Douglas Murray hit the nail firmly on the head a few months ago where he said that in every US institution you assess a fact by whether it is for your side or not. We've always done it, thought we'd grown out of it and now we find we didn't and it's lethal.
Thursday 10 August 2023
You decide whether its for your side or not
Douglas Murray hit the nail firmly on the head a few months ago where he said that in every US institution you assess a fact by whether it is for your side or not. We've always done it, thought we'd grown out of it and now we find we didn't and it's lethal.
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8 comments:
It's a sound point that he's making, but I don't see a solution. Even if we all agree on the primacy of facts, we will have arguments as to what constitutes a fact. Net Zero enthusiasts have been claiming factual status for years. It's quite possible (and a respectable philosophical opinion) that a fact is merely an opinion that we all subscribe to.
Off to Scotland in a few hours, so may not reply to posts for a week. Will lobby the family for a pit-stop in Derbyshire on our return next Friday, if you are around.
Sam - I don't see a solution either, not unless opinions become respectable as a trial and error approach to truth. Seems unlikely as things stand.
Sod's Law strikes again - unfortunately we're off to Sidmouth tomorrow for two weeks, our annual main holiday. One day our paths will cross - let me know if you are ever passing through the East Midlands.
'Doug' is correct. But underpinning the debate about 'facts' being downgraded to opinions is the increasing transactionalism by people in societies.
Why do people so often divorce? Because they didn't get the deal (the trade) they agreed. Why are political parties now so useless? Because they are always striking 'new deals' at the drop of a poll. Why are large corporations so untrustworthy? Because the accountants tell them when to drop activities irrespective of the customers' expectations.
So 'facts' are now opinions - and if you are upset by the 'deal' implied then there are always new opinions.
Off-topic: spotted today, a rather good definition -
"Managerialism is rule by a committee of people looking for a better job."
Not the whole truth, I'll grant you, but the truth nonetheless.
I think it would be great if we could all meet up! I would love to meet AK, Sam, Scrobs etal. Derbyshire would be a good central point.
DJ - there is also an enormous range of interests with enormous amounts of money trying to promote unrealistic and often ludicrous expectations. A pernicious one has been to present young women with unrealistic expectations about a career and a family.
dearieme - it's about right. An addition could be "or keep hold of the current job."
Tammly - it may be simpler if we just take the opportunity when paths happen to cross. I've met up with a couple of people for a coffee and a chat that way.
And some of us are just wraiths, though I did meet four bloggers … materialised for that one.
James -
They seek him here
They seek him there
Those Wokies seek him everywhere
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