The Importance of Scientific Explanation

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Culture of honor offers this explanation by pointing to these historical features of society and how it could explain current differences. Jared Diamond, who runs Guns, Drims, and Steel, is just to me an amazing book. I don't know if he's right; some people very much disagree with him. But that appeal to these basic mechanisms to explain such a complex phenomenon is the essence of science.

Dave and Tamler celebrate their one year anniversary and 30th episode with one of their least cynical episodes yet. They talk about 5 philosophy/psychology(-ish) books that influenced and inspired them throughout the years. They also respond to a listener email that accuses them (mostly Tamler) of being "reckless and irresponsible" in their discussion of responding to insults.

Episode Links

(Please note that the Top 5 links below are to purchase books through amazon.com via the Very Bad Wizards amazon affiliate account)

Tamler's Top 5

5. The Razor's Edge

4. Culture Of Honor: The Psychology Of Violence In The South (New Directions in Social Psychology)/Humiliation: And Other Essays on Honor, Social Discomfort, and Violence

3. The Extended Phenotype: The Long Reach of the Gene (Popular Science)

2. Passions Within Reason: The Strategic Role of the Emotions

1. Jacques the Fatalist and His Master (Penguin Classics)

David's Top 5

5. Surely You're Joking Mr. Feynman

4. Gödel, Escher, Bach: An Eternal Golden Braid

3. The Modularity of Mind: An Essay on Faculty Psychology