Philosophy
So once again, it is time for our holiday dedicated to overcomsumptive consumerism. It is a little bit hard to take seriously any givings of thanks when no sooner have they left our lips than we turn around and become petty, pushy, and selfish about all the things we want and don't have. We move from one day of unhealthful nutritional overindulgence to unhealthful financial overindulgence.
- The Meaning Of 9/11
Long-time Playground regulars may recall my thesis that while the term holiday derives from the phrase "holy day," and with each holiday comes an accompanying virtue we claim to be honoring, the way we actually celebrate our holidays is by engaging in...
- The Limits Of Rational Discourse: When Do You Shut Someone Up?
Last Friday, the post was a meditation on race, looking at the loss of Dr. King and the changes that have occurred since. We had a horrible comment leading off the discussion and the responses were harsh. I stepped in to stop the ad hominems and Kerry's...
- What Is The Function Of Thanksgiving?
In one of my favorite passages from his writings, Peter Achinstein distinguishes between three meanings of the word "function," Suppose that a magnificent chair was designed as a throne for a king, i.e., it was designed to seat the king. However, it is...
- You Jews Sure Take Care Of The Help
Leave it to Jews to make the most important day of the year about guilt. The biggest holiday of the year is Yom Kippur, the day of atonement. They call it a high holiday, but the point of it is to feel low. With the Jewish year just starting, it is a...
- The Gretch Who Saved The War On Christmas
So what's up with this growing trend of majorities considering themselves the victims of discrimination just because they don't get absolutely everything they want? As predictable as that winter will be cold, Fox News goes out of its way to...
Philosophy
Meditation on Black Friday
So once again, it is time for our holiday dedicated to overcomsumptive consumerism. It is a little bit hard to take seriously any givings of thanks when no sooner have they left our lips than we turn around and become petty, pushy, and selfish about all the things we want and don't have. We move from one day of unhealthful nutritional overindulgence to unhealthful financial overindulgence.
- The Meaning Of 9/11
Long-time Playground regulars may recall my thesis that while the term holiday derives from the phrase "holy day," and with each holiday comes an accompanying virtue we claim to be honoring, the way we actually celebrate our holidays is by engaging in...
- The Limits Of Rational Discourse: When Do You Shut Someone Up?
Last Friday, the post was a meditation on race, looking at the loss of Dr. King and the changes that have occurred since. We had a horrible comment leading off the discussion and the responses were harsh. I stepped in to stop the ad hominems and Kerry's...
- What Is The Function Of Thanksgiving?
In one of my favorite passages from his writings, Peter Achinstein distinguishes between three meanings of the word "function," Suppose that a magnificent chair was designed as a throne for a king, i.e., it was designed to seat the king. However, it is...
- You Jews Sure Take Care Of The Help
Leave it to Jews to make the most important day of the year about guilt. The biggest holiday of the year is Yom Kippur, the day of atonement. They call it a high holiday, but the point of it is to feel low. With the Jewish year just starting, it is a...
- The Gretch Who Saved The War On Christmas
So what's up with this growing trend of majorities considering themselves the victims of discrimination just because they don't get absolutely everything they want? As predictable as that winter will be cold, Fox News goes out of its way to...