Out-of-Body Experiences

Experiences where sensation occurs distant from the body have been reported throughout history. For most, this experience is rare – often stemming from physical trauma, such as surgery. A few can conjure out-of-body experiences at will.

Empathic Bias

Empathy is a psychological tool for discerning the mind-set or emotional cast of another person via inverted projection. Instead of engendering comity, empathy succors a surety of comprehension which fortifies opinion.

Mental Health Apps

Mental health apps are designed to help treat stress, anxiety, and depression. They work so well that almost everyone stops using them shortly after trying them out.

The Mind-Body

The mind affects the body and vice versa. What is their interface? From antiquity, the mind-body problem has been the quintessential issue of natural philosophy and science, as it addresses the fundamental nature of existence.

Belief

As American president, Donald Trump has irrefutably had a detrimental effect on all fabrics influenced by him: economic, political, diplomatic, military, environmental, societal. Yet this pathological liar is still believed by a loyal following. This extreme example demonstrates a more pervasive point.

The Doom of Dumb Animals

The operational definition of intelligence is a consistent display of appropriate behavior. Behind the behavior is a mental construal of how the world works. Failing to comprehend the environment invariably has negative consequences. In the instance of humans on planet Earth, the diagnosis is clear and the outcome apparent. These creatures face impending extinction and are taking much other life out with them.

On Purpose

Teleology posits that natural phenomena exist for a purpose; that is, nature has goals. Ancient Greek philosopher Plato (423 – 347 BCE) was a dyed-in-the-wool teleologist. But since the time of British natural philosopher Francis Bacon (1561 – 1626), empiricism supposedly trumped teleology in scientific circles. Scientific canon is that existential facts do not support purpose as intrinsic to the natural world. To that scientists agree, at least in concept. What they intuitively believe is something else.