Esther Duflo: Social experiments to fight poverty
www.ted.com Alleviating poverty is more guesswork than science, and lack of data on aid’s impact raises questions about how to provide it. But Clark Medal-winner Esther Duflo says it’s possible to know which development efforts help and which hurt — by testing solutions with randomized trials.TEDTalks is a daily video podcast of the best talks and performances from the TED Conference, where the world’s leading thinkers and doers give the talk of their lives in 18 minutes. Featured speakers have included Al Gore on climate change, Philippe Starck on design, Jill Bolte Taylor on observing her own stroke, Nicholas Negroponte on One Laptop per Child, Jane Goodall on chimpanzees, Bill Gates on malaria and mosquitoes, Pattie Maes on the “Sixth Sense” wearable tech, and “Lost” producer JJ Abrams on the allure of mystery. TED stands for Technology, Entertainment, Design, and TEDTalks cover these topics as well as science, business, development and the arts. Closed captions and translated subtitles in a variety of languages are now available on TED.com, at http Watch a highlight reel of the Top 10 TEDTalks at www.ted.com
The parents in poor countries, especially in Africa, could afford to pay for malaria nets and education for their children if they wouldn’t spend so much money on alcohol, tobacco and prostitutes. Read the story from New York times.
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@dunnonuffink Ok, I understand what you are saying.
@mundusvultdicipi
“they should’ve never assumed that there was no natural cure for the ailments the child was inflicted with.”
The fact that they did assume that was wholly BECAUSE of their faith in the supernatural. It was inescapable. To seek a natural cure was forbidden by the church, condemned as witchcraft – and physicians were not exempt.
The Church correctly perceived that inquiry into cures, better ploughs or stars – is a route to self-help, critical thinking and power-shifts.
@mundusvultdicipi
“it’s also possible that there is a God. The correct religion would embrace both,”
How true. In fact the correct religion already does embrace both: enter the Church of the Flying Spaghetti Monster (may you be touched by his noodly appendage) and you will find it’s exactly the sort of rational, positive, kindly and tolerant religion of which you speak.
@mundusvultdicipi
“No religion should condemn scientific progress, nor …denounce the idea that there are..practical solutions – nor should it assume any solution is beyond human reach.”
I agree with every “should”. The monotheistic religions don’t. Without exception they condemned every significant step in scientific progress; and earlier, denounced even the SEARCH for practical solutions as lack of “trust in God” saying that solutions OUGHT to be beyond human reach,
Secularism changed that.
@dunnonuffink Not only is it possible that there are natural and practical solutions to all human problems (although, the way the world is now, it seems necessary to rely somewhat on a more capable supernatural being WITHOUT abandoning our efforts), it’s also possible that there is a God. The correct religion would embrace both, if true. I believe the correct religion does embrace both, both the existence of God, and the significance of scientific research and practical and remedial efforts.
@dunnonuffink I see your point. However they should’ve never assumed that there was no natural cure for the ailments the child was inflicted with. Is religion really the reason for the mistake? Or is misinterpretation? No religion should condemn scientific progress, nor should the denounce the idea that there are natural and practical solutions to all problems- nor should it assume any solution is beyond human reach. It should embrace truth.
@mundusvultdicipi
Whether or not a god assists us in our endeavours, it does not follow that our belief in gods is an assistance. Rather the contrary.
In the case of the Western world, supernatural belief was for 500-800 years a very definite hindrance, except in two endeavours (1) keeping the poor humble, terrorised and accepting; and (2) firmly stamping on all endeavour that did not have the status quo as its object.
Both were achieved by stamping on rational inquiry & critical thinking.
@mundusvultdicipi
The point I was making was that even although they had observed the process that saved the child’s life (reduced food/bacteria intake + staying hydrated) the 13th-century folk ascribed it to invisible supernatural beings.
Religious awe prevented them even THINKING OF repeating the successful natural remedy they observed. It rendered them literally blind! So millions more little children died miserable, unnecessry deaths for another half-millennium.
