Tag: social-justice

It can be hard to confront our unconscious biases. Here’s why.

sophia_my_blog

Late last year, a web-site called Divided States of Women did a really great video on the topic of confronting our unconscious biases. This is a very important issue in Algorithmic Rationalism and is key to improving our level of Read more

IMAGE DESCRIPTION: An image of a lyre is featured based on modern reconstructions of an ancient instrument known as the "kinnor" - the kind of lyre that King David used. Halway framing the kinnor is a question mark. This image is for the alternative psalms that I wrote and posted on my blog (virtualstoa.org). Unlike the traditional psalms which pretty much require religious belief for you to use them -- these psalms (the Non-Theistic psalms) impose no such requirement at all for their use.

Non-Theistic Psalm no. 2

sophia_my_blog

Non-Theistic Psalm no. 2: Composed on 2018-02-11 in the evening. How long will the foolish stay in power? How long will they continue their reckless schemes? How long will they hold the world in jeopardy Believing that God will fix Read more

IMAGE DESCRIPTION: Against a grey background, we see the red flame that represents the Logos (the spirit of reason that animates the Universe). In front of that, we see a badly-drawn representation of a human brain - on which there is a lightbulb that is lit, representing thought. Some of the rays from the lightbulb's glow gradually blend into the flame, representing how our reasoning faculty is part of the Logos. This image is for articles in this blog dealing with logic and critical thought.

#8: Empathy vs. Rational Compassion: Part 3: Examples of Empathy Causing Harm

sophia_my_blog

The arguments as to why empathy is problematic as a moral compass and ought to be replaced with ratonal compassion are not mere theoretical hair-splittings. History has actually demonstrated disasters wrought when decisions are driven by emotional empathy. [powerpress /] Read more

IMAGE DESCRIPTION: Against a grey background, we see the red flame that represents the Logos (the spirit of reason that animates the Universe). In front of that, we see a badly-drawn representation of a human brain - on which there is a lightbulb that is lit, representing thought. Some of the rays from the lightbulb's glow gradually blend into the flame, representing how our reasoning faculty is part of the Logos. This image is for articles in this blog dealing with logic and critical thought.

#7: Empathy vs. Rational Compassion: Part 2: Basic Flaws in the Empathic Model of Compassion

sophia_my_blog

The popular theory is that emotional empathy is the precursor to compassion as people help each other in order to avoid themselves suffering empathetic pain if they don’t. However, in reality, things just don’t very often work out that way. Read more

IMAGE DESCRIPTION: In the background burns the flame that represents the Logos. In front of it, several letters from the Greek alphabet fill the air - and near the floor is a book labeled "A Stoic Dictionary". This image is for articles in this blog (virtualstoa.org) pertaining to Stoic terminology.

#6: Empathy versus Rational Compassion: Part One: What We Mean by “Empathy”

sophia_my_blog

I want to discuss why society ought to encourage rational compassion rather than empathy. But before I can do that, I must clarify what “empathy” means in this discussion and why it is important to keep in mind how empathy Read more