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Are Lectures Effective? (Step 3)
ReadOasis Step 3 The professor stood in front of the class. He put his notes on a tall stand. The stand was in the middle of the room, and the professor could move around behind it. As he faced the class, there were many windows on his right. On... Read more
What Makes People Happy?
ReadOasis Step 2 Joy is late for work. She runs out the door in a hurry to catch the bus. As she runs, she sees her neighbor. The neighbor looks at Joy and smiles. He says, "Good morning Joy! Have a great day!" Joy says, "Thanks, you too!" And... Read more
Experience Flow
ReadOasis Step 2 Shaun White is a world famous snowboarder. Watch him slide down the pipe in slow motion. He goes up one side and flies into the air at an extreme height. Time stands still. Coming down, he gains speed and lands smoothly. Then he rises to the... Read more
Basic Tools for Good Thinking
ReadOasis Step 3 (Part 1) Cats and dogs have different philosophies. A dog thinks, "These people I live with feed me, love me, and take good care of me. They must be gods." But a cat thinks, "These people I live with feed me, love me, and take good... Read more
He’s Got the Blues (Step 3)
ReadOasis Step 3 Mathematician & Physicist, Isaac Newton People of all sorts have struggled with emotional problems. For example, Ludwig van Beethoven, Abraham Lincoln, and Isaac Newton all experienced bouts with the blues. That is, they all suffered at times from some form of depression. Look at the case of... Read more
The Science of Good (Step 2)
ReadOasis Step 2(Part 2) Evil needs to be studied. The obvious reason is that evil is bad. It damages people and society. But how does one study evil? One psychologist has found a way. His name is Simon Baron-Cohen, and he suggests that we can study evil by finding... Read more
The Science of Good (Step 2)
ReadOasis Step 2(Part 3) Baron-Cohen suggests that zero empathy can come from environmental, social, and genetic conditions. Lack of empathy influences many serious psychological disorders. Baron-Cohen calls these “empathy disorders.” Looking at empathy instead of evil might change how we treat people with empathy problems. Baron-Cohen’s work shows us... Read more
Basic Tools for Good Thinking
ReadOasis Step 3 (Part 2) In Part 1 of this story, we looked at deductive reasoning. We reasoned from a general premise to a conclusion. With inductive reasoning, we see events in the world; then we generalize about what we see. Here are some examples of inductive reasoning: This... Read more
The Science of Good (Step 3)
ReadOasis Step 3 (Part 2) Evil needs to be analyzed. The obvious reason is that evil is hurtful. It damages people and society. But how does one study evil? One psychologist has found a way. His name is Simon Baron-Cohen, and he suggests that we can investigate evil by... Read more
The Science of Good (Step 3)
ReadOasis Step 3(Part 3) Baron-Cohen suggests that zero empathy can come from environmental, social, and genetic conditions. Lack of empathy influences many serious psychological disorders. Baron-Cohen calls these “empathy disorders.” Looking at empathy instead of evil might change how we treat people with empathy problems. Baron-Cohen’s work demonstrates to... Read more