You rightfully dismiss the March of Progress notion of evolution. Thank you! But how is it illogical that snakes evolved from lizards? DNA suggests exactly that, as does the fossil record. Similarly, what's the problem with humans being apes, who evolved from a predecessor of modern apes and humans? DNA, morphology, and fossils all point in that direction. Darwin didn't predict everything we've learned since his time. So what? Nothing we have learned challenges his fundamental description, which remains the greatest contribution to science of all time.

Nice article! I hadn't seen those arguments against the simulation hypothesis. I have my own argument, which I haven't seen elsewhere. A major argument against the existence of God does not serve its original purchase (that is, it doesn't disprove that God exists) but it is (IMO) telling against the…

I'm not woke. I agree that systemic racism is pervasive in our society, that it's serious and real, and that it needs to be addressed. However, I don't think it's the most important issue out there. Massive economic injustice -- unfairness -- is. (Environmental issues are also more important. …

The reason Star Trek is not Libertarian is that Libertarian ideology is incompatible with advanced technology. As technology advances, the need for human labor decreases. In any sane economic system, that would mean people would need to work less -- they would have more control of their time. …

New Mexico is not a red state. We get more in federal spending than we provide in taxes, but we usually vote blue. The southern/eastern part of the state is mostly Republican, but the remainder of the state is blue. Despite their Catholic heritage, most New Mexicans are strong supporters…

Thanks so much for your reply. But your example confuses me. Wealthy black people are often victims of racial discrimination. It is unjustifiable. But where does the concept of white privilege come in? Your point is that wealthy black people lack white privilege. That indirectly says that wealthy black people…

The concept of "white privilege" is unnecessary, divisive, inflammatory, and distracts from the real problem, which is discrimination. No one should feel guilt over not being treated unfairly. The world works in three different ways: First, there's normality: the rules are applied fairly. You call the police when you need…

I agree it's fun to speculate about the simulation hypothesis. But there is a powerful (IMO) argument against it which I've never seen discussed. A bit of background. The arguments I've seen for the simulation hypothesis start with its presumed eventual technological feasibility, and the assertion that we humans would…

Very nice! I often think about the following. There are about 1,000 people or fewer at the top of our government. (President, VP, 538 congresspeople, Supreme Court justices, other justices, Cabinet members, high-ranking military officers, etc.) How much money does it take to "buy" one of these people? Let's estimate $20 million or so. Then it takes $20 billion to own the entire US government. A number of billionaires would find it quite affordable to own our entire government. Elon Musk recently lost 10 times as much as one needs.