Comments Elsewhere

To-day @ radgeek.com: Against National Relativism

“As soon as Hasan tweeted his question, he was instantly attacked by a writer for the Times of Israel and the Atlantic, dutifully re-tweeted by Jeffrey Goldberg, on this ground: ‘Israel’s strike on Syria has been a revealing moment. Some, for example, seem to view Israel as equivalent to Iran.’ . . . One could say quite reasonably that this is the pure expression of the crux of US political discourse on such matters: they must abide by rules from which we’re immune, because we’re superior. . . .The ultimate irony is that those who advocate for the universal application of principles to all nations are usually tarred with the trite accusatory slogan of ‘moral relativism’. But the real moral relativists are those who believe that the morality of an act is determined not by its content but by the identity of those who commit them: namely, whether it’s themselves or someone else doing it. . . . Today’s version of that is: Israel and the US (and its dictatorial allies in Riyadh and Doha) have the absolute right to bomb other countries or arm rebels in those countries if they perceive doing so is necessary to stop a threat but Iran and Syria (and other countries disobedient to US dictates) do not. This whole debate would be much more tolerable if it were at least honestly acknowledged that what is driving the discussion are tribalistic notions of entitlement and nothing more noble.” – Glenn Greenwald Nearly all polemical uses of the term “moral relativism” in current foreign-policy debates are actually attacks on anti-relativist positions, which are being made precisely because what they advocate is *the opposite of moral relativism*. It’s too bad, because words mean things, or at least ought to. See also, here: http://radgeek.com/gt/2005/07/26/pet_peeves/

is reading Becker vs. Kirzner on assumptions of rationality in understanding market process. Wee ha.

is reading Becker vs. Kirschner on presumptions of rationality in understanding market process. Wee ha.

The Linguistics Laboratory at UPenn are my heroes.

So if the rating of EarthFare Organic’s “Volcanic” Salsa is supposed to be a reference to how spicy it is, then I have to say I’m not impressed. If it’s supposed to mean they added some pumice or something then they probably should have listed it in the ingredients.

http://nonadventures.com/2013/05/04/cosplayer-haters/ Wonderella is my hero.

Historically, writing co-evolved with the state. There never has been a definite historical example of this mythical ‘free writing’ that you anarchists talk about. Therefore, we can expect that in anarchy everyone will be illiterate.

Found an index card that I wrote to myself like four months ago or so. As past-me demanded, just added another yet another footnote to the “maximal” draft of “Women and the Invisible Fist,” making the latest draft version 2013.0503. Maybe someday the notes will be done? http://charleswjohnson.name/essays/women-and-the-invisible-fist/

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/04/28/arts/design/in-cairo-rethinking-the-city-from-the-bottom-up.html In which the Cairene informal sector builds its own highway on-ramp. (Q. Without government, who will build all the infrastructure? A. We will.)