How does a public consensus come into being? The Sensible Centrists like to imagine that this is a careful, deliberative process. Ideas are debated, among people of good faith, and assessed dispassionately, on their merits, in an ongoing collective striving …
The horror of doppelgangers
A TV interviewer once asked an astronomer whether he thought there was life elsewhere in the universe. “Look,” replied the astronomer, “somewhere in the universe at this very moment, someone looking very much like you is asking that question of …
In defence of critical theory
If you’ve been watching the latest pitched battles in America’s culture wars, you’ve doubtless heard of the much-ballyhooed and much-denounced field of critical race theory. One thing you may not have gleaned from all the media furore, though, is that …
Why we can’t tell the truth
The idea of truth has fallen out of favour in recent years. For one thing, it’s less politically important than it used to be. In the era of the Cold War, what beliefs you held to be true counted for …
How the truth fell into disrepute
Truth is harder to dispose of than some people think. To say that there is no truth is already to have stated one, or at least what you take to be one. Yet the idea of truth is a lot …
The death of historical truth
A number of intolerant ideologies have swept through the worlds of learning, literature and the visual and performing arts over the past two decades. I am concerned with one of them. Its essential feature is the diversion of academic disciplines …
20 Mites en Realiteite
Mite #1:
Die virus is nuut.
Realiteit: Die virus is nou verwant aan wyd-sirkulerende betacoronavirusse, met 65-70% gemeenskaplike genetiese materiaal.
Mite #2:Almal is vatbaar (immunologies naïef).
Realiteit: Voorafbestaande of oorkruisimmuniteit is wydverspreid, en boonop geniet kinders byna universeel robuuste …
There’s nothing wrong with a festive fight
Is your quasi-fascist uncle coming over for Christmas lunch? The one who drinks too much gin and loudly shares all his ghastly Seventies jokes about people’s skin colour and his reactionary opinions about women and domestic bliss. How close do …
20 Lies
Myth #1:
The virus is new.
Reality: The virus is closely related to widely circulating betacoronaviruses, sharing 65-70% common genetic material.
Myth #2:Everyone is susceptible (immunologically naive).
Reality: Pre-existing or cross-immunity is widespread, and moreover children almost universally enjoy …
The Charlie Kirk Show: Nine doctors speak out
Source: The Charlie Kirk Show: Nine doctors speak out…