Society Archives

Evaluating Science: How to Fight Doubt-Mongering

Are you skilled in evaluating science? How do you know what’s true and what’s false? In the book Merchants of Doubt, Naomi Oreskes and Erik Conway take on people and organizations who create the impression that scientific findings that threaten their agenda or ideology are unsettled—or flat-out wrong. The authors look at some of the issues that merchants of doubt are tackling today and share keys to evaluating science so that you can protect yourself from being taken in. Read on to start developing the skill of evaluating science.

The Shooting of Terence Crutcher: Case Study

What can we learn about police brutality by studying the shooting of Terence Crutcher? Is using case studies a helpful approach to police brutality? In her book Biased, Dr. Jennifer Eberhardt discusses police brutality by examining the shooting of Terence Crutcher. She breaks down the incident into five parts and examines what went wrong and what should have been done differently. Then we discuss whether using individual case studies is an effective approach to ending police brutality. Here is Dr. Jennifer Eberhardt’s breakdown of the shooting of Terence Crutcher.

Raph Koster: What Are the Benefits of Playing Games?

What are the benefits of playing games? Can games teach you skills for the modern day? Despite the fact that many people think games (especially video games) are a negative influence and distract you from the real world, Raph Koster asserts that games are actually beneficial in many ways. Koster says that games can teach you a number of skills including teamwork, lateral thinking, and can even teach you self-insight. Below are the benefits of playing games according to A Theory of Fun for Game Design author Raph Koster.

Racism in the Justice System: Examples + Case Studies

What are some examples of racism in the justice system? Are there countermeasures in place to try to stop the incidents of judicial racial bias? Almost every aspect of the justice system is guilty of racial bias. Racism in the justice system can be found in traffic stops, the cash bail system, plea bargains, sentencing and more. And it’s going to take more than procedural justice training to stop it. Continue reading to learn what Dr. Jennifer Eberhardt, author of Biased, has to say about racism in the justice system.

Driving While Black: Racial Bias in Discretionary Stops

Is it legal to use perceived race in the decision to pull someone over? Why do black people get pulled over more often for equipment-related violations? In her book Biased, Jennifer Eberhardt explains that it is actually legal for police to pull a driver over based on perceived race. This has led to a disproportionate amount of blacks being pulled over for minor equiptment-related violations in an excuse for the officer to search them for contraband—this has lead to the term “driving while black.” Here is what Eberhardt has to say on the “driving while black” epidemic.

The Role of Economics in Society: What History Tells Us

What is the role of economics in society? How has it changed over time? Are there certain things that never change? Money is vital in shaping the direction of human history. In The Lessons of History, Will and Ariel Durant discuss the role of economics in society throughout history. They identify patterns that provide insights about the profit motive, wealth inequality and redistribution, and socialism. Read more to learn what history tells us about the role of economics in society.

A Theory of Fun for Game Design: Book Overview

What is A Theory of Fun for Game Design about? Can games be more than just a distraction from reality? In his book A Theory of Fun for Game Design, Raph Koster discusses the theories behind games such as what makes a game fun, what games can teach, and how games can provide us with insight into ourselves. These are essential concepts to consider whether you’re making a board game or a video game. Here is a brief overview of A Theory of Fun for Game Design.

Race in Society: Was History Color-Blind?

What is the history of race in society? What role has race played in civilizations? In The Lessons of History, Will and Ariel Durant discuss race in society and how character shapes social change over time. They argue that history is color-blind—that civilization is not determined by race. They also discuss human nature and how inequality comes into play in society. Read more to learn a historical perspective on human nature and race in society.

Human Progress: Why We Can Be Cautiously Optimistic

Is human progress real, or does history just repeat itself? As civilizations rise and fall, does humanity itself move forward? In The Lessons of History, Will and Ariel Durant provide their respected historical analysis of civilization and human progress. They argue that history generally repeats itself because human nature doesn’t change. However, they believe we’ve entered unprecedented times and have a reason for cautious optimism. Read more to learn a historical perspective of human progress.

What Causes War? Indispensable Lessons From History

What causes war? Is war inevitable and even necessary? In The Lessons of History, Will and Ariel Durant share what they learned about war in their extensive research of human history. What causes war, they conclude, are the same factors that cause individuals to fight. They also reflect on war and peace in the era of the global communist threat. Read more to learn a historical perspective on what causes war.