All entries by this author

Szasz Meets (or Doesn’t Meet) His Critics *

Feb 3rd, 2005 | Filed by

Szasz says illness is physical not mental; critics say that’s false; Szasz says it’s true.… Read the rest



Oops – Discovery Institute Let Cat Out of Bag *

Feb 3rd, 2005 | Filed by

Design theory promises a science consonant with Christian and theistic convictions.… Read the rest



A Slide Into Non-communicating Interest Groups *

Feb 3rd, 2005 | Filed by

Faith schools become places where young minds can be turned away from understanding other cultures.… Read the rest



Talib Khadim Released *

Feb 3rd, 2005 | Filed by

Kidnapped Iraqi union official has been freed.… Read the rest



The Naturalistic Fallacy and Sophie’s Choice

Feb 3rd, 2005 | By Paula Bourges Waldegg

It’s not hard to accept that there’s a pressing need to find answers for the questions that issues such as cloning, pollution, or genetic manipulation entail. However, it is difficult to agree which are these questions and their possible answers because the debate is often driven by the naturalistic fallacy, the belief that nature is essentially good. The environmentalist movement, for instance, frequently appeals to the goodness of nature as a way to promote their causes. Many of the fears and misconceptions that shape our options and influence our choices are a result of this fallacy. Exposing them is therefore essential to reconcile clashing positions and find solutions that don’t force us to choose between man and nature.

A friend … Read the rest



Restrictions on Intimidation by Animal Activists *

Feb 2nd, 2005 | Filed by

Colin Blakemore: researchers must be able to work without fear of intimidation.… Read the rest



Autonomy Revisited

Feb 1st, 2005 11:50 pm | By

In a N&C (Circumstances) a few days ago I asked a lot of questions about the relation (if any) between ethical commitments and autonomy. About whether it’s possible to have ethical commitments (as opposed to rules) at all without autonomy. I don’t know the answer. But I am skeptical about the possibility, and I think that problem (if it is one) gets overlooked too easily, when people think about religion as a source of ethical commitments and ideas.

I happened on some relevant remarks this morning, so thought I would add them to the mix. They’re by Susan Moller Okin in Is Multiculturalism Bad for Women? pp. 129-130.

Even the most prominent ‘political liberal’ of all, John Rawls, who rejects

Read the rest


Ether

Feb 1st, 2005 8:36 pm | By

Speaking of radio (there’s a deft transition for you), I keep meaning to recommend this In Our Time from last month. It’s on the Mind-Body Problem, and the contestants are – no, that’s not right – the people doing the talking are Sue James, Anthony Grayling and Julian Baggini. It gets very amusing toward the end when Julian and Anthony Grayling get in a punch-up. No, I’m only joking. But Grayling says a rude word to Julian in Latin, and Julian laughs – rough stuff for philosophy! No not really, philosophy is actually very aggressive; it’s more aggressive than squash. No, not really, nothing is more aggressive than squash. They were talking about how aggressive the squash game in … Read the rest



Tel Hits One Out of the Park

Feb 1st, 2005 6:58 pm | By

Update – I decided to move this one too, since the discussion is still going on. Chris M supplied this link and this one.

Oh, jeezis. I saw a reference to Terry Eagleton’s piece in the Guardian at Normblog earlier today, but didn’t read it. I saw another reference just now at Harry’s place, and this time I did read it. It was – very horrible. Way more horrible than I expected. I’m not sure why. There’s just something about the preening, lit-critty, self-admiring tone of it all, of the aesthetic approach to mass murder, that just made my gorge rise. It’s as if he’s, I don’t know, admiring his reflection in a pool of blood, or combing his … Read the rest



Introduction to a Satirical Dictionary *

Feb 1st, 2005 | Filed by

A way of seeing the world which enables us to decide all questions in our own favour.… Read the rest



Island of Skepticism in Sea of Religious Conformity *

Feb 1st, 2005 | Filed by

As religion entrenches itself, atheists become ever more marginal.… Read the rest



Self-Censorship in US Classrooms *

Feb 1st, 2005 | Filed by

Teachers avoid the subject of evolution to avoid trouble.… Read the rest



Threats Prevent ‘Submission’ Screening *

Feb 1st, 2005 | Filed by

Organisers of Rotterdam Film Festival cancel showing of Van Gogh-Hirsi Ali film, on advice of police.… Read the rest



Comfort-Myth

Feb 1st, 2005 1:56 am | By

There are a lot of bizarre remarks in this piece in the LRB.

Within the limits he sets himself, Sharpe’s book is admirable…He takes pride in bringing to his task the skills of a professional historian, determined to ‘get history right’. He sets out to expose the stories told about Turpin since his death as factually incorrect…Sharpe is uncomfortable with myths.

Um…why should Sharpe not be ‘uncomfortable’ with myths? (That sentence is a good example of why ‘comfortable’ is one of the first words that was defined in the Fashionable Dictionary – the original one, the one on B&W. ‘Comfortable’ is such a weasel word. What’s comfort got to do with anything? It’s not about bums on seats, or … Read the rest



Order, Design, Whatever

Feb 1st, 2005 1:55 am | By

I heard a classic example of the journalistic habit of translation that I have pointed out a few times in the past, earlier today on the BBC World Service. It was a discussion of creationism and the pressure to get it taught in US schools, between Peter Atkins and creationist Donald DeYoung. At one point DeYoung (or else the journalist) mentioned ‘design’ and Atkins said ‘There is no design in nature.’ DeYoung didn’t hear, and Atkins repeated with great distinctness and emphasis, ‘There. is. no. design. in. nature.’ DeYoung, a physicist, disagreed and talked about the weight of the proton: if it had been just a tiny amount heavier, etc (the anthropic principle, in short). The journalist cut that … Read the rest



The AAUP on Academic Bill of Rights *

Jan 31st, 2005 | Filed by

Academic Bill of Rights infringes academic freedom in the very act of purporting to protect it.… Read the rest



Why Can’t History Be More Like Lit Crit? *

Jan 31st, 2005 | Filed by

Concern with facts and critical thinking makes historian ‘uncomfortable with myths.’ … Read the rest



The B-Word at a College of Ethnic Studies *

Jan 31st, 2005 | Filed by

He said ‘That bitch didn’t show up again?’ not ‘You, Professor X, are a bitch.’… Read the rest



Martin Rees: Think Big, Like Einstein *

Jan 31st, 2005 | Filed by

Everyday world presents intellectual challenges as daunting as those of cosmos and quantum.… Read the rest



Relax. Relax. Why Won’t You Relax!? *

Jan 31st, 2005 | Filed by

A shaman, soul awakening, transpersonal therapists, and other nightmares.… Read the rest