Anthony Glees says up to 48 British universities have been infiltrated by fundamentalists.… Read the rest
All entries by this author
Maybe the Physicists Have it Backwards 
Mar 12th, 2007 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Maybe the world is the product of one aspect of biology, the mind, and not the other way around.… Read the rest
A C Grayling on Falling Short of Perfection
Mar 12th, 2007 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
In a sin culture even the suspicion of hypocrisy in the messenger is enough to harm the message.… Read the rest
M F Burnyeat on Pythagoras
Mar 12th, 2007 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
The more arbitrary the discipline, the more it works to reinforce belief in the cause. … Read the rest
Nussbaum interview
Mar 11th, 2007 12:24 pm | By Ophelia BensonThis interview with Martha Nussbaum is full of interesting stuff.
I find that the US is in a way one of the most difficult places for philosophy to play a public role because the media are so sensationalistic and so anti-intellectual. If I go to most countries in Europe I’ll have a much easier time publishing in a newspaper than I would in the US. The New York Times op-ed page is very dumbed down and I no longer even bother trying to get something published there because they don’t like anything that has a complicated argument.
Undeniable, and depressing, and irritating. This is one reason we have to laugh loudly and scornfully whenever the NY Times tells us (as … Read the rest
Johann Hari on Mark Steyn’s Silly Fantasy
Mar 11th, 2007 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
A masterclass in how not to resist Islamism.… Read the rest
John Gray on The Song Before It Is Sung
Mar 11th, 2007 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
‘Humans may fashion their lives, but in some of their most vital decisions they have no choice.’… Read the rest
Anne Barton on Ron Rosenbaum on Shakespeare
Mar 11th, 2007 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
The book is being widely read; but it is, in many respects, inaccurate and seriously misleading.… Read the rest
Mock Anything Except Religion
Mar 11th, 2007 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Political satire is good fun, but religious satire makes people scamper away in fear.… Read the rest
UN Calls for End of Impunity
Mar 11th, 2007 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
‘Violence against women is rightly termed the most common but least punished crime in the world.’… Read the rest
Impunity for Violence Against Women
Mar 11th, 2007 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Look, if a woman never leaves home, she’ll never be raped, so if she’s raped, it’s her fault.… Read the rest
Report on Women’s Rights Seminar
Mar 11th, 2007 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Women standing up for their rights against a controlling and often violent religious establishment.… Read the rest
Jesus and Mo on Knowing all the Answers
Mar 10th, 2007 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Or at least believing you know them. Good enough.… Read the rest
Jesus and Mo on Certainty and Doubt
Mar 10th, 2007 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
The barmaid isn’t so sure.… Read the rest
Johann Hari on Genuinely Comprehensive Schools
Mar 10th, 2007 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Voices of raw class privilege cast off meritocracy to demand privileges for People Like Us.… Read the rest
Michael Walzer Replies to Jerome Slater
Mar 10th, 2007 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Talk of ‘the political power of American Jews’ is a very dangerous trope.… Read the rest
Evangelicals ‘Speak Out’ Against Gay Rights
Mar 10th, 2007 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Evangelical Alliance says regulations will unfairly jeopardise expression of religion and belief.… Read the rest
An historic 8 March in Iran
Mar 10th, 2007 | By Maryam KoushaPeople in Iran welcomed 8th March this year by organising many events well ahead of the actual day in different cities all over the country. It culminated in major gatherings on Thursday, international women’s day. People were passionate about the day, had prepared manifestos, resolutions and banners demanding equality, condemning gender apartheid and women’s oppression. As usual the Islamic regime tried everything to halt and prevent these events. Despite massive paramilitary and secret police presence, many pickets and gatherings took place.
Tehran
Several thousand people gathered around Tehran University by 4 pm Tehran’s time to start an 8 March rally which was called by 8 March organising committee, endorsed by OWL. However, this gathering was prevented from commencing by the … Read the rest
Keep your dang bulwark
Mar 9th, 2007 12:04 pm | By Ophelia BensonYou know, bulwarks are useful things when there’s a hurricane, or a flood, or maybe a mob of ravenous aggressive rabbits approaching the town; but other times, not so much. There are some bulwarks we don’t much want, some bulwarks we’d rather not have, thanks. Take your bulwark and go away. This one for instance.
Why has the church taken a stand on [the issue of gay adoptions] when it barely protested against the introduction of civil partnerships last year? Is this largely a symbolic issue, a stand-in for a much deeper debate about the relationship between faith and the state? Does the church see itself as the last bulwark against an encroaching tide of liberalism?
Maybe so, and … Read the rest
‘Faith’ in the State
Mar 9th, 2007 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
‘Does the church see itself as the last bulwark against an encroaching tide of liberalism?’… Read the rest
