“You’re getting worse,” she sobbed.
“No! I’m getting better.”
[ from The Fly II ]

I think I finally understand Martin a little bit. For a very long time I have been thinking about the problem of finding certainty, or absolutes in a world where everything seems to be made out of mushy inconclusive grey-areas. In geometry we can imagine perfect squares, triangles and other 2-dimensional objects because geometry includes the rules or absolutes that define them. In nature these do not exist (although perhaps at some sub-molecular level, maybe it can be said that they do.) No absolute squares. No 2 dimensional geometric objects. No perfect triangles. And if we apply this to ethics, no absolute right and absolute wrong. (more…)

I am anxiously waiting for my copy of Denis Dutton’s book, The Art Instinct.

He uses ideas from evolutionary psychology and science to help explain why we create art and why we look at it. Not just capital “A” art, but storytelling, popular art, advertising, jokes, music, tv commercials, film, tv shows . . . the list goes on and on.

(more…)

Someone (I have to find the author) recently came to a very sensible and plain conclusion about interpreting differences between the libertarian/contrarian and liberal camps. Simply stated if you prefer public policies ensuring that the “right” of an individual to do any “harmless” (at least as far as they are concerned) act, then you are on one side. You know who you are.

If you prefer to see effective public policy enacted that ensures widespread fairness, well, then you know who you are too. (more…)