Why Descartes should have stuck to math.

I doubt you will find any argument from any philosopher, scientist, or mathematician that Descartes wasn't brilliant.

With that said, I would like to show why he was merely a subpar philosopher.

The pineal gland is an area of the brain that really wasn't understood until recently, but just because you don't know its purpose doesn't mean you can simply throw your metaphysical theories into it. In "Meditations On First Philosophy" Descartes refers to the pineal gland as the "seat of the soul." Descartes entire philosophy was centered around the soul and the body; however, he was never able to explain how the two coincided.

Out of desperation he looked to the pineal gland to solve his paradox. Its function was unknown at the time, so he decided that it was the perfect spot for the soul and body to interact and "do their thing." Even in this time period most people told him that this hypothesis was nothing more than crap.

This is exactly why philosophy depends on science and not the other way around. Just like how any philosophy about the origin of man, the morality of man, or the purpose of man written before 1859 CE should not be taken seriously and only read to understand the philosophy of an unfortunate, pre-Darwinian era.

Next Time Someone Tells You That Homosexuality Isn't "Natural"

I was recently watching a documentary on gay marriage and the main argument against it seemed to be that homosexuality just wasn't natural.

On a side note, the misuse of the word "natural" really drives me crazy. To me, "natural" simply describes anything that occurs in nature. I just want to scream when somebody tells me that they believe in the supernatural. I usually nicely try to explain that if aliens, psychics, gods, etc. actually exist, then they are, by definition, natural. (Semantics are important to me!)

But back to the main topic.
I did a quick search and found several cases of homosexuality (this is including bisexuality) that occur in nature.

1. Bonobo Chimps

"Homosexuality has been documented in almost 500 species of animals, signaling that sexual preference is predetermined. Considered the closest living relative to humans, bonobos are not shy about seeking sexual pleasure. Nearly all of these peace-loving apes are bisexual and often resolve conflict by the "make love, not war" principle. They copulate frequently, scream out in delight while doing so, and often engage in homosexual activities. About two thirds of the homosexual activities are amongst females."

2. Japanese Macaques

"Males also take to homosexual play but tend to leave their partner soon after, making it what we call in the human world a one night stand."

3. Bottlenose Dolphins

"Homosexual activity occurs with about the same frequency as heterosexual play amongst these marine mammals. Male bottlenose dolphins are generally bisexual, but they go through periods of being exclusively homosexual. The homosexual activities of these mammals include oral sex during which time one dolphin stimulates the other with its snout. Males also rub their erect penises against the body of their partner."

4. Guinan-Cock-of-the-Rock

"Males of this stunning perching bird delight in homosexuality. Almost 40 percent of the male population engages in a form of homosexual activity and a small percentage don't ever copulate with females."

These are just a few of the many examples I was able to find. So, not only is homosexuality natural (by my definition at least) but it also occurs in nature. If nature and natural selection allow for homosexuality, it only seems "natural" that we follow suit.


Here's a video to check out of three male dolphins together....if you want to see it