In my last post, I argued that common sense was vastly over-rated as a tool for making sound judgments and that we need to engage in "reasoned sense" that includes both extensive direct experience and critical thinking. Taking steps that include the informal use of the scientific method can help us make better decisions. However, as [...]
Common sense, defined as "sound judgment derived from experience rather than study," is one of the most revered qualities in America. It evokes images of early and simpler times in which industrious men and women built our country into what it is today. People with common sense are seen as reasonable, down to earth, reliable, [...]
Do you know the story of Narcissus? The very handsome fellow in Greek mythology who, because of his indifference and disdain toward others, was punished by the gods by falling in love with his own image. He was so enrapted by his beauty that he was unable to pull himself away from his own reflection [...]
I've been having another one of those "end of civilization as we know it" moments lately. It started when my wife and I began Christmas shopping for our daughters and were overwhelmed by the seemingly unending universe of toys from which to choose (don't even get me started on how the Christmas season is now [...]
Boy am I glad that the media feeding frenzy over the ill-advised LeBron James/ESPN cluster@#&%, "The Decision," is long past. It just demonstrated what we should have assumed all along, namely, that behind that façade of loyal and humble Cleveland homeboy was the usual narcissistic superstar athlete that we have come to expect these days. [...]
In recent decades, America has become embroiled in a so-called “culture war” between the right and left, red states and blue states. This culture war, supposedly fought over the moral values that are intended to guide our country, has created a schism so wide and seemingly so insurmountable that, as we stand now, a future [...]
Am I wrong or is there a whole lot of cheating going on these days? And is cheating more widespread than ever before? I don't know, but it sure seems like it, and from sources both expected and unexpected. Of course, there are the usual suspects, including students, financiers, pharmaceutical companies, politicians, and professional athletes. [...]
Yes, we have a self-esteem problem in our country, but we don't recognize it because, well, we have a self-esteem problem. We need look no further than the bewildering popularity of the reality-TV show Jersey Shore and the instant celebrity garnered from its inhabitants despite their complete absence of qualifications. Though, admittedly, the bar for [...]
It seems like every day when I go on line I read something that causes me to think: "Another indication of the end of civilization as we know." Well, this morning I had another one of those painful epiphanies when I read that Bristol Palin, the daughter of the former Alaska governor and Vice Presidential [...]
In the last 15 years alone, there has been Bill Clinton, Newt Gingrich, Jude Law, Eliot Spitzer, Kobe Bryant, Mark Sanford, Alex Rodriguez, David Letterman, the list goes on. Now, it?s d?j? vu all over again. Another successful man caught with his paws in the honey jar (pun intended). But not just any man. We?re [...]