The Mind-Body Isomorphism?

Is the mind body connection an isomorphism?  That is, is there a one-to-one correspondence between them?  Maybe.
It is well known that physical changes to the body alter the mental representation of  it. Following amputation, for example, there is significant alteration of the somatosensory cortex, the part of the brain onto which the body is mapped. [...]

Toward a Science of Human Nature

From Rationally Speaking
Human nature is certainly not a sharply defined concept, nor does it have to be. If one accepts the evolutionary view of things, than one does expect fuzzy boundaries for pretty much everything in biology, including whatever characteristics are supposed to be species specific. Nonetheless, I maintain that to reject talk of a [...]

Interviews with Nobel Laureates in Economics

Hat Tip:  Chiara Lombardini-Riipinen

Should We Dump the Word “Gene”?

Whenever one discusses the underlying genetic influences on human behavior, one is opening themselves up to being labelled a determinist.  Part of the reason for that is a total missunderstanding of what the word “gene” actually means (not to mention the lack of understanding of the difference between a genotype and a phenotype).  But, it [...]

Dan Kahneman Interview

One of the founders of Cognitive Models in the Social Sciences gives an interview with Harry Kreisler.  (BTW, I cite Kahneman here.)

A Review of Cognitive Models and Bounded Rationality

Over the next few weeks (months?) I’ll be presenting a series of reviews of some of the major models in Decision Theory, a branch of both Economics and Political Science that has been on the rise for over 30 years. All of the models attempt to explain why humans act the way that they [...]

Experimental Economics on the RISE

Want proof … look at the graph!

Human Behavioral Ecology Bibliography

Here’s a link to a huge list of papers on Human Behavioral Ecology.  It’s the study of how humans behave from an evolutionary point of view, including (from the Anthro page at UCSB):

social and economic aspects of cooperation;
testing models of human longevity
social learning of subsistence and social strategies
human foraging behavior
evolution of human growth and ecological [...]

Senate Race: Merkley Ahead in Oregon

Here in Oregon, the race for President is less interesting than the race for congressional seats.  Obama is the clear winner here.
But, it’s been a battle for the senate.  According to Pollster.com, Merkley is ahead of the incumbant Republican Senator Gordon Smith by nearly 5 points.
Nationally it’s still tight, but the Dem’s seem to have [...]