physeter

Simon:

There are people who are paid to do this kind of thing – professional philosophers. I think most of them are professors at universities and therefore are required to teach as well.

True, but do they get scientific grants from labs, either corporate or governmental, for their speculations, however interesting they may be?

TheEncogitationer wrote:
Even the most generous bankroller of Science has to have priorities.

If the Thomas Nagels of the world want to be a Furrie, a Smoothie, a Scaleie, an Exoskelie, or a Membraneie and then navel-gaze over it, that’s their own business, but that may have to be on their own time and Dime.

There are people who are paid to do t…[Read more]

Simon,

Actually, thinking about this again, humans who could be another species and who could communicate to other humans about the experience could do many useful things.

It could give greater insights on diseases that cross species, similarities between biological functions of our species and other species, give further substantiation for…[Read more]

Simon:

I disagree, you never know when something might turn out to be valuable. There’s a whole picture of reality to be painted, and it needs all the pieces in place.

All this is true, but when there are problems like:

*Chronic, degenerative diseases and conditions on top of resurgent infection diseases keeping humans from living longer, h…[Read more]

TheEncogitationer wrote:
Being a bee while being a bee, being a bat while being a bat, and being a flying squirrel while being a flying squirrel do not fit in the budget.🐝🦇🐿️💲

I disagree, you never know when something might turn out to be valuable.  There’s a whole picture of reality to be painted, and it needs all the pieces in…

Fellow Unbelievers,

A reminder that the Left and the Islamists stand weighed the balance as much as MAGA:

Election 2026: Lessons for Liberty
Voters punished failed leadership. More government isn’t the answer.
https://vanceginn.substack.com/p/election-2026-lessons-for-liberty

Fellow Unbelievers:

Trump ally suffers an epic ‘meltdown’ after GOP midterm destruction: ‘Our country is over’
By:
David McAfee
Nov 04, 2026
8:43AM ET
https://www.rawstory.com/laura-loomer-2678241160/

Ms. Skelator de Droit is right about something:

“God isn’t going to save you from Islam,” she wrote. “People need to stop using religion as a co…

[Read more]

Fellow Unbelievers:

More Meh! 🤷🏻‍♂️

Elon Musk sulks after blowing $400 million on GOP midterm wipeout
By:
Travis Gettys
Nov 04, 2026
8:12AM ET
https://www.rawstory.com/elon-musk-wipeout-new-report/

Fellow Unbelievers:

Meh! 🤷🏻‍♂️

‘Losing it while hate-watching Fox’: Trump’s Election Night spiral begins early
By:
Matthew Chapman
Nov 03, 2026
7:59PM ET
https://www.rawstory.com/trump-2678217536/

Reg and Simon:

Another thing about Questions: Tucker Carlson and others like him are not “Just asking questions.”. Rather, they are mispunctuating statements with a question mark. Also, they have a bad habit of turning people into questions. None of that fits in the budget either.

Reg and Simon:

The most important thing a scientific institution can fund is the freedom to investigate a question whose importance nobody yet understands.

For the funding, though, it should at least deliver understanding for the importance of the question, and ideally as an added bonus, the answer for the question.

Being a bee while being a…[Read more]

Reg the Fronkey Farmer wrote:
The most important thing a scientific institution can fund is the freedom to investigate a question whose importance nobody yet understands.

Trump seems to want to stuff “free enquiry” into some kind of box, but I can’t work out what kind.  I think he wants to make science come up with more answers.  I don’t think t…[Read more]

Reg:

We shouldn’t reason with the Religious Right.

Drew McCoy a.k.a. Genetically-Modified Skeptic is correct that the way we have engaged with religion and the Religious Right in particular, has not been effective in getting people that least re-think religion.

For one thing, we need Science Influencers and Educators who aren’t squeamish a…[Read more]

Reg:

I meant “Orifrice” not “Office,” though Trump’s Oval Office could also be full of very full orifices.

I wonder if all this talk brought out our latest member updating a profile? Hmmm…Perhaps I should keep my orifice shut on orifices and see what happens. For the record, I’m not interested in a trip all the way to Manila.

Fellow Unbelievers:

Some great news in the midst of an otherwise insane world: Bobby Brainworm’s Danish allies’ attempt to discredit the Hepatitis B vaccine with a Tuskeegee-type placebo clinical Trial has been closed down by Guinea-Bissau health authorities…for now at least:

Cops raid office of RFK Jr. allies planning “unethical” vac…[Read more]

Thanks Reg!!

Reg:

Pew Research: Reports of God’s Resurrection have been greatly exaggerated

I don’t know what to make of any of these polls.

One example: Every month The Drudge Report links an article about Trump’s polls, it has him at a consistent 30 Percent approval, even through his latest tariffs, his latest “enrichment” scheme, his latest breach of t…[Read more]

Reg:

Is Nicki Minaj’s ass going to be the next speaker of alternative facts? Maybe I misheard…..

It will be whenever it distracts Trump from his sausage fest…But of course, it’s not polite to speak when one’s office is full.

Reg:

Kentucky man becomes the first humanist granted religious exemption from AI.

Doesn’t this just continue Religion Privilege but merely expand Religion to include any pursuit that involves “being a moral actor,”. like maybe “I believe I’ll have another drink?”

Shouldn’t a Humanist position on AI be that it’s use should further human…[Read more]

Is Nicki Minaj’s ass going to be the next speaker of alternative facts?  Maybe I misheard…..