RSA Daily

For atheists, rationalists and secular humanists in Australia

Tuesday, June 27, 2023

Good morning ,

I haven't watched it all yet but here is the first Youtube video in the new  "Poetry of Reality" series. In this episode, Richard Dawkins chats with Ricky Gervais:

Lead stories

Western society seems to valorise emotionality over rationality, but the Stoics urged conscious restraint by distinguishing 'impression' from 'assent'. If you're interested in the science of emotionality, do follow the link in the article to an explanation of the neuroscience of the cognitive component of emotions.

".. we can’t decarbonise at either the rate demanded by activists, or the rate pretended by politicians. So, when they argue with each other, it is really a pantomime that distracts us from reality.."

Is this an example of ideology over evidence-based research? If you're a teacher, or have kids at school, what do you think about the Education Dept refusing to allow university-based research on how to teach reading effectively?

Other stories of interest

RSA welcomes committee's recommendation on political advertising laws | Rationalist Society of Australia

But any reforms will be too late to apply to the Voice referendum.

'No evidence' windfarm noise disturbs sleep any more than road traffic, study finds

Windfarm noise is no more disruptive to sleep than road traffic noise.

PwC Australia vows 'severe' consequences for tax leak staff

Believe it when I see it.

Time after time, tragedies like the Titan disaster occur because leaders ignore red flags

Includes a fascinating pie chart of the sources of major crises: class actions (5%), sexual harrassment (3%), white collar crime (2%), executive firings (6%), mismanagement (2%), whistleblowers (30%).

Got a comment on any of these stories? 

Write to me at president@rationalist.com.au

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