To Get Along Better, We Need Better Arguments Both parties complain about the polarization of American politics, but what can individual citizens do about it? We can’t singlehandedly civilize the internet or force elected officials to do their jobs. What … Continue reading What is arguing?
A lot of people genuinely care about the environment Most people, when asked if they would like to save their own hard-earned money while simultaneously doing their bit to save the planet would most likely answer yes. Why wouldn’t they? … Continue reading The altruistic element
To Make Sense of the Present, Brains May Predict the Future Last month, the artificial intelligence company DeepMind introduced new software that can take a single image of a few objects in a virtual room and, without human guidance, infer … Continue reading Is perception a controlled hallucination?
Inside the Mating Rituals of Brands and Online Stars Recently at the Anaheim Convention Center, about 50 people entered a room decorated as a stylish lounge for a speed dating event. They moved from table to table every 20 minutes, … Continue reading Hidden advertising
Why soccer teams that go first in shootouts usually win The penalty kick in soccer is among the highest pressure moments in all of sports. The fate of an entire game, a tournament, even a career can hinge on a … Continue reading The pain of penalty kicks
How the Dominant Business Paradigm Turns Nice People into Psychopaths It’s conventional wisdom in business circles today that corporate directors should “maximize shareholder value.” Corporations supposedly exist to serve shareholders’ interests, and not (or at least, not directly) those of … Continue reading The prosocial shareholder
The psychology of uncertainty, vaccinations, and protecting the most vulnerable Measles is making a comeback in Britain and Europe with numbers rising to record levels this year. Last year in Europe, measles killed 35 people, including young children. The re-emergence … Continue reading Self-serving stories
