Edward Slingerland
@slingerland.bsky.social
Distinguished University Scholar and Professor of Philosophy, University of British Columbia. Founding Director of the Database of Religious History. Chinese philosophy, cognitive science of religion, big data, science-humanities integration.
Pinned
Exploring Religion's Past, Present, and Future
YouTube video by Database of Religious History
youtu.be
What is the Database of Religious History? Our new intro video is visually stunning and gives a great overview of the project. youtu.be/bkTVIZAwZ4c @religionhistory.bsky.social
New article on the puzzle of human drinking from Science News: www.sciencenews.org/article/alco...
Our relationship with alcohol is fraught. Ancient customs might inspire a reset.
As evidence of alcohol's harms mounts, some people are testing out sobriety. Look to ancient civilizations' ways for a reset, scholars suggest.
www.sciencenews.org
October 17, 2025 at 6:38 PM
New article on the puzzle of human drinking from Science News: www.sciencenews.org/article/alco...
New interview about Drunk, also with David Nutt, who is trying to develop a chemical that would have the positive effects of alcohol without the downsides. podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/1...
Alcohol: Why We Drink and What It Does to Us
Podcast Episode · 1440 Explores · 10/09/2025 · 36m
podcasts.apple.com
October 9, 2025 at 3:22 PM
New interview about Drunk, also with David Nutt, who is trying to develop a chemical that would have the positive effects of alcohol without the downsides. podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/1...
Reposted by Edward Slingerland
This poll came out of a workshop at the Santa Fe Institute @sfiscience.bsky.social co-organized by Edward Slingerland (@slingerland.bsky.social) and Marco Buongiorno Nardelli (@musicntwrk.bsky.social), with input from experts from a wide variety of fields.
September 15, 2025 at 5:16 PM
This poll came out of a workshop at the Santa Fe Institute @sfiscience.bsky.social co-organized by Edward Slingerland (@slingerland.bsky.social) and Marco Buongiorno Nardelli (@musicntwrk.bsky.social), with input from experts from a wide variety of fields.
Reposted by Edward Slingerland
"Drunk hypothesis", recently elaborated by @slingerland.bsky.social, argues that alcohol played a significant role in promoting large-scale cooperation and the development of complex hierarchical societies. (2/5)
July 15, 2025 at 2:20 PM
"Drunk hypothesis", recently elaborated by @slingerland.bsky.social, argues that alcohol played a significant role in promoting large-scale cooperation and the development of complex hierarchical societies. (2/5)
As with my Rogan appearance, had to weather an anti-vax interlude from the host, but really interesting comments by Ken Mukamal. I thought the medical consensus now was alcohol net-negative, but he disputes this: www.youtube.com/watch?v=rpi-...
Exposing Myths Behind Dangers of Drinking Alcohol, w/ Edward Slingerland & Dr. Kenneth Mukamal
YouTube video by The Nerve with Maureen Callahan
www.youtube.com
May 24, 2025 at 1:18 AM
As with my Rogan appearance, had to weather an anti-vax interlude from the host, but really interesting comments by Ken Mukamal. I thought the medical consensus now was alcohol net-negative, but he disputes this: www.youtube.com/watch?v=rpi-...
Reposted by Edward Slingerland
We have just published our second release of our Standard Cross Cultural Sample of Religion (SCCSR)! This version adds language tags which can be use to help control for historical relatedness (in addition to a lot more data). Check out the release on Zenodo here: zenodo.org/records/1496...
Standard Cross-Cultural Sample of Religion
The Standard Cross-Cultural Sample of Religion is a product of the Database of Religious History (DRH). The DRH is a qualitative-quantitative encyclopedic database of historical religious data across ...
zenodo.org
March 4, 2025 at 2:25 PM
We have just published our second release of our Standard Cross Cultural Sample of Religion (SCCSR)! This version adds language tags which can be use to help control for historical relatedness (in addition to a lot more data). Check out the release on Zenodo here: zenodo.org/records/1496...
