The Weekly SPI Fellows Update
by Julie Esris

Why has Europe and, more recently, America, been the dominant world power? The answer is not immediately obvious, and only a good understanding of history will provide us with the answer, argues historian, archeologist, author, and SPI Fellow Ian Morris. All this and more in the most recent episode of the podcast, Rationally Speaking. Ian Morris

Our new SPI Fellow, evolutionary biologist┬áDavid Sloan Wilson, joined journalist Robert Wright in a fascinating podcast about a number of interesting topics: How understanding evolution can improve the real world, why we believe silly things, and the role of religion and other “meaning systems”. ┬áSloanWilson

When Muslim women wear a veil, it is just a question of religious freedom, right? Not necessarily, argues political scientist, writer, and SPI Fellow Elham Manea. Learn more about why Manea argues for regulation of the veil in this insightful article, originally published in French.

Americans take pride in their right to freedom of speech. But where does freedom of speech end and empathy and responsibility begin? Is publicly smearing a someone by spreading sexual rumors an acceptable form of freedom of speech? Philosopher, author, and SPI Fellow Russell Blackford weighs in.

Sex therapist and SPI Fellow Marty Klein┬áis more than acutely aware about America’s odd hangup about sex. In America,┬áthere are a lot of pervasive misconceptions about sex, including misconceptions about pornography. In fact, says Klein, there are no fewer than nine major myths about pornography!