Recently, I noticed the above question in a Guardian article. Beliefs are unknown knowns: we know that we do not know but we still believe. This definition does, however, neither answer nor change the nature of the question above. Example: our individual beliefs about God are very different. “I believe in Spinoza’s God, who reveals Himself in the lawful harmony of...
Unite vs Divide
The media are the virus in our society
26 Jul, 2022
Early June 2022, I published my blog Media = virus, which was still mostly about Covid-19. For two years, the media played played a very divisive role in society. Governments adopting a macro view were criticized (eg, Sweden). Every government attempt to moderate restrictions was ridiculed. Cartoon by Garrick Tremain (eg, source) The media has learned from this but...
Gerontocracy and demographics
12 Jul, 2022
Late June 2022, the Times published an article: How Britain became a gerontocracy. Its subtitle was: "The pensions boost is further proof that Britain is run for the benefit of the older generation — paid for by the young". My April 2019 blog had predicted this: The future Great Divide between generations. The cause appears to be quite simple: demographics and the...
What is the “Great Replacement” right-wing conspiracy theory? (the Economist)
22 May, 2022
Introduction by LO: Rather than a right-wing conspiracy theory, the Great Replacement "theory" is - most of all - another example of Philosophy, as a Belief system (eg, my blogs of 2015 Black Twitter versus White Supremacy, and of 2016 White supremacy-2), Of all our beliefs, ideology might be the most stupid one (eg, my 2021 blog: Is ideology responsible for...
Ohlala, the sighs of French relief
27 Apr, 2022
The media claim that the French president comfortably won his re-election by about 16 points (58 vs 42). In and of itself, this is true. A conspiracy site claims that the election was stolen by vote tampering and by the EU. Both sides fail to recognise or appreciate how close Le Pen was from winning this election. The media like to paint Le Pen and her party as...
China: from pragmatism to ideology?
26 Apr, 2022
American ideological wars have confused non-Western countries, like China and Russia. America (and Europe) look weak and vulnerable in their perspective. This may explain Putin's "historical blunder" by invading Ukraine. As Aristotle already stated: "A common danger unites even the bitterest enemies". I am confused by the apparent transformation of successful...
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