In a while I’ll be setting up a site to showcase my graphic design work. I like the idea of coding the HTML myself (I’m no whizzkid but could manage it) but this might be a rather time – intensive way of doing it. In fact, hand – coding might be the ultimate in ‘avoiding the real work’, if you know what I mean…
A slightly retrospective post, this. I revised for my first exam in the British Library. In theory, as an undergrad with access to the Birkbeck library, I shouldn’t really be in the British Library. However, they seem flexible on this, and the BL is much better than Birkbeck. For example, they have every book published in the UK, which beats competing with all my classmates for a few key texts. The books are closed access, though, so you have to order them in advance.
The BL also has an incredibly studious atmosphere- no pens or bags in the reading room, spacious and comfortable desks, each with their own little lamp. When I go there, I shift easily into ‘study mode’. I find it much harder to do that at Birkbeck– my distractible nature means I’m always breaking my concentration.
Posted in philosophy, studious
Does Mill’s liberty principle provide a satisfactory criterion by which to judge whether interference in another person’s actions is justifiable?
Introduction
Be clear- I agree!
Mill’s principle is not absolute
The appeal to liberty as default condition is strongly intuitive
The ‘harm’ qualification is useful and clear
But!
Problems posed by utilitarianism (not compatible with ‘rights’)
How to (and who) discerns ‘good’
Examples of where utilitarianism is useful (and where it isn’t)
Conclusion
Posted in ideas, philosophy
Why according to Rousseau are dissentient individuals obliged to obey the general will under the conditions of the Social Contract?
Introduction
What is the general will?
Background- what is Rousseau trying to do?
How is it discerned (problems with this process?)
What is the social contract?
Contrast with other kinds of ‘contract’
NB not the same as ‘accepting’ benign authority
Why R. states that all must obey general will
Examples (murder)
Consequences of not obeying
Problems this leads to
Conclusion
Posted in ideas, philosophy
A couple of years ago, I ‘downgraded’ to the most basic mobile phone I could get my hands on. I specifically wanted something that wouldn’t need to be ‘upgraded’ in a few months’ time. It was cheap, too.
Why do I resist the relentless upgrades? Partly a desire for simplicity, but also a worry about the consequences of the relentless demand for new mobile phones. Each mobile contains Coltan, a metallic ore used to produce the elements niobium and tantalum. The Democratic Republic of Congo contains 80% of the world’s Coltan reserves. A ticket to prosperity, you might think. Sadly, it seems that Coltan is fuelling conflict in the DRC.
John Le Carré’s recent book, The Mission Song looks at the issue of Coltan in the DRC. I’m a fan of Le Carré- I might give it a read!
[This post also came out from a chat with Sergio- sorry, Sergio, for not getting the name of the mineral right!]
Posted in ideas
These days, we tend to feel guilty or bad about more and more things, because they have a destructive impact on the world we share with others. Sometimes this can lead to an all-consuming anxiety, feeling like just existing as a normal person in an industrial society is a sin in itself.
How to transform this general anxiety into something more useful?
A good friend of mine, Sergio, gave me something of an answer to this last night. He said:
“When you’re thinking of doing something, and wondering whether that thing is sustainable, imagine what would happen if everyone did the same as you.”
I find this such a useful thought, because it highlights how small choices have big impacts when you look at the bigger picture.
Just spent the weekend climbing in the Lakes. We did two long routes on the Napes. A great day, no ‘faff’ and lots of sunshine.
I’m very new to climbing, so rely on kind folks like Rick to lead and make sure I don’t do anything silly (like falling off). Before I started climbing, I had thought that it would be really strenuous. In fact, it’s probably much more mental than physical- particularly on long routes, where a lot of thinking and checking is needed what with setting up belays and so on.
It’s also interesting to think about the level of risk involved. Of course an unprotected fall would be very, very serious. However, any climber worth their salt will make sure that if a fall is likely, the protection in place is rock solid. Climbing culture is full of ritual and talk about staying safe: “climb when ready!”, ‘bomber protection’ etc. So in a way, although by climbing you’re entering a risky environment, at any given point you have a lot of choice about how exposed you are to risk.
Climbers are also a great bumch to hang out with. All that time scrabbling round on crags seems to give them a very sharp sense of humour. Climbing routes have very evocative names, like one called ‘Balls like spacehoppers’.
Big thanks to Rick, Gemma and Paul for taking on a climbing newbie and giving me such a great day!
Many conservative thinkers talk about ‘wealth creation’ as a way of reducing poverty. I’m not so sure- to my mind, wealth is a result of distribution of resources, rather than something which is ‘created’ from nothing. I also think that poverty is a prerequisite of wealth, and vice versa.
Having said that, I recently studied (as part of my philosophy course) a good critique of economic redistribution from Robert Nozick. He makes the point that a just redistribution of wealth is not the same as an equal distribution of wealth, in his Wilt Chamberlain example.
I think that Nozick’s argument that redistributing wealth impinges on people’s rights to their ‘just entitlement’ is very compelling. It appeals to the feeling that people shouldn’t be taxed just for being wealthy. But it does rest on the assumption that the distribution of wealth was fair in the first place (!)
I’m a bit undecided on the whole tax question. I can see real value in doing things collectively (hospitals, schools, public transport…) but I also think that the state should interfere as little as possible. Perhaps that means I’m a typical voter, wanting less taxes but more services!
Posted in ideas, philosophy
“Few people think more than two or three times a year; I have made an international reputation for myself by thinking once or twice a week.”
George Bernard Shaw(thanks Dad!)
Posted in ideas, philosophy
Apologies for the obvious headline 😉
So it looks like Ian Paisley will go into government with the people he said he’d never talk to- no wonder Gerry Adams looks so pleased. I think this is a really positive development, and a major step for both parties. When the DUP and Sinn Féin surged ahead of moderate parties in succesive elections, many people felt that the peace process might stall indefinitely.
Although the development is historic and should be cheered, it’s still shot through with irony. Paisley has made most of his electoral gains on the basis that he would refuse to sit alongside Republicans for much longer than anyone else. Equally, most of the concessions Adams has obtained through the peace process have come because it’s taken unionists of all flavours so long to grit their teeth and sit down with the Sinners.
Another ironic aspect- what was the burning issue which brought the great statesmen together? The prospect of NI voters being hit with a water tax!
I suppose it shows that, for all their tribalism, NI politicians are ‘grown up’ political operators underneath- they might be reluctant to be seen sitting next to their respective bogeymen, but they’re even more reluctant to be linked to a new tax…
Posted in ideas, philosophy
things that might have been otherwise 