Thoughtlets
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Thoughtlets. LXXIII. On the moral connotations of rationality
[Excerpt from my writing archives followed by a footnote.] …‘Rational’ not only indicates the right, correct, approved, reasonable, or sensible way of thinking, but also the term invariably means the right thinking and goodness of the author or speaker. Hence ‘rational’ also has moral connotations.[1] [1] Morally reprehensible people, on some conceptions, include those who allow themselves to Continue reading
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Thoughtlets. LXXII. Duh.
Cherry-picked from the Wall of Banalities just for you: According to which criteria, and whose, do the good and right believers set themselves apart from the ignorant masses? Most, if not all, of us can claim some particular sliver of expertise, gleaned from years of experience, concerning some shred of knowledge or skill in some Continue reading
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Thoughtlets. LXXI. Dirty Thoughts.
(Will anyone know who Sarah Palin is anymore?) Sometimes someone standing on the outside of our social circle and of the peer review process can offer us criticism, but we’re often not willing to take it – at least not from just anybody on the outside. We’re apt to accept criticism from someone our tribes Continue reading
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Thoughlets. LXX. Trust me, I’m Rational.
…Maintaining an appearance of rationality is crucial to one’s reputation, i.e. the credibility one requires to be a trusted source of information among her peers, e.g. colleagues, co-workers, hiring committees.[1] [1] This charade is akin to inflating one’s resume to outperform equally qualified applicants for a job position, which, unless stretched beyond all plausibility, is not Continue reading
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Thoughtlets. LXIX. The Golden Mean Wobbles.
(Excerpt from my archives, here referring to the back and forthing in philosophical argumentation.) …As philosophers, our professional duties include calling each other out on the use of ad hominens, but in so doing we need be careful not to deploy them ourselves..1 [footnote1] This back and forthing process can get quite heated and lends Continue reading
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Thoughtlets. LXV. Whoa Momma!
The so-called helicopter parent phenomenon is at least in part due to the helicopter research phenomenon. Parental anxiety might just be created in part by studies and expert advice, talk shows, and school report cards. True, some advice is reassuring and it’s nice to have guide books to turn to. But there sure are a Continue reading
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