Certainty and similar states of ‘knowing what we know’ arise out of involuntary brain mechanisms that, like love or anger, function independently… — Robert A. Burton Copy Share Image
Certainty is not biologically possible. We must learn (and teach our children) to tolerate the unpleasantness of uncertainty. Science has given us… — Robert A. Burton Copy Share Image
No one seriously doubts Socrates' maxim: The unexamined life isn't worth living. Self-assessment and attempts at self-improvement are essential aspects of "the good life."… — Robert A. Burton Copy Share Image
“the brain has developed a constellation of mental sensations that feel like thoughts but aren’t.” — Robert A. Burton Copy Share Image
“Imagine how different dialogue might be with future generations raised on the idea that there are biological constraints on our ability to know what… — Robert A. Burton Copy Share Image
“How different the science-religion controversy would be if we acknowledged that a deeply felt sense of purpose is as necessary as hunger and thirst… — Robert A. Burton Copy Share Image
Good science requires distinguishing between "felt knowledge" and knowledge arising out of testable observations. "I am sure" is a mental sensation, not a testable… — Robert A. Burton Copy Share Image
“Though not necessarily aware of when we feel purpose and meaning, we are nearly always aware of the sickening feeling when we don't possess… — Robert A. Burton Copy Share Image
Properly conducted scientific studies . . . give us a pretty good idea of when something is likely to be correct. To me, pretty… — Robert A. Burton Copy Share Image
“If a conservationist has more stathmin, less risk-taking gene, and the pro-drilling advocate has less stathmin, more risk-taking gene, how can the two have… — Robert A. Burton Copy Share Image
“The history of science is the back-and-forth movement of trial-and-error advances and retreats, punctuated by moments of brilliance and marred by periods of excess.” — Robert A. Burton Copy Share Image
Our mental limitations prevent us from accepting our mental limitations. — Robert A. Burton Copy Share Image
