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Continue reading →: Garrett Harding – a curious opinion
It was easy to understand Peter Singer’s moral imperative to rescue a drowning child from a pond and, by analogy to see the moral obligation to do what we can to prevent starvation in distant parts of the globe. A different viewpoint is expressed by Garrett Harding in a contentious…
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Continue reading →: Sofa so good
After a good deal of wandering around furniture shops we have now purchased enough items to furnish our bedroom and the open plan ground floor. The large oak table was the hardest decision. We ended up getting a table built for us. The choice of sofa was tricky. We ordered…
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Continue reading →: Global advantage
The globally advantaged use their superior position to influence the rules that govern international institutions – such as trade practices – which can facilitate further opportunities for increased advantage. The globally advantaged can threaten the abilities of others in distant lands to lead decent lives. (Pogge 2008.) Does this ring…
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Continue reading →: Authentic Italian
I love La Bottega, the Italian restaurant on the Lisburn Road in Belfast. Everything about it is authentically Italian, the music, the espresso, the menu and the charming owner, Francesco. When I have finished studying philosophy I occasionally reward myself with something to eat. It might just be bread with…
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Continue reading →: Getting older
Having clocked up my three score years and ten, I feel entitled to my senior citizen travel card and any other concessions going. The aching hips, knees and shoulders are brief inconveniences, usually first thing in the morning. I have always had trouble with my teeth because of an inherited…
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Continue reading →: Just war?
The two superpowers have embarked on wars that have involved neighbouring countries. The Russian invasion of Ukraine brought about the military support of the EU. Donald Trump as peacemaker in negotiations between Zelensky and Putin has failed to reach an acceptable compromise. Why would the invaded nation concede territory to…
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Continue reading →: Would you save a drowning child in a pond?
Peter Singer’s startling analogy asks us to consider sacrificing our consumerist values in favour of famine relief for refugees. His thoughts expressed in 1971 in a journal article ‘Famine, Affluence and Morality’ are a call for those who can afford to make acceptable sacrifices to do so to relieve the…
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Continue reading →: Smoking
Gregor Hens has written an autobiographical account of his relationship with nicotine. I am reading a Kindle version of his book and haven’t decided if I will skip read it or not. Will Self wrote the foreword with high praise for the subject and the author (who translates his stuff…
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Continue reading →: A lesson in wood
We continued our search for a wooden kitchen table by visiting M Large, a local arborist and family business who provide a range of tree services. Jimmy showed us a selection of wooden planks in elm, smoked oak, oak and even sequoia. He was a mine of useful information that…
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Continue reading →: Singers review
I watched a charming short film on Netflix the other day called Singers. The film is set in a bar with subdued lighting. The owner of the bar is prompted to issue a challenge to the patrons to see who is the best singer. We are welcomed into their company…
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