A perennial question in philosophy is whether the end can be said to justify the means. The philosopher whose name is most associated with the advocacy of this idea is Niccolò Machiavelli, a 16th century diplomat and government official of the Florentine Republic, best known for his writing about political philosophy. The fact that the… Continue reading On Ends and Means
Tag: freedom of speech
Disparage the Farage!
It was some weeks since Ziggy had been out for a drink with his friend Zara (aka Zarathustra, the postmodern-day prophet of renown) and he had been looking forward to indulging in some stimulating discussion about their favourite topic, namely the foibles and failings of celebrities (particularly of the political variety) who had been in… Continue reading Disparage the Farage!
The Culture Wars and the “Right to Offend”
We live in the era of the Culture Wars and identity politics, fuelled by the absence of objective standards of truth and evaluation. What can be done to address the problem and rebuild the foundations on which civilised debate can be conducted?
An Extended Lexicon for the Moral Maze
In my previously published Lexicon for the Moral Maze, I set out a number of phrases commonly employed in what passes for contemporary moral debate and offered some assistance on how anyone starting to find themselves bewildered can unpack the jargon and glean an understanding of the proponents’ real agenda. The debate has moved on… Continue reading An Extended Lexicon for the Moral Maze