The Bad-Faith Use of Words
“When I use a word,” Humpty Dumpty said in rather a scornful tone, “it means just what I choose it to mean—neither more nor less.” “The question is,” said Alice,…
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Alan Sokal
4 posts
Alan Sokal is a Professor of Mathematics at University College London and Professor Emeritus of Physics at New York University. He is co-author (with Jean Bricmont) of Intellectual Impostures: Postmodern Philosophers' Abuse of Science,
and author of Beyond the Hoax: Science, Philosophy and Culture.
Catechism Class at British Universities
In the Roman Catholic church, children are required to attend catechism class in order to learn their religion’s key dogmas, as a prerequisite for confirmation and First Communion. Likewise, in…
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The Moral Argument for Factual Realism
Six decades ago—when I was still in elementary school—Karl Popper wrote the following eloquent paragraph: The belief of a liberal—the belief in the possibility of a rule of law, of…
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On Covid, Boris Johnson is Fooling Himself, Again
Last week Prime Minister Boris Johnson assured Britons that, come 21 June—at least, if all goes according to plan—we will “re-open everything up to and including nightclubs, and enable large…
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