Along with my views on the utility of miniaturized modular nuclear reactors (“Nuclear Batteries,” June 15), I suppose the opinion that generates the most unpopular reaction is my belief that free will is a boondoggle. While the free will versus determinism debate has been going on in philosophers’ ivory towers and beery college dorms for […]
Philosophy
Posted inLife + Outdoors
Welcome to the Real World (Maybe)
T he City Council in Monza, the northern Italian city known for its Formula 1 Grand Prix, is barring pet owners from keeping their goldfish in bowls. … The measure’s sponsor said, “A fish kept in a bowl has a distorted view of reality and suffers because of this.” — New York Times, 2004. Commenting […]
Posted inLife + Outdoors
Happiness? Forget it
Happiness is as elusive as ever, even in this republic, one of whose foundation documents prioritizes our right to pursue happiness. While our standard of living (along with the average size of our homes) has doubled since the 1950s, the number of us claiming to be “very happy” in polls like the Harris Happiness Index […]