Tuesday, 21 October 2008
The world is less violent that its ever been...
even if it doesn't feel that way. An interesting TED talk which challenges the common misconception that the world gets more violent every day.
Monday, 20 October 2008
Moses appears to be a violent psychopath
7 And they warred against the Midianites, as the LORD commanded Moses; and they slew all the males.
8 And they slew the kings of Midian, beside the rest of them that were slain; namely, Evi, and Rekem, and Zur, and Hur, and Reba, five kings of Midian: Balaam also the son of Beor they slew with the sword.
9 And the children of Israel took all the women of Midian captives, and their little ones, and took the spoil of all their cattle, and all their flocks, and all their goods.
10 And they burnt all their cities wherein they dwelt, and all their goodly castles, with fire.
11 And they took all the spoil, and all the prey, both of men and of beasts.
12 And they brought the captives, and the prey, and the spoil, unto Moses, and Eleazar the priest, and unto the congregation of the children of Israel, unto the camp at the plains of Moab, which are by Jordan near Jericho.
13 And Moses, and Eleazar the priest, and all the princes of the congregation, went forth to meet them without the camp.
14 And Moses was wroth with the officers of the host, with the captains over thousands, and captains over hundreds, which came from the battle.
15 And Moses said unto them, Have ye saved all the women alive?
16 Behold, these caused the children of Israel, through the counsel of Balaam, to commit trespass against the LORD in the matter of Peor, and there was a plague among the congregation of the LORD.
17 Now therefore kill every male among the little ones, and kill every woman that hath known man by lying with him.
18 But all the women children, that have not known a man by lying with him, keep alive for yourselves.
8 And they slew the kings of Midian, beside the rest of them that were slain; namely, Evi, and Rekem, and Zur, and Hur, and Reba, five kings of Midian: Balaam also the son of Beor they slew with the sword.
9 And the children of Israel took all the women of Midian captives, and their little ones, and took the spoil of all their cattle, and all their flocks, and all their goods.
10 And they burnt all their cities wherein they dwelt, and all their goodly castles, with fire.
11 And they took all the spoil, and all the prey, both of men and of beasts.
12 And they brought the captives, and the prey, and the spoil, unto Moses, and Eleazar the priest, and unto the congregation of the children of Israel, unto the camp at the plains of Moab, which are by Jordan near Jericho.
13 And Moses, and Eleazar the priest, and all the princes of the congregation, went forth to meet them without the camp.
14 And Moses was wroth with the officers of the host, with the captains over thousands, and captains over hundreds, which came from the battle.
15 And Moses said unto them, Have ye saved all the women alive?
16 Behold, these caused the children of Israel, through the counsel of Balaam, to commit trespass against the LORD in the matter of Peor, and there was a plague among the congregation of the LORD.
17 Now therefore kill every male among the little ones, and kill every woman that hath known man by lying with him.
18 But all the women children, that have not known a man by lying with him, keep alive for yourselves.
Wednesday, 15 October 2008
Love, sex and pologamy
I've always been interested in the differences between the drive to love and the drive to have sex.
In society they are deeply associated with each other, to the extent that many people believe they can never be separated (although that's not to say I believe they have to be separate). I think the whole situation is a bit more complicated than society would have us believe, to the extent I think loving polygamous relationships should be accepted as just another in the many types of relationships in the world today.
The TED talk below is by the lovely Helen Fisher. She discusses the three drives of sex, love and attachment, their associate and what triggers them. She also makes some interesting points related to the differences between men and women, the changing role of women in society, and the worrying increase in use of antidepressants.
Well worth a watch!
In society they are deeply associated with each other, to the extent that many people believe they can never be separated (although that's not to say I believe they have to be separate). I think the whole situation is a bit more complicated than society would have us believe, to the extent I think loving polygamous relationships should be accepted as just another in the many types of relationships in the world today.
The TED talk below is by the lovely Helen Fisher. She discusses the three drives of sex, love and attachment, their associate and what triggers them. She also makes some interesting points related to the differences between men and women, the changing role of women in society, and the worrying increase in use of antidepressants.
Well worth a watch!
Tuesday, 14 October 2008
What is it that makes good people do bad things?
I've always been fascinated by what makes people do bad things. My major misgiving with the criminal justice system is this idea of punishment rather than reform. Its seems to me based on the idea that we judging the criminal (bad person) are better than them, are some how more good. To me evil or badness is just a matter of circumstance and upbringing. Evil is a sickness, and prisons aim should be to reform rather to punish. However it should be noted that it is not to say I believe prison should be abolished, in fact I think in many cases prison terms should be longer if possible, but the aim should be to reform a person, rather than to punish them.
I bring this up because I've just watched a fascinating TED talk on the nature of good and evil by Philip Zimbrado. It's a really interesting insight into what factors can make basically good people, do evil things.
I bring this up because I've just watched a fascinating TED talk on the nature of good and evil by Philip Zimbrado. It's a really interesting insight into what factors can make basically good people, do evil things.
Sunday, 12 October 2008
Wednesday, 1 October 2008
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