Reading for Battle
Battle Readings is a regularly updated compilation of articles, essays, and opinion pieces relevant to the themes of the Battle of Ideas.
Choose a theme from the listing on the left to narrow your search, or view all readings.
Science & Environment
What if we aren’t alone after all?
Our species has developed its beliefs, its cultures, its religions on the basis of our uniqueness, on the theory that the universe was designed expressly, perhaps solely, for us. Incontrovertible proof that we are not alone would force us to re-examine all our knowledge, to build new theories of life, its origins, its diversity, perhaps its purpose.
Richard Swan, Independent, 27 October 2011
Our species has developed its beliefs, its cultures, its religions on the basis of our uniqueness, on the theory that the universe was designed expressly, perhaps solely, for us. Incontrovertible proof that we are not alone would force us to re-examine all our knowledge, to build new theories of life, its origins, its diversity, perhaps its purpose.
Richard Swan, Independent, 27 October 2011
The rise of the machines? Not any time soon
With all the developments in today’s technology it is easy to get carried away by science and technologists who argue we are on a precipice of a machine revolution with human beings on the way out.
Katherine Richardson, Independent, 25 October 2011
With all the developments in today’s technology it is easy to get carried away by science and technologists who argue we are on a precipice of a machine revolution with human beings on the way out.
Katherine Richardson, Independent, 25 October 2011
Why we cannot keep the lights on without nuclear energy
If we care about the security of our energy supplies: if we care about the affordability of our electricity: if we care about reducing the UK’s carbon emissions, then there is no alternative to unprecedented amounts of all viable, proven, renewable sources of electricity BUT we will still also need a significant proportion of nuclear energy in our electricity mix.
Dame Sue Ion, Independent, 24 October 2011
If we care about the security of our energy supplies: if we care about the affordability of our electricity: if we care about reducing the UK’s carbon emissions, then there is no alternative to unprecedented amounts of all viable, proven, renewable sources of electricity BUT we will still also need a significant proportion of nuclear energy in our electricity mix.
Dame Sue Ion, Independent, 24 October 2011
We should aspire to abundant and cheap energy for all
From fracking to Fukushima, to oil spills and the threat of global warming, an alarming aspect of the energy debate is the way it has become conducted through the prism of fear.
Tony Gilland, Independent, 24 October 2011
From fracking to Fukushima, to oil spills and the threat of global warming, an alarming aspect of the energy debate is the way it has become conducted through the prism of fear.
Tony Gilland, Independent, 24 October 2011
Would aliens prove that humans are nothing special?
Richard Swan and Sandy Starr debate the significance that finding alien life would have on humanity.
Richard Swan and Sandy Starr, InDebate, October 2011
Richard Swan and Sandy Starr debate the significance that finding alien life would have on humanity.
Richard Swan and Sandy Starr, InDebate, October 2011
Sex: it’s not all in the brain
In Delusions of Gender, Cordelia Fine demolishes the trendy notion that male and female brains are different, but does not overcome the idea that stereotypes are deeply engrained.
Derbyshire and Powell, spiked, 21 October 2011
In Delusions of Gender, Cordelia Fine demolishes the trendy notion that male and female brains are different, but does not overcome the idea that stereotypes are deeply engrained.
Derbyshire and Powell, spiked, 21 October 2011
Surely by now we’ve outgrown the soul?
Although no branch of scientific thought has all the answers, we have known for some time that there is no theoretical need to look outside of the human body for a explanation of the many and varied phenomena that we collectively refer to as ‘consciousness’.
Martha Robinson, Independent, 16 October 2011
Although no branch of scientific thought has all the answers, we have known for some time that there is no theoretical need to look outside of the human body for a explanation of the many and varied phenomena that we collectively refer to as ‘consciousness’.
Martha Robinson, Independent, 16 October 2011
It is time to embrace the commercial planting of GM food crops
In recent years the issue of whether to pursue the commercial planting of genetically modified (GM) crops has resurfaced.
Helen Birtwistle, Debating Matters, 10 October 2011
In recent years the issue of whether to pursue the commercial planting of genetically modified (GM) crops has resurfaced.
Helen Birtwistle, Debating Matters, 10 October 2011
US shale gas bonanza: New wells to draw on
Now the technology exists to extract the reserves, the promise is of an industrial renaissance
Ed Crooks, Financial TImes, 6 October 2011
Now the technology exists to extract the reserves, the promise is of an industrial renaissance
Ed Crooks, Financial TImes, 6 October 2011
London 2012: Cleaners set to spy on dopers
Cleaning and security staff will be tasked with informing on doping cheats during next summer's Olympics games.
Matt McGrath, BBC News, 4 October 2011
Cleaning and security staff will be tasked with informing on doping cheats during next summer's Olympics games.
Matt McGrath, BBC News, 4 October 2011
The Battle against the Fates
"I have been doing the Battle of Ideas for a couple of years, but never before have I felt so heartened and so alive as the day ended. The spectacle of so many fascinating minds, none too proud to agree, none too modern to disagree, all at work on the most important questions of this rocky period: it's enough to make you believe there's hope for the species, yet."
Zoe Williams, columnist, Guardian; author, What Not to Expect When You're Expecting
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