Words of Wisdom — December 17, 2014

Suffragist Jane Addams: Faith and Courage Have Maintained Humanity

“What after all, has maintained the human race on this old globe despite all the calamities of nature and all the tragic failings of mankind, if not faith in new possibilities, and courage to advocate them.”

bigthinkeditor

A weekly newsletter featuring the biggest ideas from the smartest people

Jane Addams (1860-1935) was a pioneer American social activist, author, public philosopher, and suffragist. In 1931, she became the first American woman to be awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. An icon of the Progressive Era, Addams was the founder of the social work profession in the United States.

“What after all, has maintained the human race on this old globe despite all the calamities of nature and all the tragic failings of mankind, if not faith in new possibilities, and courage to advocate them.”

from Peace and Bread in Time of War (1922), Chapter 7 : Personal Reactions During War

(h/t Wikiquote)

A weekly newsletter featuring the biggest ideas from the smartest people

Illustration of a person standing on a ladder inside a large head with a maze-like brain exposed, symbolizing introspection or exploration of the mind.

Neuropsych

Is teaching psychology a waste of time?

When appraising human behavior, people tend to forgo the lessons of psychology in favor of assumption and anecdote.

A red number 5 with orange flames extending from the left on a dark background, symbolizing the fiery drive to improve company culture.

Business

5 ways to rapidly improve your company culture

Don’t become one of those organizations that slouches toward positive behavioral change — here’s how to move fast.

Starts With A Bang

Have we found a galactic “twin” of the Milky Way?

Our galactic home in the cosmos — the Milky Way — is only one of trillions of galaxies within our Universe. Is one of them truly our “twin?”

Industrial landscape featuring large smokestacks and various structures of an oil refinery, some incorporating cutting-edge carbon removal technology, set under a cloudy sky.

The Present

Not all forms of carbon removal are created equal

The carbon market and offsetting system have created “carbon cowboys” and perpetuated forms of neo-colonialism and other inequities.

The letters "AI" appear with a glitch effect in multicolored pixels against a black background.

The Present

AI skeptic Gary Marcus on AI’s moral and technical shortcomings

The cognitive scientist argues the current AI environment is failing us as consumers and a society. But it’s not too late to change course.

Up Next

Surprising Science

Dads-to-Be Experience Prenatal Hormone Changes Too

Pregnancy comes with lots of changes–particularly for the mothers-to-be. But a new study reveals that men go through some hormonal changes along with their partners.