Sexual Genetics
Sexual Genetics: differences between boys and girls exist, on average. Insisting that the differences are universal, or that they are nonexistent, are both unjust.
Sociobiology
Temporary Insanity
Temporary insanity affects us all, at stages in our lives and at points in our day. It is an example of how we struggle against our genetic behaviors.
Outrageous Lebanese Genetics
Lebanese Genetics sounds boring, but the Lebanese may be the most stereotypical ethnic group around, an inheritance from the Phoenicians.
The Deadly Game of Hawk-Dove
Consider hawk-dove: in the struggle between good and evil, who wins, warriors or peace makers? Neither does, because both do. In reality, there is no ideal.
The Bookscrounger Returns
I’m back, the Bookscrounger returns. Where I’ve been, and where we’re going.
Morality as Survival
We tell ourselves, and others, one reason for why we do things, but our choices often betray other, more convincing reasons. Sometimes the secondary reason helps us see morality as survival. This is a serialization from my book, Happiness: A Physician/Biologist Looks at Life. To see the Table of Contents and the dust jacket blurb, … [Read more…]
Body Over Mind
We think of ourselves as logical rational beings, who make purely intellectual decisions. But consider that we think that our minds control our bodies when sometimes, it’s the other way around.
Paternal Corn: Bad Dad Jokes
Perhaps there is a good reason that fathers tell bad dad jokes…
Rockabye, Baby
The word cradle comes from the same Germanic root as the word cart. Which makes sense; the movement of either a cradle or a cart will put a child to sleep. Or the movement of a car, another related word. All parents have seen our children refuse to take a nap, and then watch them … [Read more…]
Compassion vs Survival, & Pragmatism
We think of compassion as a universal moral position, but when the choice is compassion or survival, pragmatism will always win out.