Anyone attuned to reality and who cares about humanity can see that our society is on the brink of ruin. The Overton Window is the range of policies voters will find acceptable. There is no doubt that society MUST change the content of what is acceptable, and each of us individually and in small groups need to do our part. Click on the link below for a video reinforcing this idea:

Let's talk about our roles - - -

The History Of Replacement Theory

"Today we take a look at the current conspiracy theory known as "The Great Replacement" which posits that a cabal of elites is conspiring to eradicate Whiteness as a culture and as a people in Europe, North America, and other countries colonized by White Europeans. We also look at the history of the cabal of elites that conspired to eradicate Native peoples and culture from colonized lands in a pattern of genocide and dispossession."

Click on the link below for a podcast presenting an in-depth analysis of the evil and dogma:

The Great Replacements (Conspiracy vs. Reality)

The Evidence Is Clear Regarding The Social Effects Of Abortion

The research supporting Roe v. Wade was clear: "Possibly there is no social measure with a higher benefit-to-cost ratio than the legalization of abortion, and therefore none more qualified to be given number one priority on the agenda of needed domestic social reforms." (American Journal of Public Health, 1972)

The latest research continues to support the social benefits of abortion. (The State of Abortion Rights Around the World)

Handling The Drug Overdose Problem With What Works

"John Oliver discusses why overdoses in the U.S. have been on the rise and what we should, and shouldn’t, be doing to prevent them."

Drug overdoses are a major blight on society and history shows the utter ineffectiveness of most programs. Click on the link below for some science-based approaches to the problem:

Harm Reduction: Last Week Today with John Oliver (HBO)

A Science-Based Look At Economics

Economics is known as "The Dismal Science" for many reasons. It is a social science and, thus, there is less consensus of opinion among its experts than in the "Hard" sciences of physics, chemistry, geology, paleontology, archeology, et al (link). While there are many opinions on the economic spectrum, the two philosophies most visible in US economics presently are called Keynesian and Austrian (link):

• Keynesian: more government involvement (favored by the Democrats)
• Austrian: less government involvement (favored by the Republicans)

Please note: both of these views do not include extreme right-wing laissez faire capitalism (no limits on private enterprise) or left-wing socialism/communism (total control by the government of the means of production).

Now, which of these simple, basic binary views has been the most successful? I offer the following links that, on balance, seem to be more in support of the Keynesian view. If you disagree, please respond with evidence. Thanks.

The Keynesian/Austrian Debate

Five Positive Results of Keynesian Economics

Modern Monetary Theory (Keynesian) Defended

The Economy Under Democratic vs Republican Presidents

Democrats vs. Republicans: Which Is Better For the Economy?

FDR's "New Deal" And The End Of The "Great Depression

Why Conservatives hate fiscal policy

Inflation:

The Inflation Myth

Another round of Right-Wing Inflation Fear-Mongering

The idea that conservatives are better economic managers simply does not stand up

Republicans are inflation fear-mongering

Watch What They Do, Not What They Say

Hypocrisy: behavior that contradicts what one claims to believe or feel.

As humans, most of us have a tendency to preach what is moral but to actually act in such a manner can be another story. The 8-minute video below presents some science behind this social phenomenon.

How Belief Systems Affect Believers

Inequality: Politics Over Science

Trump and the rest of the Republican party are tone-deaf regarding what is needed to improve the enormous gap between the rich and poor in the USA. The two articles below present the issue from a scientific/evidence perspective:

Click on the links below:

Tax Cuts for the Rich Will Exacerbate Inequality

The marginal propensity of consumption

10 Myths About The Racial Wealth Gap

"— evidenced by decades of reporting from the Federal Reserve System, U.S. Department of Labor, Department of Commerce and various academic and professional studies — is that the wealth gap is the product of centuries of inequality and racism that has grown too large to be impacted significantly by individual actions, achievements or choices."

Click on the link below:

Evidence over ideology regarding the racial wealth gap

Meditation: It Has Its Dangers

While meditation has value, not all who engage in it obtain satisfactory results. In fact, there are many cases of harmful, if not disastrous, results. Below are four articles that help in choosing whether one should be involved with it:

Does meditation carry a risk of harmful side effects?

