‘Mangling some of the facts is one thing, but de Botton’s cruelty to English prose is less forgivable.’… Read the rest
All entries by this author
A Seductive Story
May 15th, 2006 | By Allen EstersonThere are some historical stories that are so compelling that no amount of scholarly refutation seems to undermine them. One such is the familiar tale that early in Freud’s career as a psychotherapist most of his female patients told him they had been sexually abused in childhood, generally by their father. On 7 May 2006 New Zealand National Radio broadcast a programme devoted to Freud in which this story was taken as historical fact. Most of the programme was devoted to two interviews, one with Jeffrey Masson, the other with Eric Kandel, a professor of Physiology & Cellular Biophysics at Columbia University. As one would anticipate, Masson was asked about the events that made his name familiar to a wide … Read the rest
Interlude for Own-trumpet-blowing
May 14th, 2006 7:54 pm | By Ophelia BensonOkay how can I do this without being repellent and awful. I can’t. Okay I’m going to be repellent and awful. But hey, there’s such a thing as marketing and advertising, you know – don’t think of it as being repellent and awful, think of it as advertising. What am I supposed to do, co-write a book and then not say anything about it? Well then!
Right, so Johann Hari wrote this review of Why Truth Matters. It seems fair to say he thinks it’s good. Boastful and repellent, but fair.
He concludes pleasantly.
… Read the restIn Why Truth Matters, Benson and Stangroom answer the clotted, barely readable sentences of the postmodernists with sentences so clear you could swim in them.
Opus Dei Has Historically Always Been Bad Guy
May 14th, 2006 | Filed by Ophelia BensonNow they get to be victim: ‘a small Catholic group that is being beaten up by big, bad Hollywood.’… Read the rest
Rod Liddle on Ruth Kelly
May 14th, 2006 | Filed by Ophelia BensonIs it possible to be minister for equality while wishing in your heart to smite all sodomites asunder? … Read the rest
Roadblocks to Equality for Women
May 14th, 2006 | Filed by Ophelia BensonWorldwide, the situation is grim. Keep your eyes on the prize.… Read the rest
Johann Hari Reviews Why Truth Matters
May 14th, 2006 | Filed by Ophelia BensonModesty forbids.… Read the rest
Hello, Canada?
May 14th, 2006 1:15 am | By Ophelia BensonThe walls keep getting closer and closer and closer. Read Michelle Goldberg on the subject if you want to have nightmares for a week.
Speaking to outsiders, most Christian nationalists say they’re simply responding to anti-Christian persecution. They say that secularism is itself a religion, one unfairly imposed on them. They say they’re the victims in the culture wars. But Christian nationalist ideologues don’t want equality, they want dominance.
Yes of course they say secularism is a religion. Secularism is a religion, science is a religion, ‘evolutionism’ is a religion, ‘Darwinism’ is a religion, atheism is a religion, humanism is a religion, naturalism is a religion, rationality is a religion, everything that doesn’t bow down and grovel before their benighted … Read the rest
Eve Garrard on Joffe Bill
May 13th, 2006 | Filed by Ophelia BensonThe person whose life it is is best able to decide what its intrinsic value is.… Read the rest
Michelle Goldberg on Theocrats Militant
May 13th, 2006 | Filed by Ophelia BensonBe afraid.… Read the rest
Shirin Ebadi Against the Mullahs
May 13th, 2006 | Filed by Ophelia BensonForced to resign as Iran’s first female judge when the revolutionaries decided women were unfit.… Read the rest
Adam Smith Abducted Again
May 13th, 2006 | Filed by Ophelia BensonSmith’s genius as an economist cannot be separated from his decency as a human being.… Read the rest
Samuel Brittan on Mill
May 13th, 2006 | Filed by Ophelia BensonMill’s views on politics came from the same vein of thinking as his scholarly studies.… Read the rest
Joffe Bill Blocked
May 12th, 2006 | Filed by Ophelia BensonYou Gov poll commissioned by Dignity in Dying showed overall public support for the law.… Read the rest
Lords Block Assisted Dying Bill
May 12th, 2006 | Filed by Ophelia BensonThank the archbishops if you die in pain.… Read the rest
The Loony Scientist Stereotype
May 12th, 2006 | Filed by Ophelia BensonHow it does linger.… Read the rest
Fired Editor of CMAJ on Editorial Independence
May 12th, 2006 | Filed by Ophelia Benson‘The notion that politically sensitive topics can be expunged from a medical journal is folly.’… Read the rest
Poland Bans Some TV Ads During Pope’s Visit
May 12th, 2006 | Filed by Ophelia BensonAlcohol, underwear, contraceptives (well duh), and – sanitary towels? Because…?… Read the rest
Polly Toynbee Resists Cabal of Believers
May 12th, 2006 | Filed by Ophelia Benson‘Today is the day when the forces of superstition will try to cut off any further debate.’… Read the rest
Religious ‘Leaders’ Team Up to Fight Legislation
May 12th, 2006 | Filed by Ophelia Benson‘We believe that all human life is sacred and God-given.’ That’s nice, but so what?… Read the rest