Since ancient times, the philosophers' secret has always been this: we know that God does not exist, or, at least, if he does, he's utterly indifferent to our individual affairs--but we can't let the rabble know that; it's the fear of God, the threat of divine punishment and the promise of divine reward, that keeps in line those too unsophisticated to work out questions of morality on their own.

Virtual reality is just air guitar writ large.

Secrecy was the problem; transparency the obvious cure.

No one disputes that seeming order can come out of the application of simple rules. But who wrote the rules?

That natural selection can produce changes within a type is disputed by no one, not even the staunchest creationist. But that it can transform one species into another — that, in fact, has never been observed.

Honor does not have to be defended.

General principles should not be based on exceptional cases.