The philosophical concept of dualism claims the mind and body are separate, which raises an important question: how can the immaterial mind affect the material body and world? This “problem of causal interaction” has boggled philosophers everywhere. Some of them rationalise this using epiphenomenalism — the idea that our consciousness and our thoughts are ultimately pointless and add nothing to the physical world which we inhabit. Read full article here
Societal Issues
To curb drug deaths, communities turn to Reddit, texts and wastewater
With drug overdose deaths on the rise, authorities are attempting to curb the epidemic by tracking and sharing information in real time. In one unique effort, a nonprofit in New York City is using drug-testing equipment and stamping or marking habits of dealers to identify drug batches that may endanger users. Other approaches are also being used, such as monitoring drug-related chatter on Reddit and analyzing local wastewater for opioid and other drug levels. With the combination of these efforts, researchers hope to put a dent in the opioid crisis and reduce overdose deaths. Read full article here
Merv
June 1, 2023
