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A sceptical look at topics from climate change to the meaning of life.
Darkwinter
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- July 15, 2009
- 05:24 AM
- 637 views
The Power of the Hypothetical
by Darkwinter in A Sceptical I
"So remember, when you're feeling very small and insecure,How amazingly unlikely is your birth..."In science, an hypothesis is a wonderful thing. It is the glimmer of imagination and possibility that can give rise to years of research and fascinating advances in our knowledge of the world. But it is still just the preliminary stage - when people say something is "just a theory", they are thinking of the colloquial meaning which is more analogous to hypothesis. It's a weak form of knowledge, l........ Read more »
Koo, M., Algoe, S., Wilson, T., & Gilbert, D. (2008) It's a wonderful life: Mentally subtracting positive events improves people's affective states, contrary to their affective forecasts. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 95(5), 1217-1224. DOI: 10.1037/a0013316
- March 3, 2008
- 08:06 AM
- 787 views
As if more were needed...
by Darkwinter in A Sceptical I
It seems that there is yet more support for the value of the "Socratic method". Not that any more is needed, of course - but it's always gratifying nonetheless.A new study has been done which suggests that "people who engaged in social interaction displayed higher levels of cognitive performance" [via ScienceDaily]. So not only does the Socratic method allow for the clear and logical exchange and development of ideas, but it also reflects (and takes advantage of) the v........ Read more »
O Ybarra, E Burnstein, P Winkielman, M Keller, M Manis, E Chan, & J Rodriguez. (2007) Mental Exercising Through Simple Socializing: Social Interaction Promotes General Cognitive Functioning. Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, 34(2), 248-259. DOI: 10.1177/0146167207310454
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