About Rationally Speaking


Rationally Speaking is a blog maintained by Prof. Massimo Pigliucci, a philosopher at the City University of New York. The blog reflects the Enlightenment figure Marquis de Condorcet's idea of what a public intellectual (yes, we know, that's such a bad word) ought to be: someone who devotes himself to "the tracking down of prejudices in the hiding places where priests, the schools, the government, and all long-established institutions had gathered and protected them." You're welcome. Please notice that the contents of this blog can be reprinted under the standard Creative Commons license.

Saturday, February 04, 2012

Massimo's Picks

by Massimo Pigliucci

* US voters not as partisan as their parties.

* The ethics of brain boosting.

* Philosophy & Theory in Biology: what is the twofold cost of sex?

* On the use of philosophy.

* A good argument in defense of teachers' unions.

* (More) reasons not to trust your banker.

* The important thing about dishonesty is that we should try to be honest about it.

* Scientists boycotting Elsevier.

* The hypocrisy of the American Supreme Court, politicians and the media, all in one clip.

* Is there a god gap for atheism?

Religion for atheists? de Botton says so.

* How the Government intimidates journalists and bloggers.

Frank Cioffi, critic of Freud.

2 comments:

  1. Regarding Stewart's "A Love Supreme - Profanity & Nudity on TV".

    So, depicting acts of violence against women on prime time television is perfectly acceptable, whilst depicting a woman being made love to or disrobing and taking a shower is not?

    This illogic certainly is not accidental given the context of the Judeo-Christian nightmare of a worldview: acts of cruelty and violence are common currency in the Hebrew texts.

    Personally, I suspect the Abrahamic god is angry that he has never felt the caress of a lover...

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. To be fair, emphasizing the moral seriousness of sex over violence is not confined to the Judeo-Christian worldview; it seems to be a peculiarly human mistake.

      Delete

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