About: Dan Haggard
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- I'm a thirty something guy that is trying to finish a PHD in philosophy. I think a lot and write a lot - but can't imagine employing those talents for "the man". So I write for myself and anyone who cares to read it.
Posts by Dan Haggard
Sam Harris, Free Will and the Slow Culture War
One of the recurring themes of this blog is that the fast pace of technological change is making various cultural modes like art and philosophy considerably less relevant than they once were. As if sensing the immanence of its twilight, there have been a number of popular writers in recent years who have tried to inject philosophy back into the public consciousness and cultural debate. Sam Harris has made one such attempt with his new book 'Free Will'. In it he argues that there is no such thing as free will and that this truth matters. But does it really?
Would You Take the Honeymoon Pill?
A few years ago a study by researchers (Acevedo, Aron, Fisher, Brown) from Stony Brook university made the claim that a small percentage of mated couples (10%) indefinitely maintain a brain state similar to that found in most couples during the early 'honeymoon' stage of their relationship. Consequently these "swan" couples displayed a passion and devotion to one another that is uncommon in long term relationships generally.
So then - here's the question: what if you and your partner could take a honeymoon pill that would allow you both to maintain the swan-like brain state permanently? Would you take it?
Those New Mac Ads – Why We REALLY Hate Them
Recently Apple released a set of new ads to advertise their Mac personal computers. The response from the internet has been that of vituperative hatred. This post made it on to the front page of Hacker News and I think most accurately sums up the accepted reasons for this response.
Sexist Narratives, Moral Dumbfounding and Our Broken Narrative Faculty
Generally what I do on this blog is interpret narratives, and try to give my readers a more sophisticated understanding of the narratives they encounter during their day to day lives. This is no academic exercise. Being able to interpret narratives in a sophisticated manner is an important skill. Why? Because we all create and [...]
Batman and the Meta Narrative
Remember the old Batman? It looks so dated now. Remember the strange, campy costumes and the droll one liners – all those has been actors? Were you to watch it now you would find it painful to watch – the slow pacing, the bad special effects, the goofy gadgets. At best you can look back [...]
