Recent additions to the Heap of Links…

Discussion welcome.
- “This is concrete evidence that brain microbiomes do exist in vertebrates… And so the idea that humans have a brain microbiome is not outlandish” — huge if true: “this would suggest an extra layer of neurological regulation that we didn’t know existed”
- “Telling your child that Santa really exists is unethical” — Joseph Millum (St. Andrews) explains why
- “Yes there are arguments against God’s existence, but against this is what is said by God Himself: ‘I AM THAT I AM’”. Ha ha ha. Oh, Aquinas, you joker — a small database of Scholastic “humor”, compiled by Boaz Faraday Schuman (KU Leuven) (via Peter Adamson)
- “I can imagine that it’s difficult having to almost pick apart your own philosophy.” “It’s not much fun. But on the other hand, you feel that you owe it to other people to do it.” — an interview with T.M. Scanlon (Harvard)
- Is this person is living an unexamined life, or are they just a very different kind of person? — an example that raises the question, from Brad Skow (MIT)
- It is said technology can change social values, but how exactly can this happen? — John Danaher (Galway) takes a look
- What did Adam Smith write in the margins of his copy of Locke’s Two Treatises? — visit Smith’s home in Kirkcaldy, Fife and find out
Also: don’t forget about this.


Definitely don’t tell your kids lies about Santa. Also never play with their toys to make them speak and act like real people. Your kid might tremendously enjoy these games, but it’s a lie and breaches their trust. Instead, tell them that their toys are nothing but lifeless bits of fabric stitched together and filled with foam. Even better, never buy them any toys that are not 100% realistic. After all, there are no blue monkeys, so there’s another breach of their trust…
Your comment is spot on, I am loving it. You forgot to nention cartoons, they can’t watch that. In fact, they can’t even watch most of the news coverings, poor truth seeking kids.