A Curious Mind

Ethics and Morality

One Philosopher’s Daily Grind

Hugh Aldersey-Williams on April 26, 2017

How did the day job of one of the greatest of all philosophers influence his ideas?

How did the day job of one of the greatest of all philosophers influence his ideas?

Spirituality

The Invention of Bedside Manner

Hugh Aldersey-Williams on June 8, 2015

Medical students were not given much exposure to actual patients until William Osler introduced the idea of the teaching hospital at Johns Hopkins in the 1890s. Osler was inspired in his humanistic approach to medical care by the 17th century English writer and physician Sir Thomas Browne. Browne debunked the foolish beliefs of his day and coined many words we still use.

Medical students were not given much exposure to actual patients until William Osler introduced the idea of the teaching hospital at Johns Hopkins in the 1890s. Osler was inspired in his humanistic approach to medical care by the 17th century English writer and physician Sir Thomas Browne. Browne debunked the foolish beliefs of his day and coined many words we still use.

FMRI scanning of the brain provides graphic images of mental activity and is being used to probe everything from creativity to moral behaviors such as lying. The pictures are compelling, and increasingly commonly seen in the popular press, but how many people understand what they are really looking at?

Identity

The Fearful and the Fabulous

Hugh Aldersey-Williams on July 8, 2013

Transplanting organs, whether from humans or animals, raises ethical and philosophical issues. Surprisingly, some of our attitudes to this surgical possibility have been long anticipated in tales of Classical mythology.

Transplanting organs, whether from humans or animals, raises ethical and philosophical issues. Surprisingly, some of our attitudes to this surgical possibility have been long anticipated in tales of Classical mythology.

What’s your favorite body part? And why do we insist on splitting the body into parts?