Contrary to today’s moralists, the important issue is not what the rules are, but whether to apply established rules. Throwing out the moral rulebook occasionally leads to heroic feats but it occasionally leads to Abu Graib. As Aristotle wrote, rules are not a substitute for good character. Stay on the lookout,…
Complexity at its best: God created the evolutionary algorithm, but had to create a world too, to see where it would all lead. The world is the smallest device capable of accurately computing where it will all lead. He’s still watching and He is often quite surprised.
Are the citizens really running our national government? That is the theory, that we the people call the shots. As imperfect as our system has always been, it has been getting far worse in recent years. Exhibit A: large oil companies getting huge tax breaks at a time when they…
Madness is rare in individuals—but in groups, parties, nations and ages it is the rule. Nietzsche--Beyond Good & Evil #156
Bertrand Russell: "We have, in fact, two kinds of morality side by side; one which we preach but do not practise, and another which we practise but seldom preach."