What happens when you die
I have just watched someone die. Just one person. But a whole ecosystem has been destroyed. Everyone’s roots wind round everyone else’s. Rip up one person, and everyone else is compromised, whether they know it or not. This is true, too, fo…
Read MoreSex, Sex Surrogates, and Disability
Recently a debate erupted in France over a proposal to use state funds to pay for sex surrogates for the disabled. News reports can be found here and here. Some advocates for the disabled applauded the move, including the French Association…
Read MoreLady Thatcher is Dead – and some people celebrate
Margaret Thatcher has died. A few people have declared that this is grounds for celebration. ‘A great day’, they have announced. Pop open the champagne.
Read MoreEvent Announcement: 2013 Wellcome Lectures in Neuroethics
Wednesday 27th November, 5 – 7pm Lecture Theatre Oxford Martin School Old Indian Institute 34 Broad St (corner of Holywell and Catte Streets) Oxford OX1 3BD ALL WELCOME The Oxford Centre for Neuroethics & International Neuroethics Socie…
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Why slaughterhouses should welcome CCTV
by Rebecca Roache Covertly filming shocking animal abuse in the meat industry (and other industries involving animals) is a common tactic of animal welfare charities such as the Humane Society, Mercy for Animals, Animal Aid, and PETA. The f…
Read MoreArt and Moral Taint
It was reported yesterday that the Tate gallery has decided to remove prints created by the artist Graham Ovenden following his conviction for child sex offences (on Tuesday 2nd April). Ovenden’s conviction itself raises difficult moral que…
Read MoreEthics after Leveson
In a new book edited by John Mair, After Leveson? The Future for British Journalism, Phil Harding, former controller of editorial policy at the BBC, recommends mid-career ethical training for all journalists.
Read MoreWhat’s Wrong With Believing In Nothing?
I was having a friendly discussion/argument the other day: it had something to do with my militant, Dawkins-esque atheism, and my disparagement of some sorts of religious ritual. “At least I believe in something”, said my sparring partner…
Read MoreSo what if I would agree?
Previous posts in this line here and here The next justification of political authority that Michael Huemer considers in his book The Problem of Political Authority is what is called Hypothetical Social Contract Theory. The broad idea is …
Read MoreIs it rational to have children?
Laurie Paul’s fascinating paper on the rationality of choosing to have children has already received a great deal of attention in the blogosphere. Perhaps everything worth saying has already been said. But I wanted to point to some evidence…
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