Reposted by Edward Slingerland
New paper in print! In it I argue against grounding moral concern for others in the "Golden Rule" or "imagining yourself in another's shoes". The ancient Chinese philosopher Mengzi offers a better approach: Extend your concern for nearby others to similar but more distant others. 1/3
February 13, 2025 at 7:11 PM
New paper in print! In it I argue against grounding moral concern for others in the "Golden Rule" or "imagining yourself in another's shoes". The ancient Chinese philosopher Mengzi offers a better approach: Extend your concern for nearby others to similar but more distant others. 1/3
Reposted by Edward Slingerland
🚨 Finally out! My new @annualreviews.bsky.social in Psychology paper:
www.annualreviews.org/content/jour...
We unpack why psych theories of generalization keep cycling from rigid rule-based models to flexible similarity-based ones, then culminating in Bayesian hybrids. Let's break it down 👉 🧵
www.annualreviews.org/content/jour...
We unpack why psych theories of generalization keep cycling from rigid rule-based models to flexible similarity-based ones, then culminating in Bayesian hybrids. Let's break it down 👉 🧵
February 10, 2025 at 2:46 PM
🚨 Finally out! My new @annualreviews.bsky.social in Psychology paper:
www.annualreviews.org/content/jour...
We unpack why psych theories of generalization keep cycling from rigid rule-based models to flexible similarity-based ones, then culminating in Bayesian hybrids. Let's break it down 👉 🧵
www.annualreviews.org/content/jour...
We unpack why psych theories of generalization keep cycling from rigid rule-based models to flexible similarity-based ones, then culminating in Bayesian hybrids. Let's break it down 👉 🧵
Reposted by Edward Slingerland
This marks our first venture into science communication for the humanities, and I'm grateful to @slingerland.bsky.social for trusting us with telling this story!
January 28, 2025 at 2:26 PM
This marks our first venture into science communication for the humanities, and I'm grateful to @slingerland.bsky.social for trusting us with telling this story!
Reposted by Edward Slingerland
In episode 28, I talk with Dr. Edward Slingerland (
@slingerland.bsky.social) about the #CognitiveScience of religion, and what #Science offers the humanities. #Anthropology
youtu.be/zZ3h00-huR4
@slingerland.bsky.social) about the #CognitiveScience of religion, and what #Science offers the humanities. #Anthropology
youtu.be/zZ3h00-huR4
#28 Edward Slingerland: The Cognitive Science of Religion, And What Science Offers the Humanities
YouTube video by The Dissenter
youtu.be
January 31, 2025 at 9:57 AM
In episode 28, I talk with Dr. Edward Slingerland (
@slingerland.bsky.social) about the #CognitiveScience of religion, and what #Science offers the humanities. #Anthropology
youtu.be/zZ3h00-huR4
@slingerland.bsky.social) about the #CognitiveScience of religion, and what #Science offers the humanities. #Anthropology
youtu.be/zZ3h00-huR4
Reposted by Edward Slingerland
🚨 Get Paid to Get High! 🚨
Are you a regular cannabis user? Help us uncover the cognitive effects of cannabis in a new study at U of Toronto Scarborough!
Time: 1.5–2 hrs
Compensation: $40
Eligibility: Male (per Health Canada restrictions)
Take the prescreening survey: tinyurl.com/ytdrrjpb
Are you a regular cannabis user? Help us uncover the cognitive effects of cannabis in a new study at U of Toronto Scarborough!
Time: 1.5–2 hrs
Compensation: $40
Eligibility: Male (per Health Canada restrictions)
Take the prescreening survey: tinyurl.com/ytdrrjpb
January 7, 2025 at 1:52 AM
🚨 Get Paid to Get High! 🚨
Are you a regular cannabis user? Help us uncover the cognitive effects of cannabis in a new study at U of Toronto Scarborough!
Time: 1.5–2 hrs
Compensation: $40
Eligibility: Male (per Health Canada restrictions)
Take the prescreening survey: tinyurl.com/ytdrrjpb
Are you a regular cannabis user? Help us uncover the cognitive effects of cannabis in a new study at U of Toronto Scarborough!
