Category Archives: Epistemology

It’s silly questions time again: “Was Newton a scientist or a sorcerer?

Posted on September 24, 2012 by thonyc

Back in May the Guardian art critic Jonathan Jones asked, “Is Leonardo da Vinci a great artist or a great scientist?” making, as I pointed out at the time, a serious category mistake. Something must be in the drinking water at the … Continue reading →

Posted in Astrology, Epistemology, History | 1 Comment

What is systematics and what is taxonomy?

Posted on February 5, 2011 by John S. Wilkins

Over the past few years there have been increasing numbers of calls for governments to properly fund systematics and taxonomy (and a number of largely molecular-focused biologists insisting they can do the requisite tasks with magic molecule detectors, so don’t … Continue reading →

Posted in Biology, Biology, Epistemology, Evolution, General Science, History, Philosophy | 1 Comment

On the origins of creativity

Posted on September 25, 2010 by John S. Wilkins

I’m not a very creative guy. I had an idea back in the 1970s, but I managed not to do anything about it in time for someone else to do something with an almost identical idea. I think I dodged … Continue reading →

Posted in Biology, Epistemology, Evolution, Philosophy | Tagged , | Leave a comment

How scientists think, a book proposal

Posted on September 17, 2010 by John S. Wilkins

I’m too busy at the moment to blog, write, think or maintain my personal hygiene, so I thought I’d add content by getting my readers to provide it for me. So I’m going to propose a little project. First, a … Continue reading →

Posted in Book, Epistemology, General Science, Science | 2 Comments

Stephen Hawking and the creation of the universe

Posted on September 4, 2010 by John S. Wilkins

I should begin by saying that I haven’t read Hawking’s book with Leonard Mlodinow, The Grand Design, and I probably won’t. But the way it is being hyped in the media, social and mainstream, suggests that what he is claiming, … Continue reading →

Posted in Book, Epistemology, General Science, Metaphysics, Philosophy, Religion, Science | Tagged | Leave a comment