Alternative archaeology argues by attacking skeptics rather than answering their questions.… Read the rest
Welcome to our archive of news stories relevant to the project of fighting fashionable nonsense. The stories are drawn from the electronic pages of the world’s media. On this page, you’ll find links to those stories that have been featured on Butterflies and Wheels during the current year. At the bottom of the page, you’ll find links to separate archives of stories from previous years.
We’re always pleased to hear about news stories that you think should be featured on Butterflies and Wheels. Just send an email here, if you want to point one out to us.
A note about links
Inevitably links go out of date. We suggest, therefore, that you make hard-copies of the stories that particularly interest you.
Who Else? 
Apr 29th, 2003 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Of course, the Sugar Lobby is exactly the right group to tell the WHO whether sugar is healthy or not, having no financial interest in the matter.… Read the rest
Gays and Lesbians Denied Human Rights Protection
Apr 29th, 2003 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
What of inalienable rights in a world of cultural relativism?… Read the rest
Anti-Science and Pseudo-science
Apr 28th, 2003 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Loyalty, deference and solidarity replace rational thought and evaluation of evidence.… Read the rest
Back and Forth
Apr 27th, 2003 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Child-rearing has been a site of fashionable nonsense for at least a century.… Read the rest
Robotic Reactions
Apr 27th, 2003 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Mush-headed sentimentality and reluctance to think about religious motivations prevent clear thinking after September 11.… Read the rest
Statistics? What Statistics?
Apr 27th, 2003 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Crime figures go down but three out of four people still think they’re going up.… Read the rest
Deep in Denial
Apr 27th, 2003 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
David Aaronovitch says much of the Left considers America far worse than Saddam’s human rights record.… Read the rest
Interview With Steve Jones
Apr 26th, 2003 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
A conversation about gender, sex, males as parasites, and dinner parties.… Read the rest
Oh That’s Who Likes Goddesses!
Apr 26th, 2003 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Saddam Hussein ‘wrote’ a ‘novel’ and, er, borrowed a painting of a ‘goddess’ for the cover. Very spiritual, she looks.… Read the rest
Then Again
Apr 25th, 2003 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Or maybe the WHO is not over-reacting to SARS after all.… Read the rest
Compelled to Read This
Apr 24th, 2003 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
The New Scientist reviews What Philosophers Think and finds it necessary reading for scientists.… Read the rest
Nobody Go to Toronto!
Apr 24th, 2003 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Could the WHO be over-reacting a tiny bit?… Read the rest
Get a Grip, Ontario Doctor Says
Apr 24th, 2003 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
SARS is nasty but it’s not the plague.… Read the rest
Appeals Panels Versus Teachers
Apr 23rd, 2003 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Teahers’ union calls for an end to panels that can force schools to take back pupils expelled for violence or threats.… Read the rest
Students Just Sliding By
Apr 23rd, 2003 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Survey of New York high school students finds them feeling unchallenged.… Read the rest
Could Do Better
Apr 22nd, 2003 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Matt Ridley is making good progress in agreeing with Steven Rose, Steven Rose says. … Read the rest
Theory
Apr 21st, 2003 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Don’t you wish you’d been there? No? No, nor do we.
External Resources
- Burke on Ruddick
‘if one is more knowledgeable, there really is no basis for rejecting any of their insights, as I was struggling to do.’ - Longer Version of Lisa Ruddick’s Essay
On professional deformation in the humanities. - Professionalism and its Discontents
Lisa Ruddick questions professional norms that rule out certain domains of thought.
Fund Vocational Training Too
Apr 21st, 2003 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Engineering and technical apprenticeships should have as much money and esteem as academic subjects.… Read the rest
We Need Reductionism
Apr 21st, 2003 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Thomas DeGregori on the scientific advances ‘reductionism’ has made possible.… Read the rest
