Eccentricity 12 Mar 2009 In this age the mere example of non-conformity, the mere refusal to bend the knee to custom, is itself a service. Precisely because the tyranny of opinion is such as to make eccentricity a reproach, it is desirable, in order to break through that tyranny, that people should be eccentric. Eccentricity has always abounded when and where strength of character has abounded; and the amount of eccentricity in a society has generally been proportional to the amount of genius, mental vigor, and moral courage which it contained. That so few now dare to be eccentric, marks the chief danger of the time. John Stuart Mill, On Liberty, chapter 3. Hat tip to Emma Pursey Social dominance
Humor Gems from Tom Waits 25 Oct 2008 Waits is one of the few people I admire almost without reservation, even including the industrial blues. A comment quoted on a passing web site was “We are monkeys with money and guns”, leading me via Google to this wonderful interview at NPR a few months back. Read it. I… Read More
Politics You can't have proper human relationships unless you are a Christian 4 Apr 201018 Sep 2017 … according to Archbishop Peter Jensen of Sydney, who seems to think that prior to Jesus nobody ever had a decent human relationship. A secular society is right out, brother. The idea that secularism suggests that people might form relationships without the scaffolding of the church seems to worry him… Read More
Genetics An old question: genes and responsibility 1 Nov 2009 Here’s a judge doing what generations of philosophers and theologians haven’t been able to do: determine when determination is determinative: In the report, [scientists] Pietrini and Sartori concluded that Bayout’s genes would make him more prone to behaving violently if provoked. “There’s increasing evidence that some genes together with a… Read More
Not really. The first self-help book was published (coincidentally by the same publisher of the Origin) in that year, causing untold misery to millions.
Now there’s a philosophy to live by. Agreed! Starting tomorrow, I’m going to start calling everyone Clive, insist that at dinner everyone must circle the table three times before eating and own at least two hats that involve the themes “Turks” and “feathers”.
Now there’s a philosophy to live by. Agreed! Starting tomorrow, I’m going to start calling everyone Clive, insist that at dinner everyone must circle the table three times before eating and own at least two hats that involve the themes “Turks” and “feathers”.
Ah but if we all consider ourselves people of strength of character, moral courage, mental vigour and a reasonable amount of genius, and I think any fair survey of the human species will find the majority of people do consider themselves to be so, then how can such things be considered eccentric? We need some measure of eccentricity, as well as an objective measure (to some degree) of moral courage, strength of character, genius etc. Being unappreciated, even laughed at, in one’s own time doesn’t cut it (Galileo, Newton….Bozo the clown). Oh bugger…I was just trying to be eccentrically contrarian. Difficult when one agrees with the postulate isn’t it? 😉 Louis P.S. Monty Python, as ever, said it best: Brian: “You are all individuals!” Onlooker: “I’m not.”
Ah but if we all consider ourselves people of strength of character, moral courage, mental vigour and a reasonable amount of genius, and I think any fair survey of the human species will find the majority of people do consider themselves to be so, then how can such things be considered eccentric? We need some measure of eccentricity, as well as an objective measure (to some degree) of moral courage, strength of character, genius etc. Being unappreciated, even laughed at, in one’s own time doesn’t cut it (Galileo, Newton….Bozo the clown). Oh bugger…I was just trying to be eccentrically contrarian. Difficult when one agrees with the postulate isn’t it? 😉 Louis P.S. Monty Python, as ever, said it best: Brian: “You are all individuals!” Onlooker: “I’m not.”
Ah but if we all consider ourselves people of strength of character, moral courage, mental vigour and a reasonable amount of genius, and I think any fair survey of the human species will find the majority of people do consider themselves to be so, then how can such things be considered eccentric? We need some measure of eccentricity, as well as an objective measure (to some degree) of moral courage, strength of character, genius etc. Being unappreciated, even laughed at, in one’s own time doesn’t cut it (Galileo, Newton….Bozo the clown). Oh bugger…I was just trying to be eccentrically contrarian. Difficult when one agrees with the postulate isn’t it? 😉 Louis P.S. Monty Python, as ever, said it best: Brian: “You are all individuals!” Onlooker: “I’m not.”