Call it special pleading, but there’s a reason to keep old people alive. It’s not that we’re wiser. It’s that we’re more likely to’ve seen it all before. For example: Back in the day – by which I mean when… Read More ›
Social and Political Philosophy
JUST WALK AWAY
In Canada, the US and the Antipodes, English is the name of the language spoken by us Western settler colonialists. I accept that. So those opposed to Western settler colonialism should have no trouble accepting that the language they’re speaking… Read More ›
DYSPHORIA
You say you present as a man but you feel like a woman. I get the first part, because I can see that you do, but I’m not sure I understand the second. How would you know what it feels… Read More ›
HOW TO GIVE PEACE A CHANCE
Try as it might, no constitution can include a mechanism for its own suspension, since if that mechanism were invoked it would have been constitutional to do so. That’s just a matter of logic. By contrast it’s not strictly speaking… Read More ›
UNIVERSITY ADMINISTRATORS
Tom Stoppard’s Rosencrantz & Guildenstern Are Dead is one of the cleverest plays every written. If you haven’t read it, it’s about two characters in Shakespeare’s Hamlet who pop into being without the slightest idea of who they are or… Read More ›
THE MEANING OF OBSCENITY
I’m going to make up a stat, but I’m guessing it won’t be too far off the mark. I’m going to claim the mainstream media dedicated 17 times the coverage to the loss of those 5 would-be adventurers in a… Read More ›
OF VIAGRA AND MIDOL
No socialist believes the state should cover even our discretionary expenses, like dinners out; and no libertarian believes the state shouldn’t provide us with police, the courts, and national defence. But everything other than police and courts and national defence… Read More ›
MENSTRUATION SHAMING AT THE UNIVERSITY OF WATERLOO
Before you read this, take a look: Menstrual Equity at Waterloo Apart from the bit about free tampons in the women’s washrooms, my wife thinks this is just bat shit crazy. I disagree. I’ve already reported on the number of… Read More ›
CONVOLUTION
The fallacy of self-exclusion is an old saw in philosophy. Common example? Intolerance of intolerance. Or, “There’s no place for hate at the University of Fill-in-the-Blank!”, except of course for our hatred of haters. Or, “Our mandate is a university… Read More ›
RUSSIA, UKRAINE, CALIFORNIA AND BRAZIL
Trade relations are transitive. If America trades with Brazil and Brazil trades with Russia, then America just is trading with Russia. So if America doesn’t want to trade with Russia, it has to tell Brazil, “Either you can trade with… Read More ›
Paulosophical Vimplications 