March 21, 2014
"...the odd paradox whereby Bakunin, the greatest anarchist of the nineteenth century, had to become in theory the theologian of the anti-theological and in practice the dictator of an anti-dictatorship."
Continued
September 22, 2013
Soon, in whatever state or state of states or unstate we are found, today's neo-isolationists of left and right may find themselves exposed to ironies mirroring those now felt by the neo-conservatives of just the other day, who thought they were advancing a needed heightening, deepening, and expansion of engagement, but instead reinforced an older impulse to wash one's hands of it all.
Continued
November 29, 2009
As though to make it inescapably clear that the Carter Presidency lacked the Mandate of Heaven, even the national 4th of July celebrations in Washington DC were rained out, and a week later Skylab came crashing to Earth...
Continued
On “Adventures in Epistemic Opening – Manzi vs Levin and the Fate of Everything”
In search of a cynosure,
Toward eschatonic closure,
You find epistemes are closed for,
You can't immanentize,
And attain worldly ayes,
Which shouldn't surprise,
For that's the ruling guys,
From the big kahuna's assize.
On “CHART OF THE DAY – Heavens to Murgatroyd…”
@ narciso:
That chart says it all about a lot of things, a very lot of things. Western Civilization is indeed doomed. It may be time to check around and identify the nearest Imam who certifies conversions.
On “Adventures in Epistemic Opening – Manzi vs Levin and the Fate of Everything”
@ CK MacLeod:
Just for the record I tend to be in about Manzi's camp on AGW; but, having read his initial gratuitously insulting post I can't say he will in future have much of a platform to argue about treating others with intellectual respect. I figured he had a bad day or else he was purposely picking a fight in the manner of
FrumAndrew Sullivan.On “CHART OF THE DAY – Heavens to Murgatroyd…”
@ CK MacLeod:
BO definitely provided the appropriate slogan - "Yes we can!"
But it did take Glenn Beck et al to publicize the issues and kindle the fire. When even John McCain has recognized the necessity of talking more like a conservative than he usually has even in election years you know the political frying pan is getting hot.
On “CONTENTION OF THE DAY – National Poetry Month”
The dead become flies.
Which then become frogs,
Food to the eyes,
Of snakes and sleek hogs.
Hogs become men,
And over again.
On “On re-reading Liberal Fascism: Defining Evil Down”
@ CK MacLeod:
Tyrannical in the same sense that many actions of the Senate and People of Rome were tyrannical in the aftermath of what they perceived as actions inimical to or insulting to the dignity of Rome.
Fort Sumter, which served as pretext for an unlimited war of aggression, bears a lot of resemblance to Caesar's pretext for the conquest of Gaul, an action of which I also approve for its long term effects. Of course I tend to be an "end justifies the means" sort of fellow at base, so these things do not terribly bother me. I find it ironic though that so many people who proclaim that the end does not justify the means are so ready to excuse means that result in ends they favor.
It's hard to read the constitution and conclude that it was a one way door for the states.
"
@ CK MacLeod:
As a modern day American, glad that the country remained united and glad that slavery was abruptly extinguished, I'm appreciative of Lincoln's methods and results; but his armed prevention of secession by the states was clearly tyrannical. I've not studied what Ron Paul has to say about the matter.
"
@ CK MacLeod:
Suspended habeus corpus, engaged in aggressive war, instituted an income tax. . .
Good old Honest Abe.
"
Interesting. You almost tempt me to want to read the book again; but I already sold my copy on Amazon.