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Statistical Life

From the evolution of intelligence to memory and information overload.

Sexual Abuse
The Kavanaugh-Ford Hearings

Thomas Hills Ph.D. on September 27, 2018

Ford and Kavanaugh both stand to lose from further investigation. And yet, Kavanaugh, if he is telling the truth, would seem to have the most to gain from further investigation.  

Ford and Kavanaugh both stand to lose from further investigation. And yet, Kavanaugh, if he is telling the truth, would seem to have the most to gain from further investigation.  

Bias
Society Is a Megaphone for Risk

Thomas Hills Ph.D. on June 21, 2018

Communication may be first about providing social cues, second about communicating risks, but only third about providing an accurate picture.

Communication may be first about providing social cues, second about communicating risks, but only third about providing an accurate picture.

Sex
Rock, Paper, Scissors, Lizard, Sex

Thomas Hills Ph.D. on April 13, 2018

Why are there so many kinds of male mating strategies? A few fairy tales can help explain the game theoretics of frequency-dependent selection.

Why are there so many kinds of male mating strategies? A few fairy tales can help explain the game theoretics of frequency-dependent selection.

Health
Does My Algorithm Have a Mental Health Problem?

Thomas Hills Ph.D. on April 3, 2018

How many different ways can an algorithm hallucinate? To find out, we would have to provide the algorithm with all possible combinations of input stimuli.

How many different ways can an algorithm hallucinate? To find out, we would have to provide the algorithm with all possible combinations of input stimuli.

Optimism
Gun Control vs. Power to Fight Tyranny? False Dichotomy 101

Thomas Hills Ph.D. on March 25, 2018

A government that fails to protect its citizens by the most minuscule means of simply requiring that competent people use deadly tools competently is a tyranny of incompetence.

A government that fails to protect its citizens by the most minuscule means of simply requiring that competent people use deadly tools competently is a tyranny of incompetence.

Wisdom
Identifying Wisdom in a Crowd When Problems Are Hard

Thomas Hills Ph.D. on March 15, 2018

More ignorant people often have the highest level of confidence. But surprisingly, we can still leverage the wisdom of the crowds for problems where most people are wrong.

More ignorant people often have the highest level of confidence. But surprisingly, we can still leverage the wisdom of the crowds for problems where most people are wrong.

Marriage
Robots Will Have Rights

Thomas Hills Ph.D. on March 13, 2018

Will robots have rights? Whether they do or not will have very little to do with them, and everything to do with us.

Will robots have rights? Whether they do or not will have very little to do with them, and everything to do with us.

Motivated Reasoning
Is Science Stronger When It is Decentralized?

Thomas Hills Ph.D. on March 11, 2018

Networked teams often fail at tasks because of groupthink and other forms of confirmation bias. Decentralized teams often do better, especially when the problems are hard.

Networked teams often fail at tasks because of groupthink and other forms of confirmation bias. Decentralized teams often do better, especially when the problems are hard.

Memory
13 Rules for Writing Good Essays

Thomas Hills Ph.D. on March 7, 2018

Organize your key points, support them with evidence-based arguments, and wrap it up at the end so the reader knows what they've learned.

Organize your key points, support them with evidence-based arguments, and wrap it up at the end so the reader knows what they've learned.

Career
My Top 10 Job Interview Tips

Thomas Hills Ph.D. on March 1, 2018

Interviewing is something people can learn how to do. Having given and received hundreds of interviews, I've tried to summarize my experience in 10 simple tips. Good luck.

Interviewing is something people can learn how to do. Having given and received hundreds of interviews, I've tried to summarize my experience in 10 simple tips. Good luck.

Happiness
On Gun Rights in America

Thomas Hills Ph.D. on February 16, 2018

The American Constitution is based on "We the people," because it is about valuing people's life, liberty, and pursuit of happiness. God did not grant these rights, people did.

The American Constitution is based on "We the people," because it is about valuing people's life, liberty, and pursuit of happiness. God did not grant these rights, people did.

Memory
Free Associations Across the Lifespan

Thomas Hills Ph.D. on December 11, 2017

What happens to free associations as we age from four legs to three? The mind comes together. Then blows apart like a dandelion in the wind.

What happens to free associations as we age from four legs to three? The mind comes together. Then blows apart like a dandelion in the wind.

Beauty
A Beautiful Vertigo: "Blade Runner 2049"

Thomas Hills Ph.D. on November 27, 2017

He knows what the Zen master knows: that nothing and everything is real. Reality is the nothing hidden behind the facade that is everything you can know.

He knows what the Zen master knows: that nothing and everything is real. Reality is the nothing hidden behind the facade that is everything you can know.

Religion
Why Do We Die?

Thomas Hills Ph.D. on March 18, 2017

It's tempting to pit religion against science in a discussion of life, death, and purpose. But one can find wisdom in both.

It's tempting to pit religion against science in a discussion of life, death, and purpose. But one can find wisdom in both.