Peace and War

All good things are more fragile than bad things

David P. Barash Ph.D., Judith Eve Lipton M.D.

A Ukraine Take-Home Message That We'd Better Not Take Home

Are there any take-home lessons regarding nuclear weapons that we should take home from the Ukraine War? Yes, but not what you probably expect.

The Winter War Ghost Haunts Putin's War Today

"Those who forget history are doomed to repeat it." Russia's war against Ukraine repeats many aspects of its earlier war against Finland, in which Goliath nearly blew it.

A Cure (Sort of) for Nuclear Nightmares

If you love this planet, you owe it to yourself to learn the basics of nuclear weapons and the struggle to contain them. Fortunately, there is an excellent new primer.

Deterrence Down on the Farm

Although IMHO nuclear deterrence really stinks, I employ a conventional version every day on my farm.

Does Capital Punishment "Fit the Crime?"

Max Weber said that the state had a "monopoly on the legitimate use of physical force.” But is that true? Are executions "legitimate?"

Seeking Empathy for People You Don’t Understand

If political reconciliation requires seeing the world from the perspective of those with whom we disagree profoundly, is there any hope?

Capital Punishment: Killing to Stop Killing?

Part 1: The Trump Administration began executing federal prisoners for the first time in 17 years. Let's look at the phenomenon, starting with why most people obey most laws.

Guns, American Style: In Black and White

There is a deep racial subtext to guns in America.

Our Gun Culture Creates the Problems It Purports to Solve

Part of the gun dilemma is that the more people have guns, the more fear people have, which leads to yet more guns. Meanwhile, we get murders, suicides, and lethal accidents.

Why Don’t We Have Stronger Gun Laws?

The U.S. is awash in guns, and even after Covid, Americans will probably continue to kill each other at a rate exceeding that of any other developed country.

The Prisoner's Dilemma = America's Gun Dilemma

How did the U.S. get into its gun dilemma? The Prisoner's Dilemma model helps us understand the problem.

"American Carnage" Indeed: Guns

Amid altogether appropriate anguish over COVID, we should consider another epidemic, this one totally self-inflicted.

The Threat That Leaves Something to Chance

One of the most important thinkers proposed a hair-raising way to get your way in an argument. He intended it as advice on how to "use" nuclear weapons.

Social Psychology Sheds Light on the Troubles of Trump Supporters

Why do so many continue to support President Trump, even as his behavior has been increasingly dangerous (even to themselves)? Social psychology research can help.

Biological Wisdom Coming at Last

Our biological ignorance has been projected on the wall, like a rat standing in front of a night-light. What shall we do about it?

Can the Coronavirus Help Us See Ourselves Differently?

We're not about to go extinct because of the latest virus. But there are other creatures who probably wouldn't care, and might even celebrate, if we did.

Lies, Leopards, and Cool Hand Luke

How is communication different from a dung beetle rolling a ball? Let me count the ways...

Why Communication Contains a Whole Lotta Lies

When you talk, how often are you telling the truth?

The Evolutionary Basis of Parent-Child Conflict

A naive view of evolution suggests that parents and children should nearly always be on the same wavelength. But the truth is more complex.

Rational Shmational

Many who deny the existence of the human soul like to console ourselves that we are at least particularly rational. Not so fast.

Thinking About Suicide: A Three-Part Hypothesis

Suicide isn't only a tragedy; it's a deep, dark evolutionary paradox. Here's a biologically based hypothesis that might shed some light. (Or not.)

Chimps and Dogs Are Very Smart

If you think that human beings are unique in our ability to engage in complex cognitive functioning, you have another think coming!

How Ethologists Learned to Respect Animal Minds

Ethologists used to maintain that animals behaved "instinctively" and without much thought. In fact, the question of animal minds was a kind of third rail. But no more.

The Danger of Crazy Leaders

There is a long, sorry history of mentally ill monarchs, prime ministers, and presidents. But never have the stakes been as high as they are now.

Before There Was Donald Trump, There Was Titus Oates

There is a history of sociopathic liars causing political chaos and social pain, but England, at least, pulled through.

Threats, Truth-Telling, and Trump

Research in animal behavior emphasizes the importance of a reliability component when it comes to communication. This has important implications when it comes to Donald Trump.