Author: Robert Schlaff

The Case Against Empathy

Post author By Robert Schlaff
Post date November 2, 2024

Paul Bloom’s book, Against Empathy, challenged a core belief of mine: that empathy is inherently good. He writes about how empathy, which feels so natural and kind, sometimes sends us down the wrong path.

Recently, meditation has brought me closer to the world around me. In moments of stillness, I feel in tune with the natural flow, sensing life unfolding nearby. I’ll notice a squirrel darting up a tree or feel a butterfly gently landing on my shoulder. These encounters reveal a hidden beauty in the world that I hadn’t noticed before.

One day, during a particularly quiet moment in the garden, I found myself watching an insect slowly chewing through a leaf, leaving behind a pattern almost like lace. It reminded me of the dying autumn leaves, those vibrant bursts of orange and red signaling the close of summer. I began empathizing with the insect, appreciating not just its role in nature but also the beautiful art it created. I even started to feel guilty about all of the murderous humans destroying them with pesticides.

ChatGPT

The Day the Turing Test Died: Examining the “Humanity” of AI

Post author By Robert Schlaff
Post date October 26, 2024

In the past, the Turing Test was used as a measure of artificial intelligence. This was a test of whether a computer could fake being human.

We don’t do this anymore. Here’s the reason why.

Adventures

Mets Game 5: You Just Gotta Believe

Post author By Robert Schlaff
Post date October 20, 2024

You Just Gotta Believe

That’s the line that’s burned into every Mets fan’s heart. Being a Mets fan means living with disappointment, yet we keep coming back, asking for more. But sometimes, things break our way, making the victory that much sweeter.

Friday night we went to Game 5 of the playoffs. It was different from any other baseball game I’d ever attended. Usually, I tried a baseball game like casual picnic, where what I eat is almost as important as the score at the end.

But not this game. Friday’s game was intense. As we got off the subway, the crowd roared “Let’s Go Mets!” on the way to the stadium. Everyone was decked out in their finest Mets gear. We looked like we were attending a Mets-themed wedding. We were immersed in a world of superfans.

Judaism

Yom Kippur Meditation: The Beauty of Forgiveness

Post author By Robert Schlaff
Post date October 12, 2024

Summary: Today was Yom Kippur, the Jewish day of atonement. The holiday focuses on acknowledging sins over the past year and seeking forgiveness. Initially, I felt guilt for my mistakes, but I realized that guilt is heavily shaped by Western Christian culture, where mistakes often carry a sense of finality and require divine salvation. In contrast, Judaism views mistakes as part of the human experience and emphasizes teshuva—the process of repentance, repair, and moving forward. This approach is more freeing, encouraging growth and improvement without being trapped by guilt, offering a healthier path toward personal renewal.

Science and Math

What is “Normal” Body Temperature?

Post author By Robert Schlaff
Post date October 6, 2024

“Never express yourself more clearly than you can think.” — Niels Bohr

I’ve been reading Ben Orlin’s new book, Math for English Majors. Ben always has a brilliantly philosophical way of looking at numbers and math, and it got me thinking about how we often misunderstand precision.

I’ve always been fascinated by the way we handle precision—how we assume that if we know one number exactly and another is only “about right,” the overall result is still only “about right.” It’s a reminder that even when we want precision, the world often delivers something a little fuzzier.

Adventures

Watching a Baseball Game on TV with 10,002 Friends

Post author By Robert Schlaff
Post date October 5, 2024

Watching the Game with the 2 Friends I Came With

Watching the Game at a Watch Party in an Empty Citi Field

I just went to the first Mets game in their playoff series against the Phillies. The game was in Philly, but I stayed local and joined thousands of fans at the Citi Field watch party. Even though we were just watching a broadcast on the Jumbotron, the energy was unreal. You’d think you’d need to be at the actual game to feel that intensity, but trust me, that’s not the case. The cheers, the chants, the boos—they all created this shared moment that made it feel like we were actually part of the action. It was one of those experiences where you realize the power of the crowd, not just as spectators, but as an integral part of the game.

Human Behavior Life Lessons

Why We Buy Overpriced Things and “Like” Things We Don’t Really Like

Post author By Robert Schlaff
Post date October 5, 2024

In economics we learn that as prices rise, demand falls. This happens because we assume that rational customers are looking to buy things that provide the most value for the least expense. But there’s a class of goods that don’t behave this way: Velben goods.

Veblen goods defy classical economics. Named after Thorstein Veblen, an American economist, these products become more desirable as they become more expensive. These goods are more desired not from the needs they fulfill but from their ability to signal status, exclusivity, and wealth.

Life Lessons

Being a Better Person is Easier Than You Think

Post author By Robert Schlaff
Post date October 4, 2024

Yesterday was Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year. In many ways, Rosh Hashanah is like the day after the secular New Year—when we think about the previous year and make resolutions for how to be better. Making resolutions can feel overwhelming. It’s exhausting to examine an entire year and think about how to live a better life, but our Rabbi reminded us that growth doesn’t have to happen all at once—it can be a gradual, steady process.

Design

Is Great Design Hiding in Your Living Room?

Post author By Robert Schlaff
Post date October 4, 2024

Walking through the Metropolitan Museum of Art, we pass the Temple of Dendur, rescued by Jackie Kennedy before Lake Nasser was flooded after the Aswan Dam was built. Then it’s off to European art to see Picassos and Renoirs. Then we go downstairs to the Design Collection to see… my dining room chair?

That’s the funny thing about design collections. Iconic designs from the past have blended so seamlessly into modern life that we forget their origins. It’s like realizing the guy in the hoodie at the coffee shop is a tech CEO. What was once groundbreaking has become… ordinary.

Human Behavior Ideas

Hacking Evolution: Fitness Faking

Post author By Robert Schlaff
Post date September 29, 2024

Animals can fake their evolutionary fitness in a number of ways. Humans do it too. While this may seem like we’re corrupting our gene pool it might not be so bad.