John Terrell
@jteddyt.bsky.social
Dog-lover, anthropologist, author, and PieMaker. Editor of the Berghahn Books series 𝗘𝗫𝗣𝗟𝗔𝗡𝗔𝗧𝗜𝗢𝗡𝗦 𝗜𝗡 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗦𝗢𝗖𝗜𝗔𝗟 𝗦𝗖𝗜𝗘𝗡𝗖𝗘𝗦.
Look at what made it to the top of the sales pitch! Sex, Risk, and Society . . . the first volume in the new Explanations in the Social Sciences series.
November 17, 2025 at 3:38 PM
Look at what made it to the top of the sales pitch! Sex, Risk, and Society . . . the first volume in the new Explanations in the Social Sciences series.
Chapter 2 in the book I am writing on the evolution of stupidity is called "Confronting Human Nature." This figure distinguishes between (a) "perception" and (b) "attention," and how our (c) "expectations" are the realm of dreams, fantasies, and delusions. "Cost" = metabolic cost. I hope it works.
November 16, 2025 at 8:05 PM
Chapter 2 in the book I am writing on the evolution of stupidity is called "Confronting Human Nature." This figure distinguishes between (a) "perception" and (b) "attention," and how our (c) "expectations" are the realm of dreams, fantasies, and delusions. "Cost" = metabolic cost. I hope it works.
I have added another folk idea
October 27, 2025 at 7:21 PM
I have added another folk idea
Cynic that I am . . .
October 27, 2025 at 4:20 PM
Cynic that I am . . .
A first run at making a table for the final chapter of the book on the evolution of stupidity I am writing.
October 26, 2025 at 1:40 AM
A first run at making a table for the final chapter of the book on the evolution of stupidity I am writing.
In the last chapter of the book on the evolution of stupidity I want to return to the Truth Test to show how hard it is to know what is really involved, etc. I've created two visual versions.
If you trust the source, it sounds possible, and fits your beliefs, then it is true. © John Edward Terrell
If you trust the source, it sounds possible, and fits your beliefs, then it is true. © John Edward Terrell
August 27, 2025 at 10:19 PM
In the last chapter of the book on the evolution of stupidity I want to return to the Truth Test to show how hard it is to know what is really involved, etc. I've created two visual versions.
If you trust the source, it sounds possible, and fits your beliefs, then it is true. © John Edward Terrell
If you trust the source, it sounds possible, and fits your beliefs, then it is true. © John Edward Terrell
I think these new definitions in the book-in-the-works on the evolution of stupidity may help . . . I won't be including the illustration with these definitions.
August 24, 2025 at 4:23 PM
I think these new definitions in the book-in-the-works on the evolution of stupidity may help . . . I won't be including the illustration with these definitions.
Same book being written about human nature. Which cover works best for you?
August 19, 2025 at 3:54 PM
Same book being written about human nature. Which cover works best for you?
I am continuing to see if I can "show" and not just "tell" what your brain is doing, and why so many seem content to stop at BELIEVE. The text will add that another word for "identify" is "assume."
August 17, 2025 at 5:53 PM
I am continuing to see if I can "show" and not just "tell" what your brain is doing, and why so many seem content to stop at BELIEVE. The text will add that another word for "identify" is "assume."
It's beginning to take shape for sure.
August 15, 2025 at 5:11 PM
It's beginning to take shape for sure.
When a manuscript is submitted to Berghahn, the authors are asked to make suggestions about possible cover art. This is a real challenge for the book John Hoopes, Stephen Acabado, and I are writing about belief. Maybe this?
Photo by form PxHere
Photo by form PxHere
August 13, 2025 at 4:15 PM
When a manuscript is submitted to Berghahn, the authors are asked to make suggestions about possible cover art. This is a real challenge for the book John Hoopes, Stephen Acabado, and I are writing about belief. Maybe this?
Photo by form PxHere
Photo by form PxHere
I think this is an improved (and more appealing) version of this "belief quiz" for the book on belief.
August 10, 2025 at 4:17 PM
I think this is an improved (and more appealing) version of this "belief quiz" for the book on belief.
My inner Alice had a brainstorm last night, and one of the ideas she came up with was this one. AI = Artificial Belief.
August 8, 2025 at 1:44 PM
My inner Alice had a brainstorm last night, and one of the ideas she came up with was this one. AI = Artificial Belief.
Look what I just plucked from the mails today.
August 7, 2025 at 9:03 PM
Look what I just plucked from the mails today.
I think I have put together a good lead image for the conclusion to the book on what makes us human. In the book "ignorance" simply means "lack of knowledge."
August 5, 2025 at 2:51 PM
I think I have put together a good lead image for the conclusion to the book on what makes us human. In the book "ignorance" simply means "lack of knowledge."
I have reworked one of the figures for the conclusion of the book I am writing about human nature.