Meditation Is a Powerful Mental Tool—and For Some People It Goes Terribly Wrong

The Dangers of Meditation

The 5 Dangers of Meditation

Were Jane Elliott"s "Brown Eyes/Blue Eyes" Lessons Successful?

Jane Elliott was an early pioneer in "Diversity Training" in the mid-to-latter 20th Century. There have been "diverse" opinions regarding the ethics of her initially using elementary school children for her lessons and generally how effective they have been. My main take-away is that the lessons exposed how hard it is to change people's attitudes toward "The Other." The link below gives details on what she did and the results.  This link is the result of a general Google search on her.

Jane Elliott - Wikipedia

Why Can't This Work In The USA

The Nordic countries are known for being the happiest people on Earth while also being very highly taxed. What do they know and what are they doing to achieve their outstanding quality of life?

As you listen to the podcast below note the importance of "the people" and how they strongly challenged the non-partisan reason for the problems for which they corrected: excessive corporate power.

https://podbay.fm/podcast/124960485/e/1578070800

Atheism Does NOT Preclude A Better LIfe

Many, if not most, religious people have the mistaken notion that atheists lack meaning and hope in life. This video and book will go a long way to educate those with this misunderstanding:

Atheist Debates - A Better Life, with Christ Johnson

A Better Life: An Exploration of Joy & Meaning in a World Without God

Time To Look Deeper Into Why Our Divide Persists

This article is gut-wrenching regarding the divide within the USA. However, there is not one word talking about why this persists: the rural, poor, and uneducated areas are shackled by conservative Christianity. When people are told nothing about reality and all they hear from the religious leaders is hate for the non-believers and scientific findings, as well as social pressure to believe in autocratic leaders, this will not change. NO, "both sides are at fault" is fake news. It is more than time to change the environment of the rural poor from magical thinking to science-based thinking. Yes, it will be difficult, but it MUST happen or the USA and the planet will never significantly improve in its overall well-being.

The Places Where The Recession Never Ended

Science-Based Thinking On The Past And Future

The latest podcast on Sam Harris' "Making Sense" was an interview with Andrew McAfee discussing his new book "More from Less: The Surprising Story of How We Learned to Prosper Using Fewer Resources―and What Happens Next." Below is the link to the interview.

#170 - THE GREAT UNCOUPLING

The Psychological Differences Between Liberals And Conservatives

Whether you are a liberal or conservative, we all know it is difficult to persuade a liberal to become more conservative and vise versa. Brain function research can explain at least some of the resistance, and also suggest ways of persuading conservatives to adopt more liberal views. Perhaps liberals can keep these factors in mind when interacting with conservatives. Just talking about science-based thinking usually is not enough.

These key psychological differences can determine whether you're liberal or conservative

(Patheos)

Addressing The Problems In Larger Cities

My adopted home town of Charlotte, NC has a good reputation in some areas but in other areas, not so much. Thus, I would say it is a typical growing community in the USA.  The following article is enlightening regarding how one larger community is dealing with its challenges.

The 'tragic gap' is where it's at

Here's Whose Advice We Need To Follow This Graduation Season

"We, the adults, have not earned the right to deliver your commencement addresses for we have created a mess of polarization, demonization, environmental damage and gun violence. Rather than letting us shatter your dreams for our world, please shatter our complacency and cynicism. Demand that our country work toward your ideals and ours. Rather than offering you advice, we are ready to follow yours."

High School Class of 2018, be nonconforming.

(Odyssey)

Read more here: http://www.charlotteobserver.com/opinion/editorials/article212566359.html#storylink=cpy

Read more here: http://www.charlotteobserver.com/opinion/editorials/article212566359.html#storylink=c

The Land Mines of Addressing The Role of Genes In Intelligence

"'I’m afraid that this will be a distraction for society,' he said. An obsession with slippery genetic predictions could turn people’s attention away from other things that influence how children do in school and beyond—things like their family’s wealth, the stress in their neighborhoods, the quality of the schools themselves."

Genetic Intelligence Tests Are Next to Worthless