RSA Daily

For atheists, rationalists and secular humanists in Australia

Monday, May 1, 2023

Good morning ,

Cultures that value emotionality over rationality are a particular problem. Why? Because by implication, they don't value critical thinking. But to imagine critical thinking is devoid of emotional intelligence is just plain wrong.

Lead stories

Catch up on the RSA's latest webinar with Dr Josh Roose, a sociologist from Deakin University. He argues that the neoliberal attack on workers rights and conditions, the feminisation of the economy and increasing job insecurity for men has generated “deep-seated resentment” among white-collar men, who are among those now driving far-right extremism and political populism.

A particularly sensible discussion of the need to 'leave emotions at the door' if you want to engage in genuine critical thinking and how emotions are different from Emotional Intelligence. Too often, people think critical thinking means being 'critical' - ie, skeptical - of everything. It doesn't. And Emotional Intelligence is a critical part of good critical thinking.

Over the weekend, my Google display played for me this 13 minute video of Christopher Hitchens defending the proposition that freedom of expression must include the licence to offend. Vintage Hitch, with a couple of simply brilliant jokes at about the 9 minute mark.

Other stories of interest

A genealogy of panic disorder in the 20th century - Rationale Magazine

Are we living through just the latest in a series of mass panic disorders?

Plastic bag bans really do help prevent pollution

And the good news is...

How Solitude Can Be Good - Even Important - For Your Mental Health

Yes, yes, yes.

Glass or plastic: which is better for the environment?

Be careful of your assumptions.

Got a comment on any of these stories? 

Write to me at president@rationalist.com.au

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