11/20 Open Thread is Not about John Rawls

-

PHILOSOPHY !?........... ( ? ) + ( * ) = ( ! )

-

I have a lot of open tabs devoted to possible OT content or inspiration, as well as an ever growing stash of same in pocket and other places. A lot as in I'm drowining in them. The time has come to clean some out, though I'm nowhere near ready to do full fledged expository columns on any of them yet. That brings us to today's bifurcated column, wherein I shall throw some metaphorical paint upon the wall and allow you folks to make such art of it as only you can.

John Rawls:

I ran across an article from The New Republic By JEDEDIAH BRITTON-PURDY published October 29, 2019. The Title and sub-title are What John Rawls Missed - Are his principles for a just society enough today? I considered recommending that everybody go and read it for themselves, but stopped short of so doing. Should you feel like so doing I found it here: https://newrepublic.com/article/155294/john-rawls-missed-create-just-soc...

It is a review and analysis of a book about said John Rawl's philosophy as expounded in his own book "A Theory of Justice" and does cover a lot of ground. There were two bits that jumped out me as stand alone food for thought and or discussion:

John Rawls, who died in 2002, was the most influential American philosopher of the twentieth century. His great work, A Theory of Justice, appeared in 1971 and defined the field of political philosophy for generations. It set out standards for a just society in the form of two principles. First, a just society would protect the strongest set of civil liberties and personal rights compatible with everyone else having the same rights. Second, it would tolerate economic inequalities only if they improved the situation of the poorest and most marginalized (for example, by paying doctors well to encourage people to enter a socially necessary profession).

I suspect that nobody who reads the stuff I write has any illusions about the fact that we do not live in a just society, so this is, as to that, simply a bit more fuel for the raging inferno, but the simple framework it lays out is worthy of some thought and analysis as to how complete it is or isn't, whether or not it is possible for such a system to exist, whether it could be brought about today, and, if so, how.

Rawls proposed a technique for doing this, a thought experiment that he called the “original position.” It invites us to imagine a situation in which people are to choose the world in which they will live. The key is that they choose behind a “veil of ignorance,” that is, they do not know where they would fall in the distribution of privilege and vulnerability in the societies they imagine. Would you choose to live in the United States today if you didn’t know whether you would be Elon Musk or an undocumented immigrant?

This, IMHO, harkens back to Kant's Categorical Imperative. This would clearly be one method of visualizing and determining whether or not the maxim of one's action(s) should be a universal rule or law. It seems to also be a viable and potentially useful tool for analyzing proposed legislation and regulation, zoning ordinances, development plans and much else that has both societal and individual impacts.

-

While you're considering that, I thought I's throw a few more rocks at the idiocy that is

Disastrously Stupid Timefiddling

First up, The Globe and Mail weighs in with Turn back the clock on Daylight Savings: Why Standard Time all year round is the healthy choice by NICOLAS CERMAKIAN, PATRICIA LAKIN-THOMAS AND TAMI MARTINO. The authors are all university professors in elevant fields who wre writing on behalf of the Canadian Society for Chronobiology. Their opening salvo is as follows:.

Changing our clocks twice a year has little benefit, economic or otherwise, so isn’t it time to stop this antiquated practice? The good news is that some provincial legislatures agree and are currently considering bills to adopt permanent time. As experts on biological rhythms, we support the switch to a permanent time. However, in doing so, we must adopt Standard Time (ST), not Daylight Savings Time (DST, or “summer time”).

There is general agreement that getting rid of the time switch twice a year would be a good idea. After time switches, particularly the “spring forward,” there are increased rates of car accidents, heart attacks, strokes and workplace injuries. So why does it matter whether we adopt permanent DST or permanent ST?

They then continue to argue that, as a matter of biology, psychology and medicine, it is healthier and better for humankind to stick with standard time. This position is based on both analysis and data from disparate fields or equally from the umbrella of chronobiology. The idea is that things run more smoothly when our official, sociopolitical time is more closely in sync with our circadian rhythms. It seems obvious, then that, having evolved to sync to the sun, we should all be on a time system that permits the closest approximation thereto. That would mean mean solar time. (I just love that type of spelcheck confounding word doubling grammaticism.)

And, piling on, is UC, one of the globes pre-eminent university systems: https://www.universityofcalifornia.edu/news/daylight-saving-time-saves-n... . They even throw in a video:

The take away from the video is:

You may already know that lack of sleep is linked to high blood pressure, diabetes, Alzheimer’s disease, heart attack or stroke, and obesity. What Ben Simon has also found is when we don’t sleep, we become antisocial and drive others away.

That one hour flip twice per year doesn't just derange us for a night or dy, it upsets most peoples sleep cycles for several days up to a week or so, so why not just get rid of it.

-

Not John Rawls

-

Title Image is Philosophy

-

It's an open thread, so have at it. The floor is yours
.

-
Share
up
0 users have voted.

Comments

smiley7's picture

Time, sleep, philosophy and inspiration, coming together with caffene seems appropriate this morning. First, i've not enough time lately in the short term and most likely the long term. Afraid that everyday commitments will erode my reading and commenting pleasure here on c99 for one.

