Why People Stand By

Why science cannot stand alone.

In an era in which certain arenas of scientific research have become increasingly controversial, this article critically evaluates what it means to "believe in science." Many scientists today seem to claim a sovereign right to no political interference under the rubric of freedom. This article questions such a notion, and explores the dominance of science and the silencing of moral voices by un...

Why people self-verify.

Why do people choose interaction partners who see them as they see themselves? Self-verification theorists propose that a desire to bolster perceptions of predictability and control underlies such activities. In contrast, advocates of positivity strivings argue that people choose such interaction partners in the hope of making themselves feel good. Two studies tested these competing explanation...

Why People Think

This paper is a Critical examination of the fundamental role thinking plays in human life. The theory presented here is derived from my previously published Critical theory of the phenomenon of mind 1 . An understanding of that theory is propaedeutic for the arguments and deductions presented in the present treatise. A glossary of technical terminology used here is available. 2 By analogy with ...

Why make people patients?

Why People Smoke

Smoking prevention has been on the agenda for health professionals and politicians, NGOs, Member States and the European Commission for several years now. Nevertheless, approximately one third of the adult population throughout Europe still smokes (this figure is lower in some countries, in others higher), despite the fact that people are fully aware of the risks of smoking and know that the ra...