“I’m sure that is Humpty Dumpty sitting atop that wall,” Alice thought to herself, espying him from a distance. As she approached she remarked out loud “But he looks just like an egg.” “And she looks just like a typical Br-eggs-iteer with her public school accent and old-fashioned attire,” came back the riposte. “I’m sure… Continue reading Humpty Dumpty Explains Br-eggs-it
Author: Colin Turfus
Colin Turfus is a quantitative risk manager with 16 years experience in investment banking. He has a PhD in applied mathematics from Cambridge University and has published research in fluid dynamics, astronomy and quantitative finance.
Is It True that There Is No Such Thing as Truth?
After a day or two among the people of one village he visited, the prophet Zarathustra began to see that they were a tight-knit community where everyone took an interest in what others were doing and readily offered help when it was needed. But as a consequence of this getting along, they had all come… Continue reading Is It True that There Is No Such Thing as Truth?
Do appearances trump substance?
One morning Zarathustra was after his usual fashion preaching in the village square when he was disturbed by a voice from a heckler from the back of the crowd announcing that they had a question. The prophet was always in two minds when this happened. It irked him considerably that such people disrupted his flow… Continue reading Do appearances trump substance?
In a Global Village, Who Is My Neighbour?
One day an expert in critical theory and postmodern thought stood up to test Zarathustra’s credentials. “Teacher,” he asked, “how should I best demonstrate my virtue to the world?” “What is written about such matters?” came back the reply. “That I should publicly avow the truth of postmodern ideology that there is no such thing… Continue reading In a Global Village, Who Is My Neighbour?
Is Cultural Appropriation Appropriate Behaviour?
Zarathustra resolved to choose twelve disciples that he might send them forth to preach in his name. But lo, he saw that the village was made up of simple working-class people who did not have the benefit like himself of a degree in postmodern studies with a major in critical theory. So he chose from among them a multiracial group, which is to say in its politically correct definition a selection excluding any persons who could be construed as racially white, because he was aware from sociological research recently reported by Zoe Williams in The Guardian that there is no such thing as white working class, except insofar as it is characterised by a racist attitude.
Is Free Speech Compatible with the Achievement of Social Justice?
Thus do I speak unto you in parable, ye who preach against EQUALITY! Scorpions are ye unto me, thou secretly alt-righteous ones! But I will soon bring your hiding-places to the light: therefore do I tear at your web sites, that your rage may lure you out of your den of alt-truth, and that your… Continue reading Is Free Speech Compatible with the Achievement of Social Justice?
The Tarantulas
Thus do I speak unto you in parable, ye who make the soul giddy, ye preachers of EQUALITY! Tarantulas are ye unto me, and secretly revengeful ones! But I will soon bring your hiding-places to the light: therefore do I laugh in your face my laughter of the height. Therefore do I tear at your… Continue reading The Tarantulas
The Return of Zarathustra
After several months and years in the solitude of his cave, waiting like a sower who hath scattered his seed, Zarathustra’s soul became impatient and full of longing for those whom he loved; his wisdom meanwhile increased, and caused him pain by its abundance. Then one morning, he awoke ere the rosy dawn, and in… Continue reading The Return of Zarathustra
Has the postmodern revolution gone full circle?
Happily, the inconsistency and incoherence of the postmodernist perspective is increasingly being challenged by a new generation of thinkers from across the political spectrum. For example Ken Wilber in his Trump and a Post-Truth World notes how postmodernism has played itself out and in attempting to create a new basis for determining truth has ultimately undermined it.
Lexicon for the Moral Maze
Do you find yourself confused or bewildered by what passes for moral debate in the social milieu these days? Asking yourself why so many people seem to be so hot under the collar about things that would have passed as normal behaviour only a few years ago? Don’t worry. It’s a common problem people have… Continue reading Lexicon for the Moral Maze