Category Archives: Philosophy

When Does an Election Become an Undemocratic Lottery?

Posted on December 20, 2021 by odeboyz

The basic premise of British democracy is that if anyone at all votes, an election is deemed to be democratic. Therefore if only three people vote and one candidate receives two votes, that’s enough. Even if the electorate is 64,831. … Continue reading →

Posted in Philosophy, Politics | Tagged , , , | 3 Comments

Woody Guthrie on the meaning of poverty

Posted on November 29, 2021 by odeboyz

“They can always think up a million nice good excellent reasons why it is better for you to go ragged and hungry and down and out and even in the dark, as long as it makes them a profit.”

Posted in Economics, Philosophy, quips | Leave a comment

‘Greed is Good’ Speech

Posted on November 22, 2021 by odeboyz

“The point is, ladies and gentleman, that greed, for lack of a better word, is good. Greed is right, greed works. Greed clarifies, cuts through, and captures the essence of the evolutionary spirit. Greed, in all of its forms; greed … Continue reading →

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J S Mill on the responsibilities of parents and the state

Posted on November 15, 2021 by odeboyz

“It still remains unrecognised, that to bring a child into existence without a fair prospect of being able, not only to provide food for its body, but instruction and training for its mind, is a moral crime, both against the … Continue reading →

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The Philosopher and the Chair

Posted on October 4, 2021 by odeboyz

A philosophy professor entered his lecture theatre and put a chair on the desk. He then asked his students to prove the chair didn’t exist.The students settled to the task except for one. He spent a few seconds writing his … Continue reading →

Posted in education, Humour, Philosophy | Tagged | Leave a comment

Bertrand Russell on Religion

Posted on September 20, 2021 by odeboyz
Posted in Philosophy, Religion | Tagged | Leave a comment

The pacifist and the soldier: Bertrand Russell and Ludwig Wittgenstein

Posted on September 20, 2021 by odeboyz

Bertrand Russell had been jailed for his anti-war activities but his close intellectual friend Ludwig Wittgenstein was in the Austrian army as a private soldier. By March 1919 Russell had been released but Wittgenstein was still in a prisoner of … Continue reading →

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Immigration: Conservative Hypocrisy 1903, 1938, 2021

Posted on July 29, 2021 by odeboyz

1903 IMMIGRATION OF DESTITUTE ALIENS. HC Deb 26 February 1903 vol 118 cc938-77 Sir Howard Vincent (Conservative)1 In the first place, I should like to say most emphatically that this motion has nothing whatever to do with any religious question. … Continue reading →

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Book Review: Daniel Kahneman, Olivier Sibony and Cass R Sunstein ~ Noise: A flaw in human judgment (2021)

Posted on July 8, 2021 by odeboyz

Reviewing this book puts me in a difficult situation. All I want to do is swoon at the feet of the authors proclaiming their genius. This makes me a groupie. However I’ll try to write something that looks like a … Continue reading →

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The UK Mayoral Elections, 2021

Posted on May 20, 2021 by odeboyz

Turnout in none of the eleven 2021 Mayoral elections came close to 50%+1.The electorate shunned the opportunity to participate. (see Addendum) Does this affect the legitimacy of the result? Let’s imagine an election in fictional Loncaster which has an electorate … Continue reading →

Posted in Finance, local politics, Philosophy, Politics, statistics | Tagged , , , , , | 1 Comment