Saturday 6 October 2012

A Celebrity Speaks. — “At least 260 species of animal have been noted exhibiting homosexual behaviour but only one species of animal ever, so far as we know, has exhibited homophobic behaviour — and that’s the human being. So ask which is really natural.” 1
  Countless species of animal have been noted exhibiting coprophagy, some species are even able to fly, but only one species of animal, ever, so far as we know, has exhibited rational and moral behaviour, albeit sometimes boasting the ability to make glaringly-bad arguments — and that’s the human being. So ask which is really natural. 

. . .
1. Stephen Fry, quoted by Richard Alleyne, “Stephen Fry: 260 animals have gay tendencies but only humans are homophobic”, telegraph.co.uk, 5th October 2012.

Sunday 30 September 2012

The Nuclear Age. — How does one rationally argue with people who are so sunk in irrationalism that they refuse to admit — when it suits them — the validity of logical thought? With those who take the nuclear-option against one’s arguments (but not, of course, against their own): that logic itself is just word-juggling with no rational link to reality? The answer is easy and soothing: one should try not to. But the realisation of the pervasiveness of this so-called postmodern attitude is hard and shocking.

Saturday 22 September 2012

A Voltarian Spuriosity Translated. — I disapprove of what you say, and, whilst vilifying you, I will not pass up the opportunity to sound magnanimous.

Thursday 13 September 2012

The Idea of a Sham-King. — “A king’s duty is to remain above politics” — impossible: he who remains above politics is not a king — “. . . and call a halt when the ship of state is about to crash into the rocks.” 1 If he can call a halt, then he is not above politics.

. . .
1. Taki, “The Magical Mystery of Monarchy”, Taki’s Magazine, 21st July 2012.

Friday 31 August 2012

Under Egalitarianism. — To praise as superior is still permissible, and even commended, so long as it is clearly untrue.
He who seeks to cast off what he feels to be the burdens of history and inheritance may well succeed in achieving the levity of an idiot.
If the fact/value dichotomy were a fact, it would derive no value from it.
The cosmopolitan belief in world-peace and universal brotherhood would have remained a poky little European affliction had it not been for warfare, global conquest, and mass-extermination.