In this blog post, we will examine the historical and social context behind the shift of political parties from mass parties to cartel parties, and explore the key factors driving this change and its impact on representative democracy.   A prominent perspective explaining the role of political parties in representative democracy is the theory of responsible party government. According to...

In this blog post, we’ll examine the breakdown of communication caused by changes in internet culture, anonymity, and a distorted sense of community.   Recently, negative trends have begun to emerge online. Among them, the most controversial and persistent issue is what’s known as “troll comments.” The comment feature, designed for users to express their thoughts on online posts, was...

In this blog post, we’ll explore why the human body cannot regenerate completely and whether animal testing offers a potential way to overcome this limitation.   Humans cannot restore lost body parts, such as a finger or nose severed in an accident, to their original form. Such physical loss is not merely a cosmetic issue; it leads to functional impairment, causing significant inconvenience...

In this blog post, we will explore in depth why philosophy of science serves as an essential academic foundation for STEM students, going beyond a mere general education requirement.   The philosophy of science is extremely important. It addresses the identification and articulation of problems, clear thinking and expression, and the art of argumentation and persuasion. These skills not only...

In this blog post, we’ll explore why we feel like we’re the only ones with bad luck, as well as the reasons behind Murphy’s Law and the psychological illusions hidden within it.   Murphy’s Law On days when I leave later than usual, the shuttle bus line is much longer than expected, and even after waiting for a long time, the bus doesn’t come—and I often find the doors closing right in front...

In this blog post, we’ll explore the free-riding problem that arises in group projects during college classes and discuss possible solutions.   It’s the day before the group project presentation, but there’s no sign of the presentation script or PowerPoint slides—not a single thing—despite having asked the group members for them. There are four members in total, including the protagonist...

In this blog post, I’ll explore why we continue to chase and wait for things even though we know we can’t get what we want in life.   I’ve had some reflections on my ordinary daily life. This summer break was a time when I was able to think deeply. Nothing special happened, but I felt a lot from those ordinary days. I’d like to write down some of the things that come to mind. During the...

In this blog post, we’ll explore the significance of this movement—which goes beyond a simple campaign—and examine the reality of ALS that we all need to consider together.   “Whoosh~, Ouch! It’s cold!” Recently, videos of people pouring ice water over their heads have been popping up frequently on Facebook, YouTube, and other platforms. This relay of pouring ice water, in which many...

In this blog post, we’ll explore why living by community norms ultimately benefits individuals in the long run, using examples from group activities and everyday life.   Throughout our lives, we find ourselves at a crossroads of choice every moment. Sometimes we make the choice that is most advantageous to ourselves, regardless of others, and other times we make a conscientious choice even...

This article explains the causes of altruistic behavior by comparing the limitations of various hypotheses, with a particular focus on the “birds of a feather flock together” hypothesis.   Altruistic behavior refers to acts of helping others even at the cost of personal loss. Common sense tells us that voluntarily engaging in actions that result in a loss is difficult to comprehend. So why...