Humans are sexual beings. However, because we evolved both biologically and culturally, it is difficult to understand what our sexual nature is. Do we even have a sexual nature? In order to find out, evidence from evolutionary anthropology is analyzed.
Read MoreRecent Discovery of an Earth-sized Exoplanet in Context
An Earth-sized planet was recently discovered in a star system 4.3 light years away from Earth. Despite being Earth-sized, it is far too close to its host star to be able to support life. However, this planet represents yet another continuation of an impressive trend in astronomy of finding increasingly more Earth-iike planets. If the pace of exoplanet discovery continues at the current rate and if planet finding technology continues to improve, will we find a 'second Earth' within the next 5 or 10 years?
Read MoreAn Idea to Change All Ideas
Ray Kurzweil is a prolific inventor and futurist that believes that humanity is reaching a new epoch in the history of the universe, life and humanity: the technological singularity. The technological singularity is a predicted point in time when humans and technology will completely merge to create a new type of intelligence. Is this singularity an inevitability? And if it is, what will happen afterwards?
Read MoreEvolutionary Thought Pre-Darwin pt. 2
Evolutionary thought was in vogue among naturalists in the centuries leading up to the co-discovery of the theory of evolution by natural selection. Several different European philosophers and scientists embraced the notion that life must have changed over time. It was in this intellectual environment that Darwin and Wallace made their breakthrough discovery.
Read MoreEvolutionary Thought Pre-Darwin pt. 1
Intellectuals have been discussing the idea of biological evolution for much longer than is generally believed. Evolutionary thought has its roots in ancient Eurasian intellectual traditions and was widely discussed for centuries before the rise of Christianity.
Read MoreWelcome to the South
During a research trip in the south I encountered a culture I had read and heard about, but had never directly experienced. As a result I did experience a degree of culture shock. Throughout the experience I spoke with a few different people about some sensitive issues and had to encounter my own bias regarding many culturally sensitive issues.
Read MoreA Good or Bad Exchange?
The world changed in profound ways after 1492. The Columbian Exchange resulted in the transfer of divergent and previously isolated flora and fauna becoming transported to new landscapes. This forever changed natural history and human history. However, did the Columbian exchange reap irreparable damage on the biosphere as a whole? Was it a good or bad exchange?
Read MoreThe Decline of Violence
Steven Pinker is a world-renowned psychologist and cognitive scientist. In The Better Angels of Our Nature Pinker explores the history of human violence to attempt to understand if we have become more or less violent. He approaches this topic from a multi-disciplinary perspective incorporating data from history, anthropology, biology, psychology, and more. His conclusions are surprising and have deep implications for the future of our species.
Read MoreDo We Deserve Mars?
In the coming decades humans will have to make a decision about whether our species is ready to colonize another planet. This may result in the possibility of permanent settlement. However, this raises important moral question regarding our presence in the universe. Currently, we are engaging in global activities that are destroying the only known habitable planet. Do we deserve to inhabit another one?
Read MoreDeveloped World Economics for the 21st Century
Understanding how to organize a global economy has been one of the most difficult things for humans to do over the past few centuries. As we enter the 21st century we need to learn from past economic structures and deconstruct what has worked best and what has failed. Learning from failed states and economies will help the contemporary developed world work towards an integrated global economy that is not vulnerable to collapse and recession.
Read MoreThe 'Othering' Process
It is a natural tendency for humans to 'other' i.e. to believe that the group (race, religion, ethnicity, culture, gender, country, sexual orientation, species etc.) that they are a part of is inherently the ‘right’ way to be human or to exist. For important evolutionary reasons this tendency is still ubiquitous today. However, it is also the root cause of violence, wars, discrimination and marginalization. Is there someway to stop ourselves from othering either consciously or subconsciously? Or will we have to deal with this part of our psychology forever?
Read MoreA Historically Contingent Discrimination
Over the past few decades western society has made great strides to eradicate discriminatory practices and policies directed towards non-heterosexuals. However, we have to understand why this was even necessary in the first place. Why did people throughout the western world discriminate against non-heterosexuals? Is it inherently human to discriminate against those who are different? Or is this behaviour culturally dependent? Understanding the answers to these questions can better contextualize the currently LGBT rights movement.
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