One of religion’s evils.
@mundusvultdicipi …when I was young I grew up Catholic and everyone around me was Christian…then my beliefs started fading once I discovered that there were people with different beliefs and justifications for them. And it was a slow process, I felt very guilty at first because the Church has a way of instilling fear of things like sex or lack of faith. But over time I realized it was not a justifiable belief. All I can suggest is approaching alternative beliefs with an open mind
@mundusvultdicipi What may be happening, as I believe it happened to me, is your personal moral standards align well with the Church’s interpretation of Christianity, and so this becomes a convincing and meaningful explanation by which to live life. I agree Christianity has many “good” principles, except these principles can also be arrived at using ethics, without the need for God to justify. For example, the rational for “loving your neighbor” is to promote peaceful co-existence and support
@dunnonuffink I’ve experienced exquisite joy and emotional healing/strength that I strongly believe is because of obedience to my religion- this is the miracle I am speaking of. I am not at all suggesting results like you’ve mentioned due to practical efforts on our behalf are necessarily miracles. I don’t think we should give up our efforts in things and leave it all to God either, but rather God wants us to be self reliant. However, I do believe that God can assists us in our endeavors.
@philkapune It depends on what other religions we’re talking about. If a religion worships God and Jesus Christ, I don’t contend with that. I would however oppose worshiping a God other than Christ. It is some the principles (not of all of them) of Christian sects I disagree with. If a Church has true and good principles, I try to value them. I guess my faith in my religion is due to the persuasive power it’s doctrine and the spiritual experiences I’ve had while following it.
Horrible accent, I can’t listen to this!
for poverty to be eradicated there should be a law stating that every filthy rich millionaire that earns millions every year has to donate 10.000 a month… …….there… problem solved, end of discussion.
@mundusvultdicipi
There’s a miracle recorded in (for) the process of making the English archbishop Thomas a’ Becket into a saint; and this miracle involved an ancestor-family of mine (individuals named in local land & court records.)
This child was ill with diarhorrea (which we know can be fatal in young kids). His parents, lord & lady of a manor, prayed for over a week whilst he “did not eat & drank only water” – then recovered!
In 1281 they called it a miracle. We call it hydration.
@mundusvultdicipi I agree that the historical Jesus Christ may certainly have lived, but not enough evidence to confirm that he actually was God.for your miraculous experiences,don’t mean to sound condescending,there are many experiences that may appear to be miraculous but this title was simply attributed because there was a lack of explanation. question: why do you believe in your particular God over the manyother religions,as many people claim their God is thetrueGod,according to their bible?
@philkapune In Christ’s name amen.
@philkapune . It is widely accepted as fact that a man named Jesus Christ lived. Our very timeline is based on His life. The claims you are referring to I assume are Jesus Christ’s miracles and that He was perfect. Hard to believe, yes. However I know that they are true, and sincerely urge you to investigate- regardless if you are well educated, love science, skeptical etc. I have experienced miraculous things- things that I cannot dismiss- that confirm my belief.
@emofelix23 no doubt. Misuse and distortion of Christianity has led to oppression.
Good ideas, but she is mostly fixing the symptoms of a bigger disease. Awareness needs to be the ultimate goal. Education and stable government.
@CalvinoMovies It depends on when she learned the language the language center of our brains makes it easy to learn a language as a child but the later you learn it the harder it is. She made a great effort but when you make educated argument and you have to think when you talk your accent is not the first thing you worry about. I’m German and I’ve been in America so long that my accent really only comes out when I get angry or madly in-love because I don’t have my accent on my mind.
@mundusvultdicipi There are many great thinkers in history that are not believers, so that’s not really evidence for anything.
@mundusvultdicipi Again though I am not claiming that God does not exist definitively, I am open to the idea and it is certainly possible, I just do not feel there is sufficient evidence to decisively conclude a particular God with particular traits exists and live my life according to this.