Reading from The Republic: i mused in memory about Allan Bloom's The closing of the American Mind which i first encountered when changing into a suit in President of the UNC System, Bill Friday's bedroom for a fund raising fete hosted by he and his wife, Ida, the hard copy first edition rested on his bedside table. I share this because in that development work, i was most introduced to our society of the privileged, how they lived, behaved and what they thought. Why was i having to change clothes? I think because i was racing from the golf course, having played in a tournament with wealthy donors.

However, my pain and knowledge of a just society begins in my youth, with both hard-working parents giving their blood and more importantly, their time, to the company store with Edward Bernays stroking their material desires, i recall the building resentment by teenage years readying me, i suppose for the SDS. Anyways, back to time, i've bookmarked today's OT, in hopes to review John Rawls. I wonder how influential Sinclair Lewis may have been to him, an afterthought.

In thinking about our present situation, i've not a tremendous amount of faith that we, collectively understand the need for a wholesale change in thinking about economic justice, lacking the propelling experience of the Great Depression which influenced Rawls and other great thinkers; our material-way being so grounded and the oligarchs entrenched.

Anyways, enough rambling, must tend to the day.

On a personal note, i learned on Friday that i need bifocals, not having worn glasses for more than 55 years, guess it's time. I do need advice and help in making a purchase, so anyone who uses an online less expensive way to fill the prescription will be greatly appreciated. Wally world wanted $280 just to fill the prescription, not including frames, way beyond my budget.

Thanks again for the good morning thoughts and inspiration to think a little.

Hoping you've a wonderful California day.

up
0 users have voted.

@smiley7
Get a prescription from a local optometrist (about $30 with insurance). Then take the Rx to an online outfit ( I use Zenni.com), fill in the numbers, choose your frames and tints, etc. I use progressives which used to cost about $350 to $400 at the local Lens Crafters. Similar sets are $60 to $80 online.

Very abusive of glasses, tend to last about a year before all scratched up. But they normally go swimming, get crushed or busted. Go thru about 4 pair a year, on average. It is difficult to adapt to eyewear later in life, but good to see clearly.

Good luck.

up
0 users have voted.
smiley7's picture

@QMS

you figured out the pupil distance and size online? The doctor did not provide that info and Wally W would not help me without committing to a sale.

Thanks again.

up
0 users have voted.

@smiley7
I use a 6" stainless engineers rule, divided into 64ths, and use a small clamp to mark the distance. A well lit mirror works well. Put one edge of the rule in front of the middle of one pupil, then mark the center of the other pupil. They want the measurement in mm, so I take my little metric tape and get as close as possible. Usually do it both ways to double check, but it is pretty accurate. I'm 62 mm this year, last time was 60 mm.

up
0 users have voted.
enhydra lutris's picture

@smiley7
but it can be a good thing too. Plenty of chores this morning here too, but it keeps us going. I've worn glasses since high school, and shades since early childhood. Until I lucked into my fabulous medical plan I always got my glasses at the UC Berkeley school of optometry. In all likelihood, if you can find a university school of optometry near you you'll be able to get a pretty good deal.

up
0 users have voted.

That, in its essence, is fascism--ownership of government by an individual, by a group, or by any other controlling private power. -- Franklin D. Roosevelt --

Lookout's picture

It is time for a little justice that's for sure.

I use the line, "you know we're are not a demockrazy when 80% of people don't want time to change twice a year, but they do it anyway". Swings right and left and everyone agrees.

When I researched DST awhile back, I discovered the rationale is to extend the evening shopping hours. Ironic that we now spend less of the year on standard time than daylight savings.

Hired a crew to re-deck over the cisterns. They arrive shortly, so I'll run. Hope you all have a good one!

up
0 users have voted.

“Until justice rolls down like water and righteousness like a mighty stream.”

enhydra lutris's picture

@Lookout
proof right there that also neatly ties the twin themed of this together. Thanks for adding it. Good luck with the cistern project and have a great one.

up
0 users have voted.

That, in its essence, is fascism--ownership of government by an individual, by a group, or by any other controlling private power. -- Franklin D. Roosevelt --

Anja Geitz's picture

Would you choose to live in the United States today if you didn’t know whether you would be Elon Musk or an undocumented immigrant?

My parents believed that the United States was preferable to living in post WWII Germany, and I suspect at that time, they were correct. But if I didn't grow up here, have family and roots, I'd much prefer living in Germany. Strange how that worked.

Great subject and essay. There aren't a lot of places left on the internet where we can discuss Kant's Categorical imperative Smile

up
0 users have voted.

There is always Music amongst the trees in the Garden, but our hearts must be very quiet to hear it. ~ Minnie Aumonier

enhydra lutris's picture

@Anja Geitz
as a way to formulate Kant's categorical that is pretty compelling - I posted about it here at least once. Thanks for reading and have a great one.

up
0 users have voted.

That, in its essence, is fascism--ownership of government by an individual, by a group, or by any other controlling private power. -- Franklin D. Roosevelt --

Anja Geitz's picture

@enhydra lutris

I recall using that as a measure in a paper I wrote back in school. Got an "A" on it. Smile

up
0 users have voted.

