All posts tagged: society

Humanists welcome PM’s pledge to work with civil society

Humanists welcome PM’s pledge to work with civil society

Humanists UK has welcomed the UK Government’s announcement of a new ‘Civil Society Covenant’, aimed at forging a stronger partnership between civil society and government. The Covenant, announced by Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy, seeks to harness the expertise of voluntary, community, social enterprises, and charities to address pressing social and economic challenges. Based on principles of transparency, recognition, participation, and partnership, it will act as a charter to improve collaboration in tackling complex social and economic issues across the UK. Andrew Copson, Chief Executive of Humanists UK, said: ‘We are delighted to have been part of the process in developing this new Covenant. Civil society organisations, including Humanists UK, occupy a unique position in public life. The Covenant acknowledges the importance of our work and lays the groundwork for more effective collaboration. With non-religious people volunteering at the roughly same rate as religious people, an inclusive approach to harnessing the power of civil society will prove essential.’ Announcing the new Covenant, Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy MP said: ‘The Covenant …

The Direct and Indirect Costs of Psychopaths on Society

The Direct and Indirect Costs of Psychopaths on Society

The cost of psychopathic damage is exorbitant and largely incalculable. There are direct costs that society incurs that can be estimated, but also incalculable indirect costs and consequential damages attributable to the victimization psychopaths cause. Indirect and intangible costs of psychopathic victimization Psychopaths are sensation seekers who do not respect the laws, manners, or mores of society.1 Psychopathic destruction impacts the victims and extends to their families, friends, and community. Psychopathy researcher J. Reid Meloy characterizes psychopaths as “destroyers of goodness.”2 Those victimized by psychopaths are often traumatized for the rest of their lives, impacting countless others. Psychopaths cause physical, mental, and emotional distress. The intangible costs coupled with indirect costs cannot be quantified. The emotional ruin of psychopathic victimization is incalculable By shattering the lives of their victims, psychopaths ruin happiness and spoil joy. They diminish hope, causing people to lose faith in others as well as in themselves. The costs of this type of harm in the wake of psychopathic destruction will never be known. The confusion and misery they create take an …

Navigating the Intersection of AI, Science, and Society

Navigating the Intersection of AI, Science, and Society

In an era where artificial intelligence (AI) is reshaping the landscape of scientific inquiry and public discourse, philosophers find themselves at a critical juncture. As public intellectuals, we are called upon to illuminate the ethical dimensions of technological progress and its impact on society. However, this role comes with its own set of ethical challenges, particularly when engaging with powerful tools like Large Language Models (LLMs) in our work and communication. The Challenges of AI-Assisted Philosophical Inquiry One of the most pressing ethical challenges in public philosophy today stems from the very tools we might use to enhance our work. LLMs offer unprecedented capabilities in synthesizing information, generating ideas, and even drafting content. Yet, as my colleague Brenden Meagher and I have explored over the past eighteen months, the uncritical adoption of these technologies in academic and public discourse can lead to what we term “slodderwetenschap” or sloppy science. As public philosophers, we face a challenge: How do we harness the potential of AI to enrich our discourse while maintaining the integrity and rigor that …

Marina Hyde on the ‘brave’ inciters of Britain’s race riots; lightning struck my plane and I plunged 3,000m; the delights of the dead hang – podcast | Life and style

Marina Hyde on the ‘brave’ inciters of Britain’s race riots; lightning struck my plane and I plunged 3,000m; the delights of the dead hang – podcast | Life and style

Where are you Tommy and Elon? Marina Hyde finds that those provoking the race riots are far, far away; the dead hang delight – how this quick, surprisingly simple exercise can change your life; and ‘A bolt of lightning struck my plane’ – one woman’s incredible story of survival How to listen to podcasts: everything you need to know Source link

Labour suspensions and the Tory leadership race – Politics Weekly UK | Politics

Labour suspensions and the Tory leadership race – Politics Weekly UK | Politics

Keir Starmer has suspended seven of his MPs who rebelled against the whip to scrap the two-child benefit cap. So why won’t Labour scrap the controversial limit, and what does this first test of Starmer’s leadership tell us about the party’s financial position? The Guardian’s John Harris is joined by columnist Gaby Hinsliff and former Downing Street chief of staff and Conservative peer Gavin Barwell to discuss the issue. Plus, the Conservative leadership race begins How to listen to podcasts: everything you need to know Source link

Is there any point in taking multivitamins? – podcast | Science

Is there any point in taking multivitamins? – podcast | Science

Multivitamins are cheap, convenient, and provide a little bit of reassurance if our diet isn’t quite as healthy as we’d like. But a recent study of nearly 400,000 people spanning 20 years found they didn’t help users live longer, and in fact appeared to show a 4% increased mortality risk. Ian Sample hears from JoAnn Manson, a professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School, to find out what the evidence tells us about the overall health benefits of multivitamins, and how consumers can navigate this large and sometimes confusing market How to listen to podcasts: everything you need to know Source link

The infection that affects half of women and its link to antibiotic resistance – podcast | Science

The infection that affects half of women and its link to antibiotic resistance – podcast | Science

Anyone who has had a urinary tract infection knows how agonising they can be. Some infections go away on their own, but many need antibiotics. Beneath the surface of this very common infection lie many mysteries, unanswered questions, and unnecessary suffering. And it gets to the heart of the challenge of tackling antimicrobial resistance. Madeleine Finlay speaks to Dr Jennifer Rohn, head of the centre for urological biology at University College London, about what we now understand about how UTIs take hold, and the complexity surrounding their treatment How to listen to podcasts: everything you need to know Source link

Are we in a new era of queer female pop? – podcast | Society

Are we in a new era of queer female pop? – podcast | Society

Archive: Tik Tok (lucyandlamer), YoutTube (Queer News Tonight), RuPaul’s Drag Race, Today, Instagram (finally_aaron), YouTube (Sabrina Carpenter All-Videos) Music featured: I Breathe Again, Adam Rickitt: written by Julian Gingel, Barry Stone; produced by Jewels and Stone; Polydor Records Outside, George Michael: written by George Michael; produced by George Michael and Jon Douglas; Epic Records I Want to Break Free, Queen: written by John Deacon; produced by Queen and Reinhold Mack; EMI Smalltown Boy, Bronski Beat: written by Steve Bronski, Jimmy Somerville, Larry Steinbachek; produced by Mike Thorne; London Recordings West End Girls, Pet Shop Boys: written by Neil Tennant and Chris Lowe; produced by Bobby Orlando; Bobcat Records High School Confidential, Rough Trade: written by Carol Pope and Kevan Staples; produced by Gene Martynec; True North records I Kissed a Girl, Katy Perry: written by Katy Perry, Lukasz Gottwald, Max Martin, Cathy Dennis; produced by Dr Luke and Benny Blanco; Capitol Records Girls, Rita Ora (ft Cardi B and Charlie XCX): composed by Ben Diehl, Jonny Coffer, Andrew Wotman; lyrics by Rita Ora, Pardison Fontaine, …