Philosophy Wire: Ions. Behavior. Against the flow…

A research group shows, using computer simulations, that ions do not always behave as expected. In their research on molten salts, they were able to see that, in some cases, the ions in the salt mixture they were studying affect one another so much that they may even move in the 'wrong' direction - that is, towards an electrode with the same charge. [1] Moving against the flow. Weird. Because usually things move in the direction of the flow. Weird. How could we ever know? Could anything form or be without wings that allows is to flee? Against the flow. Back to its birthing place. Where it started to be. Where it once was dead. Long before anything existed for it to move against…

(c) Philosophy WIRES - Commenting world news from philosophy's perspective…

Philosophy Wire: Risk of Risks…

An insufficient food supply causes animals to engage in higher-risk behavior: the willingness to take risks rises by an average of 26 per cent in animals that have experienced hunger earlier in their lives. Scientists evaluated experimental studies involving more than 100 animal species. [1] Risk of death makes us take more risks. What have you got to lose when you have lost everything? Dead men. Ready to take their lives. Think again. If you have lost everything, what is there for you to see? Seek life. There is no other way to die. Avoid all risks. Are you brave enough to take that risk?

(c) Philosophy WIRES - Commenting world news from philosophy's perspective…

Philosophy Wire: Random things…

When a baby reaches for one stuffed animal in a room filled with others just like it, that random choice is very bad news for those unpicked toys: the baby has likely just decided she doesn't like what she didn't choose. Researchers have known that adults build unconscious biases over a lifetime of choosing between things that are essentially the same, but finding that even babies do it demonstrates this way of justifying choice is fundamental to the human experience. [1] Random things. Defining our lives. From birth to death, the flying of a butterfly determines our fate. A fate we withstand not because we respect that butterfly. But only because we know we are the ones who made it fly in the first place...

(c) Philosophy WIRES - Commenting world news from philosophy's perspective…

Philosophy Wire: Lying… For honesty!

People may lie to appear honest if events that turned out in their favor seem too good to be true, according to new research. [1] Because at the end we care about what others say. Because we have killed our self. And there is no one to talk now. Except others. Except our self…

(c) Philosophy WIRES - Commenting world news from philosophy's perspective…

Philosophy Wire: Hungry!

A study sheds light on the mechanisms governing feeding behavior in fruit flies and how skeletal muscle communicates energy needs to the brain. [1] The mind controls everything. But it is the brain which provides feedback on how this is done. The brain controls everything. But it is the muscles which give input on what to do and decide. Humans control the Earth. But it is the little worm which defines how Earth will be governed…

(c) Philosophy WIRES - Commenting world news from philosophy's perspective…

Philosophy Wire: Punishing children… Arrogant adults…

Children as young as three years old are willing to punish others' bad behavior, even at personal cost, finds a new study by psychology researchers at New York University. The work adds to growing evidence that human beings distinguish between right and wrong at a very young age and are willing to pay a personal cost to encourage positive behavior in others. [1]

We feel obliged to impose order.
We feel a duty to be good and nice.

But in a cosmos void of everything, how could this make any sense?

No, you do not have the power to punish.
How could you anyway?
And yet, here you are.
Sensing that power to punish…

Believing in it. Perhaps exactly because it shouldn’t be there in the first place!

(c) Philosophy WIRES - Commenting world news from philosophy's perspective…

Philosophy Wire: Behavioral waves…

The presence of just a few autonomous vehicles can eliminate the stop-and-go driving of the human drivers in traffic, along with the accident risk and fuel inefficiency it causes, according to new research. The finding indicates that self-driving cars and related technology may be even closer to revolutionizing traffic control than previously thought. [1] Behavior propagates like a wave. It only takes a few autonomous cars to fix traffic. It only takes a few idiots to destroy mankind. The Cataclysm is not the exception, it is the rule. Over and over again, stupidity prevails. We were humans. We will be machines. Soon, as we did many times in the past, we will destroy our selves. The streets will be full of autonomous cars. There will be no accidents. Everything will be perfect. Everything will be dead…

(c) Philosophy WIRES - Commenting world news from philosophy's perspective…