Author Archives

I’ve completed all but defence of my thesis for a masters in philosophy. My disciplinary interest is in the acquisition and maintenance of our beliefs. But I also have a background in the study of rhetoric, linguistics, and philosophy of language. Political rhetoric particularly interests me.

• Guest ‘Toon by Mackenzie K. What Pro-Vaxxers Look Like to Anti-Vaxxers.

  By pammentations on March 27, 2022 • ( 0 )

• Saturday Morning Pam-toons. In Matters of Love and War — And All Matters In Between — There is No Dearth of Armchair Psychiatrists

  By pammentations on March 20, 2022 • ( 0 )

• Saturday Morning Pam-toons. And from this, an entire political theory.

  By pammentations on February 24, 2022 • ( 1 )

  Thomas Hobbes, A.P. Martinich and Brian Battiste, Eds, Leviathan, Broadview, 2011.Part I, Chapter XIII, 3. (p 122)

• Bread and Circuses

  By pammentations on February 24, 2022 • ( 0 )

  (Originally posted Oct. 24, 2020) Somewhere around the second century CE, the Roman satirist Juvenal coined the phrase ‘bread and circuses’ which has come to mean placating one’s populace with cheap bribes to distract them from their political grievances. Here’s… Read More ›

• Saturday Morning Pam-toons. Rock and Baton.

  By pammentations on February 24, 2022 • ( 2 )

  A man cannot tell when he seeth men proceed against him by violence whether they intend his death or not. Thomas Hobbes, A.P. Martinich and Brian Battiste, Eds, Leviathan, Broadview, 2011. Part I, Chapter XIV, 8. p 129.

• Guest ‘Toon by Mackenzie K: A Little Perspective (Scroll down)

  By pammentations on February 13, 2022 • ( 3 )

  Who are “essential” workers? Those who provide “services and functions … considered essential to preserving life, health and basic societal functioning. These include, but are not limited to, the functions performed by first responders, health care workers, critical infrastructure workers… Read More ›

• Saturday Morning Pam-toons. Why would I lie on my mandatory diversity pledge? (Scroll down)

  By pammentations on February 12, 2022 • ( 1 )

  Universities Canada principles on equity, diversity and inclusion, October 26, 2017, “Universities Canada make an explicit public commitment to seven principles [on equity, diversity, and inclusion],” available here. (accessed 11 February 2022) “A Guide to Preparing Your Diversity Statement,” Algonquin… Read More ›

• Saturday Morning Pam-toons. The Safest Place for the Heretic is Holding Torquemada’s Robes.

  By pammentations on February 12, 2022 • ( 3 )

• Saturday Morning Pam-toons. Cf. Mao, Be Your Authentic Self. (Scroll down)

  By pammentations on February 12, 2022 • ( 2 )

  You’ve nothing to fear. I worry a little that, in this politically charged environment particularly, when someone urges you to ‘be your authentic self’ she means ‘come out here where I can get you’. Addendum, April 11, 2021 as follows:… Read More ›

• Saturday Morning Pam-toons. Of the Right to be Right or Wrong. (With updated article, C2C Journal.)

  By pammentations on February 7, 2022 • ( 3 )

  Update : A comprehensive article on the Frances Widdowson case and the state of academic freedom in Canada, generally: Peter Shawn Taylor, “Academic Freedom vs. Wokeism: The Frances Widdowson Affair“, C2C Journal, February 2, 2022, accessed 7 February 2022. (Thank… Read More ›