So, there are a lot of topics I could have touch upon for this post. But, in the end, emo circumstances won because sometimes they just do, as all Humanists should know.
I tried to find the links to the TED talks I watched with my wife tonight, but apparently the fist one was so bad I couldn’t find it no matter what searches I pursued. It was concerned on reductionist neurosciences and extrapolating conclusions concerning emergent phenomenon, such as emotion, with out sufficient evidence from lower level causes. Not impressed, and will provide link once I can find it. The second talk had absolutely no neuroscience, but provided a much clearer picture of emotional intelligence and human biases. It concerned a closed “Christian” community in New Zealand and a woman’s escape from authoritarian conditions. This revealed much more of human psychology than the reductionist scientist perspective. Both are important, but I completely understand why people have completely lost faith in science when claims from reductionist perspectives are applied to every day life, and myself as a scientist doesn’t even believe it.
Will update soon with links and further explanations, I think I’m hitting on a core problem between connection between elites/educated and normal people here but haven’t quite put my finger on it…