Rob Sica
@robsica.bsky.social
Knowledge would have little allure if we did not have to overcome so much shame on the way to acquiring it. -Nietzsche
Reposted by Rob Sica
🔪"if Nietzsche’s philosophy is to be taken seriously, theorists must resist the temptation to regard genealogical critique as an unproblematic vehicle of emancipation or empowerment"
James S. Pearson, Nietzsche and the Limits of Genealogical Critique - PhilPapers
Nietzsche presents genealogical critique as a tool for promoting human flourishing, which might suggest that he regarded it as unconditionally beneficial. However, I argue that Nietzsche at times sugg...
philpapers.org
February 9, 2026 at 5:15 PM
🔪"if Nietzsche’s philosophy is to be taken seriously, theorists must resist the temptation to regard genealogical critique as an unproblematic vehicle of emancipation or empowerment"
"In fact, it is often when and because certain novel technologies (including those that enable computer-mediated communication) mitigate the negative effects of other evolutionary mismatches that they are appealing and become cross-culturally ubiquitous."
This + Eli's other piece (Where do the children play) coincides with my PsychReview paper's point - anthropology sheds new insights into the social media-mental health debate: tinyurl.com/yn3h6mky
My paper is long + Eli's writing is vivid, so better to check his Substack out for the value of anthro
My paper is long + Eli's writing is vivid, so better to check his Substack out for the value of anthro
February 12, 2026 at 9:40 AM
"In fact, it is often when and because certain novel technologies (including those that enable computer-mediated communication) mitigate the negative effects of other evolutionary mismatches that they are appealing and become cross-culturally ubiquitous."
🚸"Far from being passive recipients of care, children are active evolutionary agents adapted to extract maximum resources from their environment... children are adapted to exploit parents and siblings"
Gentle parenting is doomed to fail
<p><em>Children are active evolutionary agents adapted to extract the maximum resources from their environment, argues evolutionary psychologist <strong>Maryanne Fisher</strong>. She reveals why paren...
iai.tv
February 12, 2026 at 2:28 AM
🚸"Far from being passive recipients of care, children are active evolutionary agents adapted to extract maximum resources from their environment... children are adapted to exploit parents and siblings"
Reposted by Rob Sica
Here is my commentary on the forthcoming BBS paper about core perception:
** Perception at the root of language **
"..if perception is understood in the ‘rich’ or ‘sophisticated’ way argued for in the target article, then one of its domains is ostension."
osf.io/preprints/ps...
** Perception at the root of language **
"..if perception is understood in the ‘rich’ or ‘sophisticated’ way argued for in the target article, then one of its domains is ostension."
osf.io/preprints/ps...
February 11, 2026 at 7:45 PM
Here is my commentary on the forthcoming BBS paper about core perception:
** Perception at the root of language **
"..if perception is understood in the ‘rich’ or ‘sophisticated’ way argued for in the target article, then one of its domains is ostension."
osf.io/preprints/ps...
** Perception at the root of language **
"..if perception is understood in the ‘rich’ or ‘sophisticated’ way argued for in the target article, then one of its domains is ostension."
osf.io/preprints/ps...
"joins a growing body of literature... despite the prevailing view that women are likely less sexually satisfied than men, the current research suggests that women report slightly greater sexual satisfaction than men in the context of romantic relationships"
Women Are Slightly More Sexually Satisfied in Their Romantic Relationships Than Men: An Integrative Data Analytic Approach - Archives of Sexual Behavior
Sexual satisfaction is a common goal within romantic relationships that contributes to individual and relational well-being. Yet, theoretical perspectives, and even popular assumptions, suggest that w...
link.springer.com
February 11, 2026 at 5:33 PM
"joins a growing body of literature... despite the prevailing view that women are likely less sexually satisfied than men, the current research suggests that women report slightly greater sexual satisfaction than men in the context of romantic relationships"
"It is certain, even if not everyone has yet come to see it, that #Nietzsche was the greatest moral philosopher of the past century."
-Bernard Williams, 1981
-Bernard Williams, 1981
What’s Wrong with Political Philosophy? Learning from Bernard Williams and Judith Shklar
263
www.ppfideas.com
February 11, 2026 at 5:25 PM
"It is certain, even if not everyone has yet come to see it, that #Nietzsche was the greatest moral philosopher of the past century."
-Bernard Williams, 1981
-Bernard Williams, 1981
Reposted by Rob Sica
This argues that a popular approach to science communication is best understood as a form of propaganda. It's a synthesis of my interest in the ethics of science communication and my new-found interest in propaganda. I try to connect this with science scepticism, though that might be a stretch.
Science Communication as Propaganda
A Strategic Approach to Manufacturing Consensus
open.substack.com
February 11, 2026 at 1:18 PM
This argues that a popular approach to science communication is best understood as a form of propaganda. It's a synthesis of my interest in the ethics of science communication and my new-found interest in propaganda. I try to connect this with science scepticism, though that might be a stretch.