𝗙𝗶𝗴𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝟰.𝟯. (a) Creative thinking: forming beliefs. (b) Categorical thinking: relying on habitual answers. (c) Relational thinking: looking for consequences.
𝗙𝗶𝗴𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝟰.𝟯. (a) Creative thinking: forming beliefs. (b) Categorical thinking: relying on habitual answers. (c) Relational thinking: looking for consequences.
July 30, 2025 at 1:39 PM
I have reworked one of the figures for the conclusion of the book I am writing about human nature.
𝗙𝗶𝗴𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝟰.𝟯. (a) Creative thinking: forming beliefs. (b) Categorical thinking: relying on habitual answers. (c) Relational thinking: looking for consequences.
𝗙𝗶𝗴𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝟰.𝟯. (a) Creative thinking: forming beliefs. (b) Categorical thinking: relying on habitual answers. (c) Relational thinking: looking for consequences.
I am obviously having fun, but serious fun. I need a chapter opening image for the Conclusion to the book I am writing on what makes us human. This image builds on the previous imagery in the book and maybe (?) has a bit of exotic appeal? Tentative title: SCIENCE AND SUPERSTITION.
July 28, 2025 at 6:06 PM
I am obviously having fun, but serious fun. I need a chapter opening image for the Conclusion to the book I am writing on what makes us human. This image builds on the previous imagery in the book and maybe (?) has a bit of exotic appeal? Tentative title: SCIENCE AND SUPERSTITION.
I think I have figured out how to show and not just tell in the book I am writing about human nature what I am calling "thought styles." (a) categorical; (b) relational; (c) belief; and (d) habitual. The MAGA crowd is strong on (d).
July 28, 2025 at 4:03 PM
I think I have figured out how to show and not just tell in the book I am writing about human nature what I am calling "thought styles." (a) categorical; (b) relational; (c) belief; and (d) habitual. The MAGA crowd is strong on (d).
Although I am not sure I can get away with in the book I am writing, but definitions of what is a "belief" almost always make BELIEF something that is the opposite of something else called TRUTH. This makes truth something that is "out there" rather than something we have to work at "having."
July 26, 2025 at 1:55 PM
Although I am not sure I can get away with in the book I am writing, but definitions of what is a "belief" almost always make BELIEF something that is the opposite of something else called TRUTH. This makes truth something that is "out there" rather than something we have to work at "having."
I have come up with what I am calling the "Truth Test." The vast amount of evidence supporting the truth of this test supplied nowadays by Donald J. Truimp is truly overwhelming. "If you trust the source, it sounds possible, and fits your beliefs, then it is true."
July 23, 2025 at 12:23 AM
I have come up with what I am calling the "Truth Test." The vast amount of evidence supporting the truth of this test supplied nowadays by Donald J. Truimp is truly overwhelming. "If you trust the source, it sounds possible, and fits your beliefs, then it is true."
Look what just arrived in the mail!
July 15, 2025 at 3:10 PM
Look what just arrived in the mail!
One of the distinctions made in the book I am working on with Stephen Acabado and John Hoopes about belief is that there is a real difference between assumptions and beliefs. Google AI and XI Grok do a shitty job of saying what it is. Shows that AI isn't about intelligence but canned responses.
July 6, 2025 at 3:46 PM
One of the distinctions made in the book I am working on with Stephen Acabado and John Hoopes about belief is that there is a real difference between assumptions and beliefs. Google AI and XI Grok do a shitty job of saying what it is. Shows that AI isn't about intelligence but canned responses.
I think I've got a better title for the book I am working on. Chapter 3 is devoted to 3 case studies.
Nature: revitalization movements, MAGA, and Constitutional Originalism
Nurture: The Continental Convention, religion
Choice: LGBT+, castrati, transvestism, transexualism, drag queens, etc.
Nature: revitalization movements, MAGA, and Constitutional Originalism
Nurture: The Continental Convention, religion
Choice: LGBT+, castrati, transvestism, transexualism, drag queens, etc.
June 29, 2025 at 5:36 PM
I think I've got a better title for the book I am working on. Chapter 3 is devoted to 3 case studies.
Nature: revitalization movements, MAGA, and Constitutional Originalism
Nurture: The Continental Convention, religion
Choice: LGBT+, castrati, transvestism, transexualism, drag queens, etc.
Nature: revitalization movements, MAGA, and Constitutional Originalism
Nurture: The Continental Convention, religion
Choice: LGBT+, castrati, transvestism, transexualism, drag queens, etc.
An important book that gives a powerful message about indigenous knowledge and the critical importance of acknowledging our global diversity.
June 27, 2025 at 12:36 AM
An important book that gives a powerful message about indigenous knowledge and the critical importance of acknowledging our global diversity.
June 6, 2025 at 12:53 PM