Hypothetical Questions and John Howard

John Howard and his underlings avoid some questions by criticising them as hypothetical. The implication being that it’s unreasonable to expect politicians to answer hypothetical questions.

There are no epistemological reasons why a hypothetical question should be invalid. In democracy it’s imperative that the people know what the likely course of action of their representatives would be in certain contingencies. It’s possible to go so far as to say that all questions pertaining to future action are hypothetical. If circumstances remain in the status quo before the relevant action takes place, then that is a contingency in itself. All questions regarding action can be said to be prefaced with infinite conditions like “providing that aliens don’t destroy the world”.

I don’t remember what the quality of journalism in Australia was like before Howard but the man has made a fool of the media and the people who consume it in so many ways. And they deserve to look foolish.

Diana + Islam

Things re the current Islamophobia hysteria thing in Western society might have been a bit different if Princess Diana had lived to marry Dodi Al-Fayed.

Bananas, Cyclone Larry, Societal Impact

The banana shortage since Cyclone Larry is vexing me quite terribly. I wonder what impact on society’s vibe it’s having. Potassium regulates electrochemical impulses, heart rhythm, water levels, blood pressure etc.

Big Brother Ashley

Me and my main boy spent a fruitless hour or so yesterday trying to find pics of Ashley slapping his cock on Camilla. Then we had awesome pent-up frustration sex. There are no nude pics of Ashley out there so these will have to do:

New Prince Albums

For over a decade now every Prince album that’s been released has been universally declared his big comeback and the best Prince album since either (a) Purple Rain (b) Sign O’ The Times or (c) Diamonds and Pearls. Without fail. People should actually try listening to his music. The man never stopped being a genius.

Some Ipod Observations

I wonder how the Ipod explosion has affected business for beggars and hawkers. When I have headphones in I just say “Sorry” to anyone that opens their mouth to me in the street, not knowing what they’ve actually asked.

Also sound streaming into your eardrums alters your sense of physical balance which in turn affects your emotional balance.

Meta-emotion

Need word for liking/being pleased with certain emotions that arise in self. Eg being pleased with yourself when you feel generous.

3 Stages in Mastering Subject Area

1. Defer to authority, suspend doubts.
2. Get a vibe of underlying rules so you can cope on your own.
3. Decide which rules are worthwhile, make rules up yourself.

Some people who are conscious of the value of independent thought forget the first step. It’s galling to hear mediocre undergraduates criticise great philosophical works they will never understand.