Books by N. R. D. Haslewood
A methodological system for analysing and critiquing the general construction of theories, it app... more A methodological system for analysing and critiquing the general construction of theories, it applies as much to modern Western contract theories as it does to economic or religious theories alike. The analogy of a building is used to add colour to the proposition that theories should be split into distinct tiers.
Developed over a number of years, it is written as a sketch allowing easy digestion in a single sitting, rather than a fully expounded manuscript with examples.
There are several things which I hope the reader will take away from this thesis. The first is th... more There are several things which I hope the reader will take away from this thesis. The first is that I believe contemporary political philosophy gravely misinterprets Rawls. Discussions are too concentrated on the theories contained in A Theory of Justice. However, as demonstrated in chapters two and three, there are criticisms we can level at his thinking which prove fatal. One of the most damaging is that Rawls repeats current liberal views without sufficient justification. If we look more deeply into Rawls’ views we find that at critical points of his construction key foundations are missing. Therefore, we also come to realise that the early Rawls cannot answer the charge of cultural subjectivity.
It is essential to all discussions of Rawls that this fact be taken into account. The later Rawls rejects the universalist claims of his earlier theory and thus also rejects its precepts. He states that the justice as fairness of his earlier self was culturally subjective and admits that it is, in fact, only to be applicable to Western societies. Not only that, but justice as fairness, within our Western societies, is not to be taken as any more valid than any other rationally cohesive philosophy.
He ultimately fails in his aim of finding a universal theory.
We live in an age of intellectual freedom. The cliché runs: “With freedom comes responsibility”. ... more We live in an age of intellectual freedom. The cliché runs: “With freedom comes responsibility”. What is not mentioned is that with freedom comes uncertainty, ideological conflict and a pervasive sense of cynicism.
The thought that our final end comes with death is one so saddening, so deeply tragic, thatit begs the question of why we should live. “Good” and “bad” are no longer black and white, as they were when our societies were conservative. We can’t be sure that what we are doing is absolutely correct, nor that we will be rewarded with eternal salvation. We are constantly banging our heads against question marks - and against the existential void.
As the waters of cultural and moral relativism constantly wash convictions away, leaving us unable to secure an anchor that holds us firm, where are we to find our happiness? Confronted by an imperfect world, where religion is trumped by evolution, where unwanted wars are fought in our name, what are we, as individuals, left with?
Papers by N. R. D. Haslewood
Humanism is unavoidably political because it demands that concrete progress towards universal jus... more Humanism is unavoidably political because it demands that concrete progress towards universal justice, peace, and respect for human rights be made. Consequently, I wish to argue that holding a Humanist position requires that all committed Humanists make an effort to do three things: firstly, raise public consciousness regarding the necessity of global law and a world government to enforce it; secondly, demand that governments take practical steps towards establishing world peace now, and, thirdly, work towards altering the very structure of global politics itself by ending nations' absolute rule over the destiny of humanity.
Virtually all of modern political and economic thinking begins with assuming dehumanised people i... more Virtually all of modern political and economic thinking begins with assuming dehumanised people in their very foundations. Contemporary philosophers make a basic assumptional error when constructing their theories. They begin with purely rational, utility-seeking decision makers - people stripped of anything which makes them recognisably human. The people which contemporary political and economic theories are built on care only for themselves and are incapable of acting irrationally or putting their community’s interests before themselves.
The problem, however, is that such people simply do not exist.
A revolution in the foundational assumptions of modern economic thinking is necessary. It needs to encompass the needs and wishes of real people in real communities, bearing in mind all people’s common humanity.
They say you should travel at some point in your life. It broadens horizons. This is true. You ca... more They say you should travel at some point in your life. It broadens horizons. This is true. You can learn another language. True. You come to understand your own cultural background better. True again. But know what the most valuable thing for me is? Being on the receiving end of prejudice.