"[T]he ideologue regards their own worldview as an accurate depiction of reality and, therefore, without any need of further explanation. The overt similarities between liberalism and SJ ideology, and the obvious differences that separate them from conservative ideologies, encourage such thinking."
Why Have Academics Failed To Study Social Justice Ideology?
This is a guest post by Thomas Prosser (who writes at The Path Not Taken) and Edmund King (who writes at Paroxysms) about their very interesting new book, Beyond Woke and Anti-Woke: Explaining the Ris...
www.conspicuouscognition.com
February 11, 2026 at 1:00 PM
"[T]he ideologue regards their own worldview as an accurate depiction of reality and, therefore, without any need of further explanation. The overt similarities between liberalism and SJ ideology, and the obvious differences that separate them from conservative ideologies, encourage such thinking."
Reposted by Rob Sica
My reflections on going viral for challenging pro-immigration orthodoxy: what I learned, what I should have done differently, and why I'm still convinced telling the truth matters even when colleagues fear it gives ammunition to the other side.
Reflections on “The Uncomfortable Truths about Immigration”
What I learned, what I got wrong, and answers to the most common questions.
alexanderkustov.substack.com
February 10, 2026 at 10:27 PM
My reflections on going viral for challenging pro-immigration orthodoxy: what I learned, what I should have done differently, and why I'm still convinced telling the truth matters even when colleagues fear it gives ammunition to the other side.
Reposted by Rob Sica
Why am I putting this here? As a warning. Because I still hear the claim cited – including among journalists and media executives – despite resting on foundations of sand. It may be true that many organisations have struggled to generate meaningful returns from generative AI.
February 11, 2026 at 10:06 AM
Why am I putting this here? As a warning. Because I still hear the claim cited – including among journalists and media executives – despite resting on foundations of sand. It may be true that many organisations have struggled to generate meaningful returns from generative AI.
"the very mechanisms that promote prosocial behavior within groups can be hijacked to elicit unethical conduct starting in early childhood"
Reciprocity norms can promote dishonesty in children
Abstract. Individuals sometimes engage in dishonest behavior to help others rather than to benefit themselves. The present research examines whether this f
academic.oup.com
February 11, 2026 at 3:39 AM
"the very mechanisms that promote prosocial behavior within groups can be hijacked to elicit unethical conduct starting in early childhood"
"A better understanding of the shallow and improvised nature of our thinking may help—often, attempting to look deep inside ourselves can create some illusory problems for ourselves."
This Man Says the Mind Has No Depths
Nick Chater argues our brain is a storyteller, not a reporter from an inner world.
nautil.us
February 11, 2026 at 3:34 AM
"A better understanding of the shallow and improvised nature of our thinking may help—often, attempting to look deep inside ourselves can create some illusory problems for ourselves."
Reposted by Rob Sica
Asked Claude to conduct an Ideological Epistemic Analysis (IEA) of the 2024 American Psychologist article 'Racism in Counseling and Psychotherapy: Illuminate and Disarm':
"hallmarks of ideological capture"
claude.ai/share/01ff6f...
"hallmarks of ideological capture"
claude.ai/share/01ff6f...
February 11, 2026 at 2:02 AM
Asked Claude to conduct an Ideological Epistemic Analysis (IEA) of the 2024 American Psychologist article 'Racism in Counseling and Psychotherapy: Illuminate and Disarm':
"hallmarks of ideological capture"
claude.ai/share/01ff6f...
"hallmarks of ideological capture"
claude.ai/share/01ff6f...
Reposted by Rob Sica
Many people were extremely generous - but no more than you'd expect in any other human population.
We think these results provide a timely corrective to the enduring tendency to put Hunter-Gatherer societies on a pedestal.
We think these results provide a timely corrective to the enduring tendency to put Hunter-Gatherer societies on a pedestal.
February 10, 2026 at 7:14 PM
Many people were extremely generous - but no more than you'd expect in any other human population.
We think these results provide a timely corrective to the enduring tendency to put Hunter-Gatherer societies on a pedestal.
We think these results provide a timely corrective to the enduring tendency to put Hunter-Gatherer societies on a pedestal.
🔪"Compared to local conditions, mainstream DEI concerns might be viewed by some communities as 'first-world problems'"
journals.sagepub.com/eprint/8V3UN...
journals.sagepub.com/eprint/8V3UN...
February 10, 2026 at 10:50 PM
🔪"Compared to local conditions, mainstream DEI concerns might be viewed by some communities as 'first-world problems'"
journals.sagepub.com/eprint/8V3UN...
journals.sagepub.com/eprint/8V3UN...
