Al Qaeda and ISIS are Islamic movements that combine modern technology and methods, but have differing ideologies.
Albert Einstein – In Science or Philosophy Nothing is Random
According to scientist Albert Einstein, our actions have been determined from the onset of the Universe – and we have no free will except for freedom from coercion.
Science versus Philosophy – It’s Not a Competition!
Philosophy is not a single subject. Philosophers address an infinite number of issues and try to make sense and order of them. For example: ethics, morals, human choices, human belief systems, world politics including justice and law, the complexities of language and meaning and the nature of beauty. All of this enables us to decide how […]
Linguistics: A Short Introduction to the Beating Heart of Human Communications
Linguistics encompasses topics ranging from morphology to phonology and syntax – by using these tools, we can examine how we communicate with one another.
The Halo Effect – A Pernicious Illusion of Knowability that Teachers Need to Understand
How do preconceptions affect our perception of the world? Describing students with positive terms may change beliefs about their abilities.
Ego Defence Mechanisms and Emotion in Teaching and Learning
Preservation of our self-image may save our feelings, but trying to save face is not helpful when we’re trying to learn new skills.
Steven Pinker on the Consequences of Semantics in Politics
Dehumanizing Others Through Racial Slurs: Interview with Adam Croom
When can we use the N-word and when should we avoid it? Deciding if it’s okay for us to use this word in a positive, non-offensive way depends on precisely who we are and whether a shared, common history gives us the right to “slur.” Adam Croom, a senior at the University of Pennysylvania, spoke to Decoded Science about the […]
The N-Word – Neutralising the Power to Harm With Racial Epithets
Should white people be banned from using the N-word, with its distressing historical connotations? And why do black rappers use an inflammatory term so freely in their lyrics? In his book, The Blank Slate, Steven Pinker examines the ways in which language conveys both literal meanings and also a speaker’s attitude. “Racial epithets, which are laced […]