Once you’ve been a member of a minority it’s a little easier to transpose yourself into the shoes of the immigrants arriving in your home country. Being a member of a minority is entirely contextual, anyone on earth can join this group by simply moving abroad. Those who do can more easily reflect on the difficulties of peoples anywhere who find themselves unfairly judged or treated.
It’s worth spending some portion of your life in a foreign country reflecting on such issues and attempting to develop empathy for the struggles of minorities worldwide. It’s time well spent.
There are some in Taiwan who predict pure doom and gloom at the rise of the hulking beast across ... more There are some in Taiwan who predict pure doom and gloom at the rise of the hulking beast across the Strait. However, with Japanese companies preferring to use Taiwanese to represent them in China and China’s own acceptance of Taiwanese living and working on its soil, the anticipative and astute here can potentially have a great deal to look forward to.
It does mean, however, that those unwilling or unable to think beyond the confines of their own language and political borders will be left behind by our fledgling century. Bear in mind, though, that it’s not just Taiwanese we’re talking about now. It’s all of us.
Road traffic rules are invariably ignored as much as they are adhered to. Why? People basically d... more Road traffic rules are invariably ignored as much as they are adhered to. Why? People basically don't think about their safety. Don't wear seat belts. Don't wear helmets. It's almost as if the event of a crash simply isn't anticipated or planned for in the same way a Westerner might think to.
This is surely most horrifying in the case of children. But why do Taiwanese invest so much in their children's future, and yet are so seemingly irresponsible when it comes to road safety?
As Taiwan's population ages and health care becomes more expensive, the cost of health care must ... more As Taiwan's population ages and health care becomes more expensive, the cost of health care must sensibly rise with it. This is, of course, no different from any other nation in the world with a fairly comprehensive health care system.
Taiwan's problem is precisely the same as other countries' in this regard. Who is creating problems for Taiwan's National Health Insurance scheme and why?
Is it possible to say that one culture is better than another, or must we stop at simply saying t... more Is it possible to say that one culture is better than another, or must we stop at simply saying they are different? Does it even make sense to ask which society makes people happier than the other? Perhaps we are only able to say that there are good and bad points to both the eastern and western traditions of raising children that we could all learn from.
Education without tests? This is unimaginable to a Chinese mind. Chinese education IS tests.
Tes... more Education without tests? This is unimaginable to a Chinese mind. Chinese education IS tests.
Tests are the whole point of learning, so how could Finland abolish theirs? And how could this have led to their developing a better education system than the UK or US?
The vast majority of both teaching and writing on Rawls concentrates almost exclusively on his ju... more The vast majority of both teaching and writing on Rawls concentrates almost exclusively on his justice as fairness as presented in A Theory of Justice. This must end. We must more fully acknowledge the fact that Rawls himself rejected the thinking of his earlier self, realising that it had been based on an ill-founded assumption. He entirely shifts his focus from attempts to found a universal theory of justice on hypothetical bases to the practical difficulties of creating stability in Western democracies. As a result, we must also begin to discuss Rawls in a different way. To mark the contrast in Rawls’ thinking and avoid further confusion, we now need to begin speaking of the ‘early’ and ‘later’ Rawls.
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Books by N. R. D. Haslewood
Developed over a number of years, it is written as a sketch allowing easy digestion in a single sitting, rather than a fully expounded manuscript with examples.
It is essential to all discussions of Rawls that this fact be taken into account. The later Rawls rejects the universalist claims of his earlier theory and thus also rejects its precepts. He states that the justice as fairness of his earlier self was culturally subjective and admits that it is, in fact, only to be applicable to Western societies. Not only that, but justice as fairness, within our Western societies, is not to be taken as any more valid than any other rationally cohesive philosophy.
He ultimately fails in his aim of finding a universal theory.
The thought that our final end comes with death is one so saddening, so deeply tragic, thatit begs the question of why we should live. “Good” and “bad” are no longer black and white, as they were when our societies were conservative. We can’t be sure that what we are doing is absolutely correct, nor that we will be rewarded with eternal salvation. We are constantly banging our heads against question marks - and against the existential void.
