Furedi On ...

'The Curious Rise Of Anti-religious Hysteria' (via Spiked). Posted because it has been a bit quiet, and because it might provide context for this discussion ...

Ethical Hypothetical – On Disability, Voluntary Euthanasia, And Organ Donation

A hypothetical:

A, a young man of utilitarian persuasion, decides that life with a disability is not justified. A signs a statutory declaration to such effect, adding that in the case of an emergency where an operation could save his life though leave him disabled he refuses medical assistance other than that which will enable his organs to be donated.

A, after this declaration, is involved in an accident that leaves him unconscious and with a leg requiring amputation. Surgery to remove the limb will be uncomplicated, and enable A to live with a disability. Following A's instructions will involve the medical professions in the death of an individual who would otherwise have recovered, though his organs will be donated to numerous other individuals who will benefit from them.

I’m interested in reactions to this particular example (in particular, the ethically correct course of action for the medical professionals), so, please, articulate your responses in the comments.

Thesis – On ‘Dangerous Ideas’

Some ideas and arguments should be proscribed because of their implications.

[I’ve been thinking about a comment Samuel made regarding science and religion …]

Sermonette VII – Schopenhauer

A reading taken from the works of Arthur Schopenhauer:

the life of the individual is a constant struggle, and not merely a metaphorical one against want or boredom, but also an actual struggle against other people. He discovers adversaries everywhere, lives in continual conflict and dies with sword in hand.

– Arthur Schopenhauer.
On the Suffering of the World
(London: Penguin, 2004), pp. 4, 5.

‘Intelligent Design’: No Longer A Science

Just to get Samuel all fired up (he’s been a bit quiet of late, though his rants on ID are collected at Philosophy Hurts Your Head), Leiter is reporting the ‘evolution’ of ‘Philosophy of Design’ … Is it just me or has something gone horribly wrong with ‘Western Civilisation’?

[As an aside, is it even possible to consider the suburban sprawl ‘civilised’? I’ve been pondering this on my evening walks; at times it actually seems quite barbarous …]

Journal Notice - Contretemps 6, January 2006

In addition to the earlier notice, the new issue of Contretemps (out of the University of Sydney) is now on-line. The issue considers ‘Democratic Futures’ (I’ve just typed in ‘tortures’, by mistake, am not sure if there is something to be made of that error …).

[Thanks to pas au-dela for the notice. The schematic, on boredom, in the post is worth a gander …]

Lawson-Tancred On Epideixis

"To illustrate his point Isocrates effectively invented a whole new genre of rhetoric. This was the so-called ‘epideictic’ or ‘display’ rhetoric, which now took its place in the canons of the art alongside the established branches of ‘forensic’ and ‘deliberative’. It is true that this was not quiet such a new thing, as there are earlier examples, such as Gorgias’ partly extant encomium on Helen, but there had certainly been nothing before to compare with such full-length masterpieces of rhetorical elaboration as the Panegyricus, Panathenaicus and Phillippus of Isocrates’ maturity. In epideictic oratory we see a unique blend of the theoretical and the practical, for the speeches are virtuoso pieces designed not for a specific occasion but to serve as models to be variously copied by those engaged in actual persuasion, as well, no doubt, as to stand in their own right as autonomous works of art." - Hugh Lawson-Tancred. 'Introduction' in Aristotle The Art Of Rhetoric (London: Penguin,1991), p. 14.

Philosopher’s Carnival, No. Twenty Four

The 24th Philosopher’s Carnival is being hosted by Rad Geek People’s Daily.

This Carnival is worthy of commendation, given the extensive commentary provided on each of the accepted posts by the host.

Journal Notice – Foucault Studies 3 and IJBS Vol. 3 No. 1

The latest issues of Foucault Studies and the International Journal Of Baudrillard Studies are available on-line.

[Thanks to Theoria for the notice.]

On ‘A Question For The Theologists....’

Peter, over at Dialectic, has started a discussion on whether or not atheism should be considered a religion …

Meanwhile Leiter has put out a call for references on religious toleration …

[UPDATE: The discussion at Dialectic is still running, having taken a rather winding course, which seems worth noting. (MH 14/01/2006)]

Question On ‘National Service’ And Social Capital?

New South Wales Young Labor has, according to media coverage, proposed mandating some form of national service for high school students. While the term ‘national service’ with its connotations of the Draft is being employed, the proposal is to make students undertake some form of community service – be it serving as a cadet or in ‘volunteering’ for a community organisation – as part of the requirements for completion of the NSW Higher School Certificate, for example.

The stated aim of the proposal is to create more “rounded” students, and thus members of society, but will mandating community service actually benefit social capital?

As an aside, Nine is running a poll to gauge support for the reintroduction of compulsory national service ...

Sermonette VI – Schopenhauer

A reading taken from the works of Arthur Schopenhauer:

The most effective consolation in every misfortune and every affliction is to observe others who are more unfortunate than we: and everyone can do this.

– Arthur Schopenhauer.
On the Suffering of the World
(London: Penguin, 2004), p. 4.

A comment by Burkard Augustine Hase on Schopenhauer, recorded by Helen Garner:

“Is it suspicion? Do you know Schopenhauer? He was a Philosoph, ja? You know what is a Philosoph? Someone who thinks a lot about what happens. You don’t find the answer with thinking. It’s all imagination.”

– Helen Garner.
‘Man With The Pearl-White Cord’
in The Monthly December – January 2006, p. 20.

[It has been quiet here lately, it is simply that time of year.]

‘How To Read Derrida’ – Review Notice

Dolan Cummings has reviewed Penelope Deutscher’s How To Read Derrida and Peter Osbourne’s How To Read Marx (from a series published by Granta) for New Statesman.