All entries by this author

Carnegie Endowment: Arab Reform Bulletin *

Feb 23rd, 2004 | Filed by

Special issue on political Islam.… Read the rest



What Happened to Arab Feminism? *

Feb 23rd, 2004 | Filed by

Lee Smith says Arab states typically use Islam to restrict women’s rights. … Read the rest



Another Installment

Feb 21st, 2004 7:16 pm | By

I suppose you’re thinking I’ve fallen silent. That, exhausted by all the to-and-fro, the heat and light, the blood sweat and tears of late, I’ve shrugged and yawned and decided to take up ping pong in a serious way.

No I don’t, not really, I don’t suppose you’re thinking about it one way or another, on account of how you have better things to think about. I just like to say things like that. I only do it to annoy, because I know it teases. At any rate, no, I haven’t fallen silent. On the contrary, I had a whole stack of things to talk about on Thursday, along with the ones I didn’t get to last week – and … Read the rest



Statement by Concerned Scientists *

Feb 21st, 2004 | Filed by

Call for restoring scientific integrity to federal policymaking.… Read the rest



Policy Goals Trump Science *

Feb 21st, 2004 | Filed by

Prominent scientists issue statement saying Bush administration distorts facts.… Read the rest



That Sums it Up *

Feb 21st, 2004 | Filed by

A cartoon on how to do science.… Read the rest



Eight Commentators on the Hijab *

Feb 21st, 2004 | Filed by

A range of views.… Read the rest



Sharing Dislike of Repressive Practices *

Feb 21st, 2004 | Filed by

Veil-wearing feminist and anti-veil feminist failing to understand one another.… Read the rest



Journal Regrets MMR Autism Paper *

Feb 20th, 2004 | Filed by

Paper should never have been published, concedes Lancet editor.… Read the rest



Government to Proceed With GM Maize *

Feb 20th, 2004 | Filed by

Despite public opposition, there is no scientific case for a ban.… Read the rest



Twenty Years On *

Feb 20th, 2004 | Filed by

Naomi Wolf’s new book claims sexual harrassment at Yale two decades ago.… Read the rest



Freud Was Fantastically Wrong *

Feb 19th, 2004 | Filed by

Academics have been infinitely creative in their efforts to whitewash his errors. … Read the rest



A Fun Project

Feb 18th, 2004 9:05 pm | By

I linked a few days ago to an excellent article by Chris Mooney about a long article promoting ‘Intelligent Design’ in the Harvard Law Review. It’s worrisome stuff.

Still, you can understand why a rave review in the Harvard Law Review would get the ID crowd excited. Such a publication represents intellectual legitimization of a sort that traditional creationists never achieved. “The whole game plan here is to credential the movement,” observes Florida State University law professor Steven Gey, a specialist in legal issues surrounding the teaching of evolution. Gey calls the Harvard Law Review piece “very weak” in its assessment of the legal case for teaching ID in public schools. But he adds, “I suspect this Harvard note

Read the rest


Colloquy With David Horowitz *

Feb 18th, 2004 | Filed by

How would the promotion of ‘intellectual diversity’ actually work? Many questions.… Read the rest



Political Standards versus Academic Criteria *

Feb 18th, 2004 | Filed by

Would Horowitz’ plan invite too much meddling by the state in academic matters?… Read the rest



Aux Armes, Intellectuels! *

Feb 18th, 2004 | Filed by

Petition accuses French centre-right government of war on intelligence.… Read the rest



Intellectual Diversity *

Feb 18th, 2004 | Filed by

David Horowitz wants to clarify and extend existing principles of academic freedom.… Read the rest



We Need Not More Theory but More Mettle *

Feb 18th, 2004 | Filed by

If you’re going to teach ethics, teach about self-deception.… Read the rest



Sleeping In An Age Of Waiting

Feb 17th, 2004 11:28 pm | By

Okay, so it’s obvious that the Deluded Socialists are a bit odd. I mean look at their names for starters (P. Traven, D.S. Burton, P. S. Burton, Ben Illin, et al). What’s with the Burton twins? I can’t believe they’re married – after all that’s hardly revolutionary – but I’d lay odds that they’ve both adopted “Socialist” as a middle name. Shame they’re named after a gentleman’s clothing outlet, though.

But what is striking is just that they are extraordinarily boring. Now, it’s a truth almost universally acknowledged that there isn’t going to be a socialist revolution any time soon (well, at all, really). And sure, Marxist theory is pretty much a joke – and hell, I’ve read an awful … Read the rest



The Hazlitt Comparison

Feb 17th, 2004 10:56 pm | By

You may remember that I talked about Hazlitt’s Letter to Gifford recently. I forget what made me think of it then – I think it was something I was discussing with Scott McLemee, but I misremember what. Something has put it in my head again. Memory is an odd thing. Anyway, this is what I said last time. Somehow I just feel like saying it again.

The letter to Gifford starts off briskly:

Sir, You have an ugly trick of saying what is not true of any one you do not like; and it will be the object of this letter to cure you of it.

There are so many people around who have that ugly trick, these days. How … Read the rest