As the waters of cultural and moral relativism constantly wash convictions away, leaving us unable to secure an anchor that holds us firm, where are we to find our happiness? Confronted by an imperfect world, where religion is trumped by evolution, where unwanted wars are fought in our name, what are we, as individuals, left with?
Papers by N. R. D. Haslewood
The problem, however, is that such people simply do not exist.
A revolution in the foundational assumptions of modern economic thinking is necessary. It needs to encompass the needs and wishes of real people in real communities, bearing in mind all people’s common humanity.
Once you’ve been a member of a minority it’s a little easier to transpose yourself into the shoes of the immigrants arriving in your home country. Being a member of a minority is entirely contextual, anyone on earth can join this group by simply moving abroad. Those who do can more easily reflect on the difficulties of peoples anywhere who find themselves unfairly judged or treated.
It’s worth spending some portion of your life in a foreign country reflecting on such issues and attempting to develop empathy for the struggles of minorities worldwide. It’s time well spent.
It does mean, however, that those unwilling or unable to think beyond the confines of their own language and political borders will be left behind by our fledgling century. Bear in mind, though, that it’s not just Taiwanese we’re talking about now. It’s all of us.
This is surely most horrifying in the case of children. But why do Taiwanese invest so much in their children's future, and yet are so seemingly irresponsible when it comes to road safety?
Taiwan's problem is precisely the same as other countries' in this regard. Who is creating problems for Taiwan's National Health Insurance scheme and why?
Tests are the whole point of learning, so how could Finland abolish theirs? And how could this have led to their developing a better education system than the UK or US?
Developed over a number of years, it is written as a sketch allowing easy digestion in a single sitting, rather than a fully expounded manuscript with examples.
It is essential to all discussions of Rawls that this fact be taken into account. The later Rawls rejects the universalist claims of his earlier theory and thus also rejects its precepts. He states that the justice as fairness of his earlier self was culturally subjective and admits that it is, in fact, only to be applicable to Western societies. Not only that, but justice as fairness, within our Western societies, is not to be taken as any more valid than any other rationally cohesive philosophy.
He ultimately fails in his aim of finding a universal theory.
The thought that our final end comes with death is one so saddening, so deeply tragic, thatit begs the question of why we should live. “Good” and “bad” are no longer black and white, as they were when our societies were conservative. We can’t be sure that what we are doing is absolutely correct, nor that we will be rewarded with eternal salvation. We are constantly banging our heads against question marks - and against the existential void.
As the waters of cultural and moral relativism constantly wash convictions away, leaving us unable to secure an anchor that holds us firm, where are we to find our happiness? Confronted by an imperfect world, where religion is trumped by evolution, where unwanted wars are fought in our name, what are we, as individuals, left with?
The problem, however, is that such people simply do not exist.
A revolution in the foundational assumptions of modern economic thinking is necessary. It needs to encompass the needs and wishes of real people in real communities, bearing in mind all people’s common humanity.
Once you’ve been a member of a minority it’s a little easier to transpose yourself into the shoes of the immigrants arriving in your home country. Being a member of a minority is entirely contextual, anyone on earth can join this group by simply moving abroad. Those who do can more easily reflect on the difficulties of peoples anywhere who find themselves unfairly judged or treated.
It’s worth spending some portion of your life in a foreign country reflecting on such issues and attempting to develop empathy for the struggles of minorities worldwide. It’s time well spent.
It does mean, however, that those unwilling or unable to think beyond the confines of their own language and political borders will be left behind by our fledgling century. Bear in mind, though, that it’s not just Taiwanese we’re talking about now. It’s all of us.
This is surely most horrifying in the case of children. But why do Taiwanese invest so much in their children's future, and yet are so seemingly irresponsible when it comes to road safety?
Taiwan's problem is precisely the same as other countries' in this regard. Who is creating problems for Taiwan's National Health Insurance scheme and why?
Tests are the whole point of learning, so how could Finland abolish theirs? And how could this have led to their developing a better education system than the UK or US?