Category Archives: Grasping the Nettle

An Actual Trolley Problem

Posted on March 20, 2020 by Timothy Burke

I’ve always seen a certain style of thought experiment in analytic philosophy and psychology as having limited value–say for example the famous “trolley problem” that asks participants to make an ethical choice about whose life to save in a situation … Continue reading →

Posted in Academia, Grasping the Nettle, Politics, Swarthmore | 1 Comment

You And What Army?

Posted on January 20, 2015 by Timothy Burke

Perhaps “check your privilege” is just a form of in-group signalling, a move that distributes discursive power between people who see themselves as belonging to the same social and political community. It functions as a kind of progressive Robert’s Rules … Continue reading →

Posted in Grasping the Nettle, Politics | 8 Comments

An Ethic of Care

Posted on January 16, 2015 by Timothy Burke

There’s an odd thing about privilege-checking as it has evolved into a shaming slogan, a sort of taunt. Shame only works if the target has an internal sense that the moral argument of the shamers is valid, or if the … Continue reading →

Posted in Blogging, Grasping the Nettle, Politics | 13 Comments

Nobody Expects the Facebook Inquisition

Posted on January 15, 2015 by Timothy Burke

Another day, another story of busybodies calling the police to punish another citizen for doing something that the busybody doesn’t approve of. Or in this case, not doing something, namely, not keeping their children inside and under 24/7 monitoring. 21st … Continue reading →

Posted in Blogging, Grasping the Nettle, Politics | 3 Comments

The Soft Target

Posted on January 14, 2015 by Timothy Burke

The 20th Century was more than a literal graveyard for almost uncountable millions of people, it was also a mausoleum for the idea of taking on the hardest targets. Overthrow a tyrant by force of arms? Here come a bunch … Continue reading →

Posted in Grasping the Nettle, Politics | 3 Comments

The Increment

Posted on January 9, 2015 by Timothy Burke

“We have to do something. Anything is better than nothing.” A standard topos in political rhetoric that to me usually signals desperation. Let’s get started! Let’s not think too much! What, are you happy with the status quo? It’s not … Continue reading →

Posted in Blogging, Grasping the Nettle, Politics | 3 Comments

Rebooting

Posted on January 9, 2015 by Timothy Burke

Folks who follow this blog, or my social media presence generally, have probably noted that I’ve not had much to say lately. Part of that is feeling overly busy, but it’s more the consequence of a growing sense of perplexity … Continue reading →

Posted in Academia, Blogging, Cleaning Out the Augean Stables, Grasping the Nettle | 2 Comments