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Kenneth Boyd

Ken Boyd holds a PhD in philosophy from the University of Toronto. His philosophical work concerns the ways that we can best make sure that we learn from one another, and what goes wrong when we don’t. You can read more about his work at kennethboyd.wordpress.com

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Psychology

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9 Oct 2020

Bad Science, Bad Science Reporting

The problems of design and bias within scientific studies are only amplified by the way news outlets choose to frame findings.

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COVID-19

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22 Sep 2020

Anti-Maskers and the Dangers of Collective Endorsement

Anonymity in the online environment renders expertise obsolete. Do facts stand a chance?

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It’s Just a Game: The Ethics of Tom Clancy’s Not-So-Elite Squad

Video games may not directly incite violence, but that doesn't mean they can't still send dangerous messages.

3 Sep 2020

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Morality Pills Aren't Enough

Empathy may not be the only obstacle standing in the way of depoliticizing mask use.

21 Aug 2020

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Clifford and the Coronavirus

(Mis)Management of the virus raises important questions about belief-formation and accountability.

13 Aug 2020

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Parler and the Problems of a “Free Speech” Social Network

Does the airing of slanted and inaccurate views really get us any closer to the truth? Is censorship really so detrimental to meaningful public debate?

15 Jul 2020

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Lies, Damned Lies, and Statistics

Statistics have long been manipulated and misrepresented. Numbers rarely speak for themselves, and (intentionally or not) we don't speak well for them.

24 Jun 2020

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AMC, Face Masks, and Avoiding Political Controversy

We bemoan politicization, but we must acknowledge that our policies and statements send a message even if unintentional.

22 Jun 2020

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Pandemic Beliefs and Lost Causes

Speaking only to one's faithful followers is not an effective strategy for solving collective action problems, but it takes a good deal of courage to not give up.

28 May 2020

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Conspiracy Theories and Emotions in the Time of Coronavirus

We need to rethink our relation to the news; the common ways we acquire and share information is tapping into some of our worst impulses.

18 May 2020

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Pseudoscience, Antiscience, and Bad Coronavirus Advice

Is there a meaningful distinction between loose science and antiscientific sentiment? Is it just a matter of intent?

27 Apr 2020

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Homesickness in a Time of Global Sickness

Where can we find a home to ease our existential angst in these Absurd times?

23 Apr 2020

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Swamping, Epistemic Trespassing, and Coronavirus

With just one news story occupying so much of our attention, we become more susceptible to manipulation.

27 Mar 2020

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Infodemics and Good Epistemic Hygiene

With the overwhelming amount of (mis)information circulating on social media, it becomes vitally important that all of us be working from the same set of facts.

10 Mar 2020

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Twitter Bots and Trust

The anonymity surrounding users' twitter accounts make it extremely difficult to determine the reliability of information. How should we proceed?

26 Feb 2020

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Unpacking Our Guilty Pleasures

There are a multitude of pleasures that we might feel bad about engaging in, but not all activities carry the same moral weight. And many are not simply a private affair.

7 Feb 2020

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Twitter and Disinformation

Proposed changes to Twitter raise interesting questions about community policing, the resilience of truth, and the value of the platform.

29 Jan 2020

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Dry January

Abstinence regimes marking the new year can sometimes backfire, and asceticism isn't always a virtue.

10 Jan 2020

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Search Engines and Data Voids

The internet is awash with misinformation; internet browsers are not created equal, and search engines don't deliver identical results.

27 Dec 2019

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Christmas Music and Emotional Manipulation

Songs like Band Aid's "Do They Know It's Christmas" attempt to harness holiday sentiment to support charitable causes. Should they?

23 Dec 2019

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Impeachment Hearings and Changing Your Mind

Fact-finding endeavors like the impeachment hearings highlight our inability to keep an open mind. From confirmation bias to selective perception, we possess all sorts of bulwarks for our beliefs.

25 Nov 2019

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CRISPR and the Ethics of Science Hype

Sensationalism of budding science and developing technology is only becoming more exaggerated. And CRISPR is no exception.

5 Nov 2019

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