Time: 1.5–2 hrs
Compensation: $40
Eligibility: Male (per Health Canada restrictions)
Take the prescreening survey: tinyurl.com/ytdrrjpb
Reposted by Edward Slingerland
Stereotype threat: a once-dominant idea in social psychology that shaped how we think about identity and performance. But what happens when the evidence crumbles? A deep dive into the failed replications, the myths, and what it all means. Read my latest essay: open.substack.com/pub/michaeli...
Revisiting Stereotype Threat
A Reckoning for Social Psychology
open.substack.com
December 18, 2024 at 1:16 PM
Stereotype threat: a once-dominant idea in social psychology that shaped how we think about identity and performance. But what happens when the evidence crumbles? A deep dive into the failed replications, the myths, and what it all means. Read my latest essay: open.substack.com/pub/michaeli...
Reposted by Edward Slingerland
Our paper on emotional contagion in a collective ritual is now officially out in the American Journal of Human Biology. Using wearable GPS and electrodermal activity monitors, we track the spread of emotional arousal in the context of a religious procession.
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/...
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/...
December 16, 2024 at 4:21 PM
Our paper on emotional contagion in a collective ritual is now officially out in the American Journal of Human Biology. Using wearable GPS and electrodermal activity monitors, we track the spread of emotional arousal in the context of a religious procession.
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/...
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/...
Nice review of the Spanish edition of Drunk, "Borrachos": www.milenio.com/cultura/labe...
Mala copa: cómo la ingesta de alcohol ha estimulado la evolución
‘Borrachos’, del filósofo Edward Slingerland, indaga en las razones nutricionales, médicas, sociales y creativas por las que el humano consume alcohol.
www.milenio.com
December 14, 2024 at 10:20 PM
Nice review of the Spanish edition of Drunk, "Borrachos": www.milenio.com/cultura/labe...
Reposted by Edward Slingerland
Doing good science is 90% finding a science buddy to constantly talk to about the project.
November 9, 2024 at 10:53 PM
Doing good science is 90% finding a science buddy to constantly talk to about the project.
What is the Database of Religious History? Our new intro video is visually stunning and gives a great overview of the project. youtu.be/bkTVIZAwZ4c @religionhistory.bsky.social
Exploring Religion's Past, Present, and Future
YouTube video by Database of Religious History
youtu.be
November 13, 2024 at 10:22 PM
What is the Database of Religious History? Our new intro video is visually stunning and gives a great overview of the project. youtu.be/bkTVIZAwZ4c @religionhistory.bsky.social
Reposted by Edward Slingerland
Pubs are back, and we’re seeing each other face-to-face again—but has something gone missing with the shift to mocktails and mineral water? In my latest piece, I dig into what’s lost (and gained) when we go teetotal—and why our ancestors might not approve.
open.substack.com/pub/michaeli...
open.substack.com/pub/michaeli...
Should PhD Students Drink More?
The Benefits of Alcohol
open.substack.com
November 13, 2024 at 3:30 PM
Pubs are back, and we’re seeing each other face-to-face again—but has something gone missing with the shift to mocktails and mineral water? In my latest piece, I dig into what’s lost (and gained) when we go teetotal—and why our ancestors might not approve.
open.substack.com/pub/michaeli...
open.substack.com/pub/michaeli...
Simple tricks, like using a small wine glass, can help moderate consumption. Nice short piece in The Guardian: www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
A toast to smaller wine glasses – but our best ideas have been inspired by alcohol | Andrew Anthon...
In taking the 250ml choice off the menu, it was shown last week that a gentle nudge is all we need to cut back
www.theguardian.com
January 22, 2024 at 7:35 PM
Simple tricks, like using a small wine glass, can help moderate consumption. Nice short piece in The Guardian: www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
Recent Zoom talk, hosted by East China Normal University, on the new academic book project: www.youtube.com/watch?v=uh8C...
Edward Slingerland_Literature, Moral Perception and Early Confucian Virtue Ethics
A lecture given by Prof. Edward Slingerland (University of British Columbia) in January 11th 2024 as part of the Collaborative Learning 四海为学 Lecture Series. ...
www.youtube.com
January 22, 2024 at 7:26 PM
Recent Zoom talk, hosted by East China Normal University, on the new academic book project: www.youtube.com/watch?v=uh8C...