My Contribution
This page contains links to talks, papers or web pages that I have researched and written over the years which have commented on bad information, truth and lies, and the Internet and artificial intelligence. I write from a humanist perspective and have included a couple of pieces on humanism below for those who might be interested to know more about humanist philosophy.
1 Challenging Conundrums
Modern life is complicated; and whilst most of us want to be good citizens, it’s not always easy to know what course of action is ‘for the best’. What is not in doubt is that humanity is facing some unprecedented challenges as a result of rapid technological advance (the ‘Fourth Industrial Revolution’) coupled with competition for natural resources and growing geopolitical tensions — and the very real possibility of (more) zoonotic pandemics, a Sixth Mass Extinction and irreparable damage to the planet as a result of pollution and human-induced climate change.
Today it is difficult not to feel intimidated by these developments, including existential threats, but how do we stave off anxiety and give people, especially the young, hope for the future and the will to fight for a better world? The papers in this section represent an attempt to examine some of the many conundrums that are hindering people’s efforts to tackle the problems and protect the planet in what has become an increasingly unpredictable and unstable world.
2 The Internet
3 Bad Information & Lies
Apr 2015
Jul 2018
Oct 2018
Jan 2021
Here's the full version of 'Confronting Bad Information'.
4 Truth & Values
2003
Apr 2018
May 2017
Nov 2019
5 Humanist Perspectives
"Humanism involves far more than the negation of supernaturalism. It requires an affirmative philosophy…translated into a life devoted to one's own improvement and the service of all mankind." Corliss Lamont
If you are interested in how humanists interpret developments / events, you might like to follow Milton Keynes Humanists' Facebook
page
(which I manage). It is livestreaming below. I've also included a short note on humanism in the Annexe.
Aug 2015
Sep 2016
Feb 2019
Mar 2019
6 Miscellaneous Information
This section has historical information on initiatives that worked for years to provide sound advice to those campainging for change, or education and quality information to poor and under-privileged groups in the UK and elsewhere.
Annex: Humanism Explained
"Being a Humanist means trying to behave decently without expectation of rewards or punishment after you are dead." Kurt Vonnegut
"The humanist enterprise (small h) is an individual one, about accepting full responsibility for one's existence and behavior as a part of the natural world — a position that involves liberating oneself from dependence upon others for finding a positive purpose in life. The Humanist enterprise (capital H) is to encourage and assist as many folks as possible to make this transition to maturity in their lives." Don Page
Most humanists would agree with the following, that:
• human beings can live ethical and fulfilling lives without religious beliefs;
• human beings can live ethical and fulfilling lives without religious beliefs;
• we derive our moral code from the lessons of history, personal experience and thought;
• the material universe is the only thing that exists — there are no supernatural beings;
• science provides the only reliable source of knowledge about this universe;
• we only live this life — there is no after-life, and no such thing as reincarnation.
• the material universe is the only thing that exists — there are no supernatural beings;
• science provides the only reliable source of knowledge about this universe;
• we only live this life — there is no after-life, and no such thing as reincarnation.
For a more indepth analysis check out the Humanists UK
website.
Notes
1 This is 'work in progress'.
2 David Dismore Comey was a highly effective American evironmental lobbyist who regularly crossed swords with the Atomic Industrial Forum. He developed his principles for a presentation he was invited to make to the Forum in 1975. [They wanted to know the secret of his success.] Comey concluded his talk with the folowing words: "I have told you all you need to know [to present your case for nuclear power], but I doubt that more than a handful of you believe me, and I am reasonably confident not a one of you will use one bit of it." You can find Comey's actual talk here.
3 I set up the Powerful Information charity in 1990 and ran it (with a lot of help!) until stepping down in 2017.
