The concept of freedom, which has held sway in the West for at least the past 250 years and been a feature, particularly in the English-speaking world, for much longer, is now under attack on multiple fronts.
Author: Don Trubshaw
Don Trubshaw is a co-founder of the website Societal Values. He has a PhD in the philosophy and sociology of education and teaches in Higher Education.
Sic Gloria Transit Mundi
Two slight acquaintances are seated in a Roman bathhouse: Gaius Julius? Sextus Lividicus; my wife knows your wife Hm How is your wife? Taken to her bed. Worn out by too much gossiping with her sister. How is your wife? Taken to my best friend’s bed, damn him. I’m recommending to the Assembly that he… Continue reading Sic Gloria Transit Mundi
Understanding How Institutions Become Radicalised and What Can be Done
When societal peace is considered as the management of the precursors and preconditions of conflict – a more realistic proposition than being the absence of conflict – the vital role that social institutions play in its establishment and maintenance is obvious. From that perspective institutional stability and how conflict is managed within social institutions is… Continue reading Understanding How Institutions Become Radicalised and What Can be Done
A Midwinter Day’s Nightmare or “Down the Pan”
By Billy Shakestick Dear listener, draw near. I have a tale of intrigue in the affairs of states, mendacity in high office and of the fulminations of the rabble. Not just any tale, but a wondrous gallimaufry. A man, a voter, in a distant land preparing to go to the polls, falls asleep after a… Continue reading A Midwinter Day’s Nightmare or “Down the Pan”
The Stars at Night: Music of the Spheres
HelloandwelcometoanotherepisodeofStarsatNightwithmePatrickMoore. ThethemefortonightsshowisTheMusicoftheSpheres. NowImmoreofaBeethovenfanmyself, butmyfirstguestthiseveningisrathernimblefingeredonthe-elec-tric-gui-tar, aswellasanaccomplishedastronomerandagoodfriend, Brian May HeLLO GLAS…tonbury….good to be here, Patrick. Not just a friend, You’re my best friend NowtheBBCinitsinfinitewisdom has decreed thatasaconditionofnotlaunchinganasteroidattheshow, wemusthavegreaterdiversity. SoIwouldliketowelcometotheshow, theresidentastrologerofthesun, The-Sun-news-paper that is, Mystic Meg It’s a blessing to be here, Patrick NowMeg – DoIcallyouMegorMystic – what do you make of the BBC’s decision to ban any… Continue reading The Stars at Night: Music of the Spheres
Trouble on Lineland
It’s all go on the internetwork this morning Things are starting to move at Lineland “work” station Danny the desktop is having his buttons pushed Oo-er Cuthbert the cursor is flashing like mad Tut-tut, Cuthbert, not very PC that! Gerald the gay icon – he who once dared not hide his light – is a… Continue reading Trouble on Lineland
Review: False Alarm: How climate change panic costs us trillions, hurts the poor and fails to fix the planet.
Bjorn Lomborg (New York, NY: Basic books, 2020) For a long time, there has been no real centre ground politically on climate change: either you are a believer in green activism and its policy platform or a denier, it seems. This is nowhere more demonstrably seen than in the US, where stance on climate change… Continue reading Review: False Alarm: How climate change panic costs us trillions, hurts the poor and fails to fix the planet.
Do you have the right to be wrong? A defence of free inquiry
“If any opinion is compelled to silence, that opinion may, for aught we can certainly know, be true. To deny this is to assume our own infallibility.” (John Stuart Mill, ‘On Liberty’, 1859) “If you offered to let me off this time on condition I am not any longer to speak my mind… I should… Continue reading Do you have the right to be wrong? A defence of free inquiry
Winterval Greetings
By Humbuggery I hear that Boris has cancelled Christmas. Well, good. Finally, the oppressors are oppressing themselves, which is the good news. As my contribution to dancing on the grave of Western culture, I would like to offer my personal thoughts on a common dirge often sung at this time of year, God Rest Ye… Continue reading Winterval Greetings
Lexicon for the Lockdown
Advisor – 1. Someone to give you advice from behind a plexiglass screen; 2. also, the type of facial covering that make you look like a bottled head. Antibacterial – a treatment for the complaint known as skin. Bugle smudger (see Mask) – The facial equivalent of the budgie smuggler; a device to render the… Continue reading Lexicon for the Lockdown