If you’re eating locally for ecological reasons, you’re doing it wrong. If we’re talking about the economic and cultural benefit to local producers and sellers, that is another story. But ecologically, since transport makes up a negligible part of the ecological impact of food (see the chart below), it is better to make use of … Continue reading If you’re eating locally for environmental reasons, you’re doing it wrong
I recently engaged in the following conversation about the nature of stories and truth. Others' comments in quotes, mine unquoted. All have been edited for readability and style. "Never let the truth get in the way of a good story" I strongly dislike this idea. Reality is enchanting and amazing. Things happen in history and … Continue reading Stories and Truth – a Rivalry?
What is the West? Not Postmodern. Now, a lot of people like to use these terms like "modern", "postmodern" and even "anti-postmodern" without knowing exactly what they mean. So for the sake of having some common vocabulary for once, let's define our terms. Modernism - the philosophical outlook that defined the West through the late … Continue reading Not Postmodern
Scott Alexander recently posted his thoughts on the merits of social shaming of explainable sociopsychological phenomena. Beginning his discourse with the new hyperprogressive idea that “lazy-shaming” should be ended, Alexander counters that I imagine [an anti-Lazy shamer] believing he has a fundamental value difference with people who use the term “lazy”. They think that some … Continue reading To Explain is Not to Excuse
Whither the West? 