what is science?

i was rooting around in my computer the other day trying to find something i had written about the german philosopher max scheler (see my comment about knowledge in my last post about ann mortifee’s new book).  in this sojourn i stumbled across a philosophy journal i was writing on and off and which contained… Continue reading what is science?

affirmations and research

a little while ago, a paper was published that suggests that positive thinking isn’t all it’s cracked up to be: positive self-statements are widely believed to boost mood and self-esteem, yet their effectiveness has not been demonstrated. we examined the contrary prediction that positive self-statements can be ineffective or even harmful. a survey study confirmed… Continue reading affirmations and research

digging for a voice: reflections

a few reflections on the essay on women philosophers in the last post. one of the things i got from that course in women’s studies is a bit of a background in and also support for the concept of writing in and from the first voice, in writing from and about the particular: “what i… Continue reading digging for a voice: reflections

neurons and chocolate

the text under this beautiful image – which you can watch in animation – goes like this a complete understanding of neurovascular coupling is crucial for interpreting functional imaging data and normal brain function. neurons have an intimate relationship with astrocytes, smooth muscle, endothelial cells, pericytes, and erythrocytes. neuronal chemoelectrical activity is speculated to be… Continue reading neurons and chocolate

the interpretation of dreams

108 years ago today, sigmund freud’s most significant work, the interpretation of dreams, was first published (it was later forward-dated to 1900). dreams, freud thought, were “the royal road to the unconscious”. chapter one of this book starts with these words: in the following pages, i shall demonstrate that there is a psychological technique which… Continue reading the interpretation of dreams