In this blog post, we’ll explore why people choose to act altruistically despite the potential cost, and what that means for both individuals and society. Everyone has probably acted altruistically toward others at least once in their life. (In this post, “altruistic behavior” refers to acting for the benefit of others even if it results in a personal loss.) Even in everyday life, simply...
Why do we think the media has a greater influence on “others” than on “ourselves”?
In this blog post, we examine why people believe the media’s influence is greater on others than on themselves, and the impact this perception has on society. During World War II, in a battle in the Pacific, the Japanese military broadcast a message to African American soldiers in the U.S. Army, urging them to surrender because they had no intention of fighting people of color. Upon seeing...
Why do we feel depressed when winter arrives? How do seasonal changes affect our bodies and minds?
What causes us to feel depressed in winter? We explore the effects of seasonal changes on our physical and mental health, as well as the scientific reasons behind them. As the hot summer sun sets and we gradually transition into the cooler days of autumn, the number of people reporting symptoms of depression increases more than usual. This is a serious issue that cannot be dismissed as a...
Human Relationships in the Digital Age: Have We Become Closer, or More Lonely?
In this blog post, we’ll examine the evolution of social media and reflect on whether human relationships have truly grown closer in the digital age—or if we’ve actually become more lonely. Humans are social animals. Here, “social” means thinking from others’ perspectives, showing interest in others, and being able to find meaning in one’s actions within a community. This social nature...
How Does Confusion Over the Concept of Legal Rights Lead to Errors in Actual Court Rulings?
In this blog post, we will examine the types of logical fallacies that arise in actual court rulings when the concept of legal rights is confused, and we will explore, through specific examples, why a precise distinction between rights is crucial to the validity of judicial decisions. In the early 20th century, American legal practitioners often regarded legal philosophy as a discipline of...
Can hybrid cars really be the solution to environmental problems?
In this blog post, we’ll examine the structure and operating principles of hybrid cars and explore how this technology can actually contribute to solving environmental issues. Since Karl Friedrich Benz first invented the internal combustion engine automobile in the 1880s, humanity’s means of transportation have undergone revolutionary changes. Moving beyond an era reliant on steam...
How do cells in the early embryo acquire different fates through specific mechanisms?
This blog post delves into how cells at the early embryonic stage choose different fates based on interactions between key factors like OCT4 and CDX2, as well as differences in the distribution of bipolarity-determining substances. The countless cells in our bodies originate from the zygote, a single cell formed by the fertilization of sperm and egg, through repeated cell division. In...
How does belief become a baseless prophecy that moves stock prices?
This blog post examines how people’s beliefs and expectations in the stock market become self-fulfilling prophecies that drive prices, and explores the impact of rumors, news, and psychology on the market. Why “Buy on rumors, sell on news” is difficult Stock market movements can sometimes be extremely volatile. While human hearts are said to be as unpredictable as swaying reeds, the...
Eugenic Discrimination in Future Society: How Should We Respond?
This blog post examines how we can respond to the discrimination and inequality issues that eugenics and scientism could bring about in future society. Looking back at human history, we see that discrimination has always existed. Slavery, feudalism, racism, gender discrimination, as well as academic background, academic factions, money, status, skin color, religion, and countless other...
Did we create technology, or did technology create us?
This blog post delves deeply into the relationship between technology and society, examining the profound impact technology has had on humanity and society. Since the emergence of humans, technology has always developed alongside humanity as we formed groups and built societies. The actions of Paleolithic humans—lighting fires to secure warm sleeping spots and food, or breaking stones to...