This blog post explores methods to prevent free-riding and the reasons for living rightly, applying lessons from group assignments to life. Searching for ‘group projects’ brings up a video titled ‘The Cruel History of Group Projects’ created by the TV comedy program ‘SNL (Saturday Night Live)’ as the top related search term. This video depicts the group leader struggling to complete the...
Individual Assessment and the Role of Group Leaders in University Group Activities to Prevent Free Riding
This blog post explores individual assessment and the role of group leaders in university group activities to prevent free riding, proposing effective solutions. During college life, students inevitably participate in group projects. Through repeated group experiences, they come to understand why communism failed in reality. When multiple people collaborate on a task and all members...
What meaning do personal dreams and happiness hold in an era of endless competition?
In this blog post, we explore the significance of personal dreams and happiness amidst relentless competition and ponder the balance between social success and true happiness. This is a story from a fairy tale book. It begins in the trash can of a living room. Inside lay shards of glass, discarded after being shattered into pieces by a baseball a few days prior. The living room was neatly...
How much should we trust enzymes that are good for the body? Are they really effective?
This blog post scientifically examines the true role of enzymes, which are gaining attention as health foods, and the misconceptions behind exaggerated advertising. “Enzymes are that good?” This is a common advertising slogan we often see in newspaper articles or online media. It lures consumers by suggesting that simply taking enzymes will strengthen the stomach and completely heal any...
Is the Success of Mobile Games Due to Portability or Touch Controls?
This blog post examines whether the success of mobile games stems from portability or intuitive touch-based controls. The sight of people of all ages playing games on their phones wherever they go has long been commonplace. Mobile games began gaining popularity right from the advent of smartphones. Mobile games have achieved such high status that virtually anyone with a smartphone has...
In a world where everyone is selfish, why should I act differently?
In this blog post, we explore the meaning and justification of altruistic behavior through the free-riding problem in group assignments. Group activities in university classes are assignments that students don’t readily welcome. While they may appear to be collaborative efforts where difficult tasks are solved together and burdens shared, they actually harbor various problems. The...
Human Relationships in the Digital Age: Have They Grown Closer or More Lonely?
In this blog post, we examine the evolution of social media to reflect on whether human relationships have truly grown closer in the digital age, or if they have become more lonely instead. Humans are social animals. Here, ‘social’ means the ability to think from others’ perspectives, show interest in others, and find meaning in one’s actions within a community. This social...
Why does neural lace technology pose the greatest challenge to human identity?
This blog post delves deeply into how the fusion of brain and technology will transform human identity, and what new modes of existence a society sharing thoughts might create. Are you familiar with the ‘Ship of Theseus’ paradox? This dilemma originates from the Greek and Roman mythological hero, Theseus. After slaying the famed Minotaur in the Cretan labyrinth, Theseus returned to Athens...
Can high salaries alone motivate talent?
“Is a high salary the only solution to retain talent?” Many companies try to solve motivation through monetary rewards, but talent wants more than that. What is an effective way to motivate? Motivation Motivation is not a simple problem solved merely by offering money. Recently, I quit my job and started a business. Perhaps because of my experience working in Silicon Valley, which gave me...
Is the difference in ability between men and women due to innate genetic factors or the result of social environment?
In this blog post, we explore whether the difference in ability between men and women stems from genetic factors or is shaped by the influence of social environment, based on various studies and discussions. Long ago, a university president in the United States sparked fierce backlash after stating, “Women are inherently less capable in mathematics and science.” This remark went beyond a...