Archive for Month: October 2023
Qualitative Distinctions
“If we want to have good citizens, we need to create common spaces in which individuals can talk about the moral and ethical dilemmas that they have faced and how they resolve them.” Howard Gardner The more I read about the Israeli-Hamas War, the more confused I get. The moral and ethical complexities are overwhelming. I listen to Thomas Friedman, Brett Stephens, Nick Kristof, David Remnick, David French, David Brooks and Ezra Klein. (Yes, Read More
Qubits
“Even in the darkest of times we have the right to expect some illumination, and that such illumination may well come less from theories and concepts than from the uncertain, flickering, and often weak light that some men and women radiate, in their lives and their works. . . . . Eyes so used to darkness as ours will hardly be able to tell whether their light was the light of a candle or that Read More
Hierarchy, Patriarchy and Rigidity
“In the face of patriarchy, it is a brave act indeed for both men and women to embrace, rather than shame or attempt to eradicate, the feminine.” Alanis Morissette “When humans invented inequality and socioeconomic status, they came up with a dominance hierarchy that subordinates like nothing the primate world has ever seen before.” Robert Sapolsky “We can learn the art of fierce compassion – redefining strength, deconstructing isolation and renewing a sense of community, Read More
Justification AND Restraint
“Moral justification is a powerful disengagement mechanism. Destructive conduct is made personally and socially acceptable by portraying it in the service of moral ends. This is why most appeals against violent means usually fall on deaf ears.” Albert Bandura “The one who cannot restrain their anger will wish undone, what their temper and irritation prompted them to do.” Horace Since I am neither Jewish not Palestinian, I can’t represent either point of view on the Read More
Scales and Skills
“Would you tell me, please, which way I ought to go from here?” “That depends a good deal on where you want to get to,” said the Cat. “I don’t much care where so long as I get SOMEWHERE –” said Alice. “Then it doesn’t matter which way you go,” said the Cat.” Lewis Carroll My good friend and business partner once told me sarcastically, “All you want to talk about is scales and skills. Read More
Impartial Objectivity
“Anytime emotions are involved, you cannot come up with an impartial and objective assessment of any given problem.” Benigno Aquino III “The Sixth Amendment secures to persons charged with crime the right to be tried by an impartial jury reflecting a fair cross-section of the community.” Ruth Bader Ginsburg “There is no such thing as an impartial jury because there are no impartial people.” Jon Stewart When it comes to my kids and grandkids, I Read More