Here’s some good books I’ve read recently: The Problem with Political Authority – Michael Huemer Do governments have a special right to coerce? Do citizens have an obligation to obey? Starting from uncontroversial assumptions about everyday morality almost everyone would accept, Huemer ends with a radical conclusion: government is a great and unnecessary evil. Like […]
The Bicycle Problem: How the Illusion of Explanatory Depth Tricks Your Brain
Do you know how a bicycle works? If asked, could you say where the chain, pedals and frame are? According to a 2006 study by the University of Liverpool, maybe not. Participants in the study were asked to draw a picture of a bicycle. Later, to make sure that lack of artistic skill wasn’t a […]
How Much Free Will Do You Have?
Free will is a thorny philosophical problem. Many see it as the foundation for our lives and morality. Others deny it exists. I’m not so sure where I fall on beliefs about the reality of free will. I strongly suspect it comes down to how you define it. Defined too strictly and it isn’t even […]
Should You Know Your IQ?
As I mentioned in this post about things I’ve changed my mind on, one of them is IQ. I used to believe that IQ was unimportant or overly simplified. But I’ve since been educated against my prejudice—it is a very successful psychometric and has impressive predictive power. Still, after accepting the usefulness of a general […]
I'm a Wall Street Journal bestselling author, podcast host, computer programmer and an avid reader. Since 2006, I've published weekly essays on this website to help people like you learn and think better. My work has been featured in The New York Times, BBC, TEDx, Pocket, Business Insider and more. I don't promise I have all the answers, just a place to start.