🔪"Against those who suggest that the liberal science system or critical scientific attitude effectively functions to mitigate ideological biases even amidst ideological homogeneity... some areas of social science are epistemically distorted by ideological capture"
callieburt.org/publications/
callieburt.org/publications/
February 10, 2026 at 10:23 PM
🔪"Against those who suggest that the liberal science system or critical scientific attitude effectively functions to mitigate ideological biases even amidst ideological homogeneity... some areas of social science are epistemically distorted by ideological capture"
callieburt.org/publications/
callieburt.org/publications/
"a controversial proclamation, such as an expression of prejudice in the service of a social cause, might be an especially strong signal that someone cares greatly about a cause"
Justifying antisemitism: political liberalism and perceptions of prejudices - ePrints Soton
eprints.soton.ac.uk
February 10, 2026 at 9:08 PM
"a controversial proclamation, such as an expression of prejudice in the service of a social cause, might be an especially strong signal that someone cares greatly about a cause"
Yesterday, this excellent pair of insightful papers on #Nietzsche popped up...
February 10, 2026 at 8:59 PM
Yesterday, this excellent pair of insightful papers on #Nietzsche popped up...
"Although there has been some inclination to blame universities for corrupting the young, most of us who teach 1st-year courses will have observed that students are coming to us with already well-formed illiberal ideas, which we must challenge them to reconsider"
The Unexpected Persistence of John Rawls
We walk in the garden of his ideas.
www.persuasion.community
February 10, 2026 at 6:37 PM
"Although there has been some inclination to blame universities for corrupting the young, most of us who teach 1st-year courses will have observed that students are coming to us with already well-formed illiberal ideas, which we must challenge them to reconsider"
🔪"'Pro-social' preferences is a hypothesis not an unavoidable conclusion."
What the replication of experiments does and doesn’t achieve - HBES
– by Stuart West & Max Burton-Chellew Replication or repeating of experiments is a key part of the scientific methodology. It increases your trust in that result. It shows that the result was not just...
www.hbes.com
February 10, 2026 at 5:44 PM
🔪"'Pro-social' preferences is a hypothesis not an unavoidable conclusion."
Reposted by Rob Sica
In our new Evolution and Human Behavior paper, we examine the social function of uniquely human intelligence 🧠 Give it a read!
sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
Thanks to my coauthors: Leif Kennair and @thomaskleppesto.bsky.social
sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
Thanks to my coauthors: Leif Kennair and @thomaskleppesto.bsky.social
https://sciencedirect.com/science/articl…
February 10, 2026 at 5:22 PM
In our new Evolution and Human Behavior paper, we examine the social function of uniquely human intelligence 🧠 Give it a read!
sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
Thanks to my coauthors: Leif Kennair and @thomaskleppesto.bsky.social
sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
Thanks to my coauthors: Leif Kennair and @thomaskleppesto.bsky.social
Reposted by Rob Sica
This week, Clark Barrett takes us on a tour of different ways to think about the mental.
youtu.be/HS9nypnRcfw?...
podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/e...
www.podbean.com/eas/pb-j2ukn...
youtu.be/HS9nypnRcfw?...
podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/e...
www.podbean.com/eas/pb-j2ukn...
Views of Mind with Clark Barrett
YouTube video by Evolutionary Psychology (The Podcast)
youtu.be
February 10, 2026 at 1:43 PM
This week, Clark Barrett takes us on a tour of different ways to think about the mental.
youtu.be/HS9nypnRcfw?...
podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/e...
www.podbean.com/eas/pb-j2ukn...
youtu.be/HS9nypnRcfw?...
podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/e...
www.podbean.com/eas/pb-j2ukn...
"In placing human agents—and their evolved interests—at the heart of cultural dynamics, the ecological approach to culture [...] reclaims the original power of inclusive fitness theory that grounded the evolutionary study of behavior"
Reconciling Our Three Traditions: Human Behavioral Ecology, Evolutionary Psychology, and Cultural Evolution - HBES
– by Nicolas Baumard & Jean-Baptiste André The evolutionary social sciences are grounded in the idea that evolutionary theory provides a unified framework to explain human behavior, including social n...
www.hbes.com
February 10, 2026 at 1:32 PM
"In placing human agents—and their evolved interests—at the heart of cultural dynamics, the ecological approach to culture [...] reclaims the original power of inclusive fitness theory that grounded the evolutionary study of behavior"
"[O]ne does best to separate an artist [or philosopher] from his work, not taking him as seriously as his work. He is, after all, only the precondition of his work, the womb, the soil, sometimes the dung and manure on which, out of which, it grows" #Nietzsche
Controversial art and controversial artists
Bad people can make good things
hilariusbookbinder.substack.com
February 10, 2026 at 1:00 PM
"[O]ne does best to separate an artist [or philosopher] from his work, not taking him as seriously as his work. He is, after all, only the precondition of his work, the womb, the soil, sometimes the dung and manure on which, out of which, it grows" #Nietzsche