Beyond Physicalism
Philosopher Hedda Hassel Mørch defends the idea that consciousness pervades the cosmos
Stories by John Horgan
Multiverse Theories Are Bad for Science
New books by a physicist and science journalist mount aggressive but ultimately unpersuasive defenses of multiverses...
Jeffrey Epstein and the Decadence of Science
The Epstein scandal, which embroiled many prominent scientists, is just one of many signs that a gloomy prophecy is being fulfilled...
Can the Shape of Your Face Predict Your Propensity for Violence?
Modern scientists revive a crude form of biological determinism...
Can Lifelong, Invasive Screening Eradicate Cancer?
A prominent oncologist urges continuous testing of everyone from birth onward with implanted devices that detect cancerous cells before they spread
Meta-Post: Posts on Physics
Cross-check columns on physics, cosmology and related topics...
How Harold Bloom, the Late Literary Critic, Helped Me Write The End of Science
Bloom’s book The Anxiety of Influence helped a science writer understand the plight of modern scientists trying to surpass their predecessors
How Can We Curb the Spread of Scientific Racism?
A new book examines the insidious effects of scientific investigations into race...
String Theory Does Not Win a Nobel, and I Win a Bet
Science writer John Horgan wins a 2002 bet with physicist Michio Kaku that by 2020 no unified theory of physics will win a Nobel Prize...
On Philosophy, Death and the Sea
A young philosopher finds philosophy consoling because it is impossible...
My Regrets about Controversial Anthropologist Napoleon Chagnon (RIP)
Chagnon’s views of the “fierce” Yanomamö and of the roots of war were more subtle than his critics or admirers suggested...
How We Can Avert Climate Apocalypse
An alarming book provokes a vision of a world that has solved the problems of global warming and war...
Is Mathematics, like Science, Pluralistic?
Mathematicians disagree over whether their fundamental assumptions, or axioms, are true...
Pluralism: Beyond the One and Only Truth
Some big questions, such as how matter makes mind and what quantum mechanics means, may not have a single, definitive answer
The Delusion of Scientific Omniscience
As time passes, the claim that science can comprehend everything looks increasingly nutty...
Genealogical Anxiety
Pondering the origins of your beliefs and yourself can be the first step toward making a better world...
The Dawn of Self-Consciousness
A sudden moment of self-awareness in childhood propels people on a quest to explore life’s mysteries...
We Should All Be Science Critics
A Harvard scholar says viewing science and technology with a critical eye can make the world a better place...
Cancer Medicine Is Failing Us
Our aggressive, expensive approach to cancer is doing more harm than good...
Can Psychiatry Heal Itself?
A Harvard historian urges psychiatrists to focus less on making money and more on helping patients...
