Jeremy Bentham, a name that echoes through the annals of philosophy, a beacon of utilitarian thought, a man whose life and work have left an indelible mark on the world. Born in 1748, in the bustling borough of Spitalfields, London, he was a child prodigy, a wunderkind, a boy who read multi-volume histories of England whilst still in his swaddling clothes, a lad who began his study of Latin at the tender age of three. His father, a prosperous attorney, had dreams of his son ascending to the lofty heights of Lord Chancellor. But Bentham, ever the maverick, had other plans.
In the spirit of measured debate and with great effort to not simply dismiss the intellectual dysentery presented by the radical right, we venture into the convoluted world of mifepristone, a drug that has become the epicenter of a tempestuous debate, a battleground of ideologies, a symbol of the struggle for women's reproductive rights.
The discourse on abortion, a convoluted and contentious matter, is a tapestry woven with threads from diverse disciplines, including ethics, philosophy, medicine, and theology. While giving due consideration to the arguments advocating severe abortion restrictions, this essay will present a counter-argument, underscoring the harms inflicted upon individual women, families, and the fabric of society as a whole. The primary line of argumentation will be drawn from the utilitarian perspective, but other potent arguments will also be marshalled.
In 1939, Bill W. wrote the The Big Book of Alcoholics Anonymous. It is the main doctrine that outlines the philosophies and methods for a path of recovery that is proven to work. My message today is for the orthodox, the unconventional, the recalcitrant, and anyone anywhere along that continuum. There are also those among us who are snuggled up in a shroud of arrogance, from before, during, or post recovery.
Atlas Shrugged, the behemoth magnum opus of Ayn Rand's dubious philosophical entanglement she termed 'Objectivism', sits high atop the edifice of the grand American novel - more as a gargoyle than an angel. This beloved monolith of libertarian thought, this titan of the conservative canon, is, it pains me to report, a literary debacle of the first order. It possesses the dubious quality of being as monochromatic in its characterizations as it is dogmatic in its ideological discourse.
Liberalism is a prominent and multifaceted political ideology that has significantly shaped the sociopolitical dynamics of the modern world. This ideology encompasses a broad spectrum of philosophical perspectives, all sharing a common commitment to individual liberty, but diverging in their understanding of its practical implications. The various branches of liberalism—classical, social, neoliberal, green, cultural, radical, conservative, liberal feminism, liberal socialism, and libertarianism—provide a rich tapestry of thought to explore.
Is the Debt Ceiling, on it's face, unconstitutional? Does Section 4 of the 14th Amendment of the Constitution of the United States silence the Debt Ceiling debate?
The music of the Constitution's words often reverberates in my mind, each note a promise, each melody an aspiration, and each harmony a testament to our shared commitment to our nation's ideals. The Fourteenth Amendment, with its Section 4, is one such melody, inviting us to reflect upon our nation's debts, their validity, and the question of the debt ceiling.
Polarisation (polarization) is a major challenge facing American society today. Polarisation is the increasing division of society into two or more opposing groups or blocs, each with its own set of beliefs, values, and goals. In the United States, polarisation is most evident in the political arena, where the two major parties, the Democrats and the Republicans, have become increasingly divided on a wide range of issues. This division can make it difficult to find common ground and solve problems.
The relationship between journalism and Trump has been a contentious one since he first entered the political arena. Trump has repeatedly attacked the media, calling it "the enemy of the people" and accusing it of spreading "fake news." He has also refused to cooperate with journalists, often refusing to answer their questions or even acknowledging their presence.
In this tumultuous epoch of political discord, a strange and insidious malady has taken hold of our collective consciousness. It is a spectral shadow, a haunting apparition that lingers in the minds of many. It has been given a name - "Trump Exhaustion." This ominous term is used to describe a peculiar kind of mental fatigue, a weary lassitude induced by the incessant barrage of news, controversies, and vitriolic rhetoric associated with the figure of former President Donald Trump.
When the hallowed halls of the Supreme Court echo not with the sound of justice, but with the whispers of doubt and mistrust, we are all lessened. We are all dimmed when the beacon of our nation's justice system, the esteemed Supreme Court, is tinged with a loss of credibility.
The court that has, for generations, stood as a symbol of fairness, of equality, of justice, cannot afford to lose the trust of the people. For it is not merely the court that stands to lose, it is the very fabric of our democracy.
There is a bittersweet understanding in the heart of society, a tacit agreement, that the rule of law is the bedrock of order, the linchpin of justice, the very essence of freedom. Yet, when this unspoken pact is fragmented, when the rule of law is cast aside, society, like a river losing its banks, spills into an unfamiliar territory, a place where liberty becomes an elusive concept and justice a phantom of its former self.
In the solemn realm of remembrance, I gather my opinions to pay homage to a figure who once stood tall and respected amongst us; yet now, I believe, has fallen into the chasm of obnoxious transgressions. Once revered, now repulsed; once loved, now loathed; I trace the arc of this being's existence, from glory to ignominy, with a heavy heart and a mourning soul. This reflective discourse is a personal journey through the shifting sands of admiration for a public figure once held in high esteem. This composition is not a rallying cry to change minds, nor a clandestine attempt to tarnish reputations. It is but an honest reflection, an exploration of sentiments altered.
In the delicate tapestry of human experience, we must look beyond our borders to understand the weight of the gun violence that burdens our great nation. A sorrowful song weaves itself across the world, yet our own land echoes with a thunderous cacophony of pain and loss. The United States, a land of dreams and promise, finds itself entangled in a storm of gun violence that far surpasses the struggles faced by other developed countries.
In our sun-drenched land, a nation that births dreams and sets souls alight with passions and aspirations, there exists a specter, a haunting presence that casts its shadow over the lives of the innocent. A menace that steals the breath of mothers, fathers, sons, and daughters, whose very whispers tremble in the air, reverberating the chilling sound of gunfire. This specter is the plague of gun violence, an affliction that has seeped into the very marrow of the United States, leaving scars upon our collective memory.
In that eldritch year, when the shadows of a delayed release hung over the doomed town of Redfall, the anticipation and disquietude intermingled like the mist in the night air. The fateful hour was postponed from the Summer of 2022 to the eerie month of September, Anno Domini 2023. Amidst the whispers of trepidation, the acolytes of Arkane Austin laboured to forge their most ambitious creation hitherto, a game that would transcend the boundaries of their previous incantations, such as Prey and Dishonored.