Compares him to Hazlitt, which is high praise.… Read the rest
All entries by this author
Steven Shapin Arrives at Harvard
Sep 25th, 2004 | Filed by Ophelia BensonShapin’s work is more controversial than article acknowledges.… Read the rest
Hitchens on Knowing Who is the Real Enemy
Sep 25th, 2004 | Filed by Ophelia Benson‘The world these fascists want to create is one of constant submission and servility.’… Read the rest
Discover Compares Bush and Kerry on Science
Sep 25th, 2004 | Filed by Ophelia BensonFeints and winks are one thing, action is another.… Read the rest
Compare Kerry and Bush on Science
Sep 25th, 2004 | Filed by Ophelia BensonThe candidates answer fifteen questions.… Read the rest
Militant Pro-hunt Groups Target Labour MPs
Sep 25th, 2004 | Filed by Ophelia BensonAnimal welfare groups have also been targeted.… Read the rest
Grievance Indeed
Sep 25th, 2004 1:41 am | By Ophelia BensonThis is a highly interesting interview with Christopher Hitchens by Johann Hari. It’s discomforting in some ways – but discomforting things often are interesting, aren’t they. At any rate, Bush or no Bush (and it’s some of the people around Bush he respects, rather than the W-man himself, apparently), Hitchens says some outstanding things, things that need saying. And saying and saying and saying.
… Read the restThe world these fascists want to create is one of constant submission and servility. The individual only has value to them if they enter into a life of constant reaffirmation and prayer. It is pure totalitarianism, and one of the ugliest totalitarianisms we’ve seen. It’s the irrational combined with the idea of a completely closed society…I
Howard Gardner on Personality Tests
Sep 24th, 2004 | Filed by Ophelia BensonThey are popular but not reliable or valid. Uh oh.… Read the rest
Nigerian Teacher Flees Angry Students
Sep 24th, 2004 | Filed by Ophelia BensonChristian teacher has gone into hiding in northern Nigerian city after offending Muslim pupils. … Read the rest
14 Years in Vegetative State
Sep 24th, 2004 | Filed by Ophelia BensonFlorida Supreme Court rules Gov. Bush’s intervention in coma case illegal.… Read the rest
Belief
Sep 23rd, 2004 9:30 pm | By Ophelia BensonThat discussion below in the comments on ‘Memory Tricks’ about memory and how reliable it is or is not, is highly interesting (I think) and suggests a number of other thoughts and subjects. There is for instance the matter of Elizabeth Loftus and her work and what it suggests: that memory is highly unreliable, easily manipulated and changed, a dubious source for evidence, testimony, and information-gathering generally. Not that that was completely unknown before Loftus’ work (defense attorneys have, I believe, long had a heightened awareness of it, for instance), but her research did add some new elements to the picture, and that at a time when memory and its fallibility were in the news, so to speak. That was … Read the rest
My Dinner With No One
Sep 23rd, 2004 5:26 pm | By Ophelia BensonTiming is everything. At least when it is, it is. I say that because in a few days my colleague is going to be in a place with several of our contributors and/or fans and supporters. People I have had energetic email correspondences with, people I admire, people who have a high opinion of B&W which they have conveyed to me with enthusiasm. I would love to be there. These are people I would really love a chance to talk to, to discuss ideas and events relevant to B&W with. In fact I would give a couple of limbs to talk to them. Meera Nanda, for instance, whom I have quoted here so often and who has written several brilliant … Read the rest
Focusing on the Wrong Enemy
Sep 23rd, 2004 | Filed by Ophelia BensonSo much noise about Bush compared to so little about beheaders and other undemocratic types.… Read the rest
Atheism is Career Suicide for US Politicians
Sep 23rd, 2004 | Filed by Ophelia BensonMoratorium on God talk might level the playing field. … Read the rest
Memory Tricks
Sep 22nd, 2004 7:15 pm | By Ophelia BensonEverybody’s favourite Rottweiler, Mr Leiter (maybe it’s Dr Leiter; then again…), cites some Harvard Law professor talking about his experiences of teaching G. W. Bush.
Here’s some of it:
… Read the rest[Bush] was totally the opposite of Chris Cox. He showed pathological lying habits and was in denial when challenged on his prejudices and biases. He would even deny saying something he just said 30 seconds ago. He was famous for that. Students jumped on him; I challenged him.
[In a discussion of government aid for retirees, Bush] “made this ridiculous statement and when I asked him to explain, he said, ‘The government doesn’t have to help poor people — because they are lazy.’ I said, ‘Well, could you explain that
Murdered for Working While Female
Sep 22nd, 2004 | Filed by Ophelia BensonDoctor, pharmacist, veterinarian, professor, lecturer, two public servants.… Read the rest
Whither Theory?
Sep 22nd, 2004 | Filed by Ophelia BensonTheory, theory, theory, high theory, theory, theory. … Read the rest
Edward Skidelsky Reviews Julian Baggini
Sep 22nd, 2004 | Filed by Ophelia Benson‘If value is not cosmic, then it is social.’ Really?… Read the rest
Labeling, Euphemism, Mistakes
Sep 22nd, 2004 | Filed by Ophelia BensonShould terrorists be called militants? Should fugitives be called terrorists? Depends.… Read the rest
Second Hostage Reported Murdered
Sep 22nd, 2004 | Filed by Ophelia BensonMessage on Islamist website claims al-Zarqawi’s group has killed second US hostage in Iraq.… Read the rest