3 days ago: I'm so surprised that so many people seem to agree with Singer off the bat. I happen to agree with him and utilitarianism in a lot of ways (in fact I love his work) but what he's saying is extremely controversial. He's saying that ethics have no geography, that you can measure pain and ethics, and that nearly everyone in the developed world is living a life that is in some way immoral. He's asking you not to value your kin above others in dire situations. I'm not saying these points are completely wrong but seeing people accept them after a 20 minute TED talk seems like maybe people may not have considered all the ramifications.
Maybe those people walking by that girl were heading to their job where they could have gotten enough money to save more than a single life in the time it would have taken to save her.
Mar 12 2013: I'm so confused. I know I'm wrong. Did this guy just give a ted talk about how different areas of the brain do different things? And changing the level of certain chemicals in one part of the brain might be different than changing them in another?
I'm no neuroscienctist but I thought we knew that already.
Jan 28 2013: It makes sense that the factory of the west would look different every day for everyone partaking. It makes sense that it should be systematized. It makes sense to have some sort of insurance for it.
But even as a liberal, why government? Why should the government get to know what I do every hour? Why won't they screw it up? Why not make this open source?
Nov 6 2012: Did I miss something here? I got the following:
• Civic engagement is good.
• Democracy is good.
• The problem isn't with democracy, it's with politics and society as a whole.
• Politicians need to work with the will of the people.
• If democracy is to be rebuilt politicians and the public must trust one another.
I hate to reinforce Stewart's stereotype, but this guy just said a bunch of stuff that most semi conscious citizens know, restated an obvious problem offering no solution and people clapped for him. Sounds like politics as usual.
What am I missing? Am I really supposed to jump from my seat and yell "GOOD PLAN! LET'S START TODAY!"
Jan 26 2012: This talk needs infographics. How many people in which state have spouses that make them happy? Are people really more depressed during the holidays? Does a certain kind of signal pair with panic attacks?
the strength seems to be in pairing this with other data.
TEDCred score: +21.50 TEDCred reflects your contribution to the TED community.
A reply on Talk: Peter Singer: The why and how of effective altruism
A comment on Talk: Peter Singer: The why and how of effective altruism
Maybe those people walking by that girl were heading to their job where they could have gotten enough money to save more than a single life in the time it would have taken to save her.
A comment on Talk: David Anderson: Your brain is more than a bag of chemicals
I'm no neuroscienctist but I thought we knew that already.
Someone please explain this to me.
A comment on Talk: Wingham Rowan: A new kind of job market
But even as a liberal, why government? Why should the government get to know what I do every hour? Why won't they screw it up? Why not make this open source?
A comment on Talk: Rory Stewart: Why democracy matters
• Civic engagement is good.
• Democracy is good.
• The problem isn't with democracy, it's with politics and society as a whole.
• Politicians need to work with the will of the people.
• If democracy is to be rebuilt politicians and the public must trust one another.
I hate to reinforce Stewart's stereotype, but this guy just said a bunch of stuff that most semi conscious citizens know, restated an obvious problem offering no solution and people clapped for him. Sounds like politics as usual.
What am I missing? Am I really supposed to jump from my seat and yell "GOOD PLAN! LET'S START TODAY!"
A comment on Talk: Brian Greene: Is our universe the only universe?
ROCKET MAN...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5hARDXYz2io
A comment on Talk: Ariel Garten: Know thyself, with a brain scanner
the strength seems to be in pairing this with other data.
A comment on Conversation: In 10 words or less, name a living expert from any field & a creative title for a lesson they could guest-teach in a high school/college.
A comment on Talk: Lauren Zalaznick: The conscience of television
A comment on Talk: Bill Ford: A future beyond traffic gridlock