"Do not be wise in your own opinion." Romans 12:16 Breaking news! Most of us think we're smarter than most of us.In recent surveys, 65% of Americans rate themselves more intelligent than average. Furthermore, we are often quite certain in our beliefs. But is that confidence warranted? Intuitively, we suspect not. After decades of research…

Can you define envy? Is envy bad? Would you know if you had it? The classic “seven deadly sins” were lust, gluttony, sloth, wrath, pride, greed, and envy. According to the proverb, “a sound heart is life to the body, but envy is rottenness to the bones.” Explain to me, if you can, the difference between…

Most of us think we are better than most of us. As a consequence, we are sometimes tempted to advertise our moral superiority through public expression. This is known as “moral grandstanding”. There’s nothing wrong with issuing public moral pronouncements; it’s not merely a right, but sometimes a duty. The issue here is motive. It…

It is early spring of 1943. The Axis powers are beginning to crumble against the massive and unrelenting Allied onslaught. Plans for the imminent invasion of Sicily are underway, establishing a base for the invasion and liberation of continental Europe. Meanwhile, back at US military intelligence, a tightly knit group of outliers have been poring…

Lost in Math: How Beauty Leads Physics Astrayby Sabine Hossenfelder. Basic Books, June 2018. Reviewed by Steven Willing, MD “Physical laws should have mathematical beauty”. Paul Dirac, Nobel Laureate* Way back in 1973, the world of theoretical physics reached a dead end. That year marked the last successful prediction of any elemental particles - the…

Here, as anywhere, the wisdom of the great C. S. Lewis should be taken to heart: "There are no ordinary people. You have never talked to a mere mortal. .. It is immortals whom we joke with, work with, marry, snub and exploit - immortal horrors or everlasting splendors. This does not mean that we…

A glimpse of current literature regarding the benefits of monogamy: Effects on adults What Do We Know About the Link Between Marriage and Health? Journal of Family Issues 31(8):1019-1040, 2010: §  “Marriage reduces depression” §  “Unmarried adults are more likely to drink, use marijuana, and drive recklessly” §  “Married men and women experience lower mortality…

It is a conundrum why so many similar sounding words have paradoxically different meanings. Here is a guide to help you.

Tuesday morning, 9:07 a.m. In the not too distant future:     Hal: Hey, Car! Take me to Dunkin Donuts!   Driver Assistance Vehicle, Enhanced (DAVE): I’m sorry, Hal. I’m afraid I can’t do that. And my name is DAVE.   Hal: Whaddya mean, you can’t take me?   DAVE: According to your purchase history,…

In the realm of logic there is a principle known as the fallacy of the false dilemma. The rules of logic are violated when a complex question is restricted to an arbitrary number of answers, typically just two. This occurs regularly in the public discourse and is a major contributor to polarization. Either global warming…

Question: How does a procrastinating, crowd-averse father get his family from Edwards, CO into the path of totality for the 2017 total eclipse? Via Denver and I24? Heaven forbid! Back roads to Casper? No rooms or campsites for 50 miles in any direction. Answer: By schlepping northward to Shoshone, WY and pitching camp in the…

Chelsea's now gone years ago Her coat of charcoal mixed with snow   Of all God's creatures, most divine Was she, our spirited canine   Where dogs go, and what they do, May be a mystery to you   Her exploits brought her great renown Chasing varmints round and round   Oftentimes, on coming back,…