Crime

• Disadvantaged youths who were given summer jobs committed fewer violent crimes than their unemployed peers, even after their jobs ended.
• Psychopathic violent offenders’ brains can’t understand punishment.

Environment

• Here is a chart of US Congress denying climate change: 

Epistemology

• Why are so many people reluctant to accept some social problems (such as climate change)?  It’s probably because they are reluctant to accept the proposed solutions.

Ethics

The Ethics of Checking People Out.

Gender

• When teachers receive exams without names on the exams, the girls scored higher.  Given the same exact exams with the names on them, the boys scored higher.
• In general, both men and women want an egalitarian marriage.  If that doesn’t work, men’s backup plan is “traditional wife” whereas women’s backup plan is “stay single.”

Health

• Infants who were fed human breast milk rich in omega-3 had higher academic test scores than infants who were fed human breast milk rich in omega-6.
• Sugary drinks are linked to early onset of young women’s first menarche. 
• Feelings of loneliness and depression are linked to binge-watching TV.

Mind

• Why can’t the world’s greatest minds solve the problem of consciousness?  Great article explaining “the Hard Problem” of consciousness in layman’s terms and discusses Chalmers, Dennett, McGinn, and Churchland.
• The mere presence of a cell phone can diminish cognitive tasks and attention.  It doesn’t matter if the cell phone is being used.  All that matters is if the cell phone is “merely present.”
• Artificial Superintelligence coming near you.  A great summary and explanation of the extremely difficult topic of AI.
  • Here’s part two whether we should be optimistic or worried about the prospects of ASI.

Philosophy

• A philosophy student defected from North Korea and describes what the educational system was like.  Very fascinating!
• How to be a Stoic.
• I mentioned before about the whole Abbate/McAdams kerfuffle before.  In a surprising move, Marquette University is on the move to revoke McAdam’s tenure and dismiss him.

Pornography

• Undergraduates who watch more porn generally show less commitment in relationships and more likely to commit infidelity.

Relationships

• Kids with less sensitive moms during childhood grow up into more easily upset adults when fighting with romantic partners.
• Philosopher Clancy Martin has an essay that the best sort of relationships are ones where the people lie to each other.

Religion

• Philosopher Michael Ruse in a witty interview about philosophy, religion, and evolution.

Science

• Paradoxes of modern cosmology.

Sexuality

• Maintenance sex and emotional investment.
• An interesting, personal essay showing that porn usage ≠ porn addiction.
• Men often mistake women’s friendly gesture as a sign that she’s interested in sex.

Sociology

• Sharing experiences with another person, without communication, can amplify the experience.  Good experiences seem better; bad experiences seem worse.