We, as a nation of over 300 million people do not really have a “gun problem” — whether as “protectors” of the second amendment or the “gun control people.” Instead, we have an obsession interwoven with racial tension and fears, and insecurities (the mythical “to defend myself”). Other developed nations, especially in Europe, own almost…
Nations, like humans as a group, pressuring and being pressured by leaders, often resort to foolish decisions which are not to their self-interest but are self-harming. A classic example for my readers is the impending exiting of the United Kingdom from the European Union passed by elections by an extremely small margin made up mainly…
All the doctors through the centuries have known it and they used it. We still do, but in a different way now. In the past we would give literally a pill of a harmless powder to our worrying patients and tell them that they will feel well by the next day. The pill was harmless…
Some Thoughts Regarding the Recent Tragic Events in Charlottesville, Virginia By Nicholas Pediaditakis, MD On my way to the farm where I raise Black Angus cows as a hobby, I asked my frequent companion, grandson Igor, who is a biochemist in Duke University, “What do you think of the state of our modern world?” He…
How society not only judges differently unusual behavior and uses treatments at different times, it also facilitates the emergence of different “mental disorders” in stressed individuals By Nicholas Pediaditakis, MD Society, at different times, depending on the prevailing “spirit of the times,” judges — and even punishes — strange or unusual behavior differently, as well…
The ancient Greeks, as usual, had a word for it, ου με πείσεις καν με πείσης — “You are not going to persuade me, even if you give me evidence to persuade me.” Established beliefs bring comfort and a sense of emotional certainty. They persist long after proven false and harmful by new evidence. Here are…
We erroneously have believed in the past that the knowledge of our inevitable death was an exclusive one for we humans. Now we do know that elephants for sure — and probably other high mammals (especially the great apes) — do know about being alive, have a sense of selfhood, and the knowledge of their…
We humans are above all social beings. Our evolutionary success and survival depended on it and still does. A significant part of us prompts us to cooperate, exchange affection, display altruism, compassion, loyalty, ending up feeling belonging to that group or tribe, and addition and in return, we feel joy and meaning in contributing and…
Humans are tribal creatures. Our phenomenal success on this planet depended on it. Still does. As Tribal animals, we form mutually interdependent groups, sharing matters of faith and beliefs which help with cohesiveness, meaning, and sense of belonging. We cooperate and display loyalty for the tribe we belong too. We express altruism with readiness to assist…
We humans are “a many splendored thing.” We have enormous intellect, curiosity, creativity, tenacity, imagination, eagerness to “master,” pugnacity, altruism, kindness, cooperativeness, side by side with competitiveness, our altruism side-by-side with readiness to “kill the enemy” of the adjoining tribe, whoever that may be at the time. We are also the only remaining Homo species…
Chroniclers of the Soul 