Philosopher debunks Kentucky-fried rat and other urban and rural legends.
Category: Latest News
Welcome to our archive of news stories relevant to the project of fighting fashionable nonsense. The stories are drawn from the electronic pages of the world’s media. On this page, you’ll find links to those stories that have been featured on Butterflies and Wheels during the current year. At the bottom of the page, you’ll find links to separate archives of stories from previous years.
We’re always pleased to hear about news stories that you think should be featured on Butterflies and Wheels. Just send an email here, if you want to point one out to us.
A note about links
Inevitably links go out of date. We suggest, therefore, that you make hard-copies of the stories that particularly interest you.
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Bulletin on Women’s Rights in Middle East
Unequal divorce law in Egypt, law on honour killing in Pakistan, and more.
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Theistic Politicians a bit of a Worry
Especially when they think they have a hotline to the deity.
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And Don’t Mention the Deity
Hollywood adaptation of Philip Pullman’s trilogy will omit anti-religious sentiments.
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With Socrates on the Sofa
Or Kant on the couch, Hume on the hideabed, Locke on the loveseat.
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Stupid Dino Tricks
A visit to Kent Hovind’s Dinosaur Adventure Land in Florida.
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He Sounded White Over the Phone
BNP hires black DJ for party; revellers feel unable to speak views openly; party a dud.
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Where is the Argument to be Found?
Philosopher reviews Harold Bloom book on wisdom, asks questions.
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Blunkett Faces Revolt Over Religious Hatred Law
MPs, legal experts, comedians and others point out obvious flaws in idea.
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Rowan Atkinson at Index on Censorship
Is a tolerant society one which tolerates injustices simply because they are perpetrated in the name of religion?
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When Diversity Meets Islamism
And when tolerance meets violence against women.
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New Offense of ‘Inciting Religious Hatred’
Via words that are abusive, insulting, likely to stir up racial hatred.
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Were Enlightenment Deists Paper Tigers?
Was deism a mere bogey invented by bishops to frighten waverers?
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Wot’s Proactive Translatology?
Discoursal practice implies social commitment. Etc. [link fixed]
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Well Done, Bladders
Rowan Atkinson and others criticise religious hatred clause.
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Between Right-wing Extremists and Islamic Fundamentalists
‘If you are a girl…It is always fear and fear and fear.’
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Death Threats Against Mimount Bousakla
Socialist senator Mimount Bousakla in Belgium under police protection after death threats.
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‘The Delusional is no Longer Marginal’
Bill Moyers on the environment and the ‘rapture index.’
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Alan Ryan on Intellectual Courage
Aristotle, self-reliance, Hobbes, the problem of certainty.
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George Kateb on Courage as Virtue
War, fear, shame; delight in seeing, comradeship, destruction.