There is always Music amongst the trees in the Garden, but our hearts must be very quiet to hear it. ~ Minnie Aumonier

lotlizard's picture

En Bolivia matan al perro de Evo Morales

https://www.nakedcapitalism.com/2019/11/links-11-20-19.html#comment-3245367

They killed the dog, then let a tank pass over the body and the images were circulated through social networks according to the mexican outlet.

up
0 users have voted.
Steven D's picture

@lotlizard Amirite?

up
0 users have voted.

"You can't just leave those who created the problem in charge of the solution."---Tyree Scott

lotlizard's picture

@Steven D

up
0 users have voted.
enhydra lutris's picture

@lotlizard

Have a great one.

up
0 users have voted.

That, in its essence, is fascism--ownership of government by an individual, by a group, or by any other controlling private power. -- Franklin D. Roosevelt --

TheOtherMaven's picture

@enhydra lutris

Sometimes I think the human species doesn't deserve to survive.

up
0 users have voted.

There is no justice. There can be no peace.

enhydra lutris's picture

@TheOtherMaven

Thanks for dropping in and have a great one.

up
0 users have voted.

That, in its essence, is fascism--ownership of government by an individual, by a group, or by any other controlling private power. -- Franklin D. Roosevelt --

Steven D's picture

His thought experiment is fascinating, but in the end I have concluded that it doesn't contribute much from a practical standpoint regarding how we achieve a a more just society under our present circumstances.

Then again, this is my issue with much of philosophy that ignores human biology, human consciousness and human cultures that have developed over the centuries and shape how individuals and social groups in those cultures think and behave. Rawls' approach is ultimately idealistic, as his basic premise is one that, again, appeals to logic and rationality when we know now how much of human behavior is driven by unconscious, intuitive processes in the human brain and by the environment, physical and cultural, in which we are immersed.

up
0 users have voted.

"You can't just leave those who created the problem in charge of the solution."---Tyree Scott

enhydra lutris's picture

@Steven D
thought experiment is as a tool to be internalized in order to help one to act ethically or morally. To really endeavor to create a just society, one cannot just think or expostulate about it, but must work to inculcate ethical values, perceptions and tools in the majority of the populace. Arguable, it will only work if one can sell the vast majority, that that is the tricky part. It has to start with replacing egoism (not egotism) with empathy and a real belief in and dedication to justice, equality, freedom and such. That separate tool box, for selling the cultural, ethical and behavioral changes necessary to bring that about is what is missing from most philosophy, political and otherwise.

Thanks for reading and have a good one.

up
0 users have voted.

That, in its essence, is fascism--ownership of government by an individual, by a group, or by any other controlling private power. -- Franklin D. Roosevelt --

dystopian's picture

Hi EL, good stuff...

I agree with the canuks. I hate daylight savings time, since I was a kid before I understood it. Once I learned the foolishness of it post war reasons, I really hated it. To hear people talking of switching to no switch is great. To hear them say switching it to savings time instead of natural or standard time is mind-boggling to me. Idiocy. Noon should be half way between darks, when sun is at highest point of the day. Period. I am a pretty hardcore amateur biologist, the circadian thing is more than real. Man should quit pretending they always know something better when it comes to natural cycles.

Arguably (with Winter) Mick Taylor's best guitar solo, and one of the best ever recorded.

gotta fly, have a good one...

up
0 users have voted.

We cannot solve our problems with the same thinking we used when we created them.
Look deep into nature, and then you will understand everything better.
both - Albert Einstein

enhydra lutris's picture

@dystopian
about DST, and, in particular about noon. For the sake of convenience we have 15 degree time zones, so most of us will live a bit off of local time, but it is simply stupid to intentionally add an hour to the error. Heck, I learned how to tell local noon at a very young age and conversely, to use noon to find true north. Hell, it is the working principle for every sundial ever made. Why would anybody desire to mess with that?

Have a great one.

up
0 users have voted.

That, in its essence, is fascism--ownership of government by an individual, by a group, or by any other controlling private power. -- Franklin D. Roosevelt --

TheOtherMaven's picture

@enhydra lutris

up
0 users have voted.

There is no justice. There can be no peace.

enhydra lutris's picture

up
0 users have voted.

That, in its essence, is fascism--ownership of government by an individual, by a group, or by any other controlling private power. -- Franklin D. Roosevelt --

@enhydra lutris This is under discussion in the European Union, if they decide to stop changing the time, I think the US will stop the practice too. It was on the ballot in California last year and it passed.

up
0 users have voted.

It's simply too painful to acknowledge, even to ourselves that we've been taken. Once you give a charlatan power over you, you almost never get it back. Carl Sagan

enhydra lutris's picture

@chambord
bit strange, motivated by a desire of some to go to DST full time.

up
0 users have voted.

That, in its essence, is fascism--ownership of government by an individual, by a group, or by any other controlling private power. -- Franklin D. Roosevelt --

magiamma's picture

et al

Another climate crisis blog post finished and I am once again left with the sense that the way out is murky at best. There is the reality of the science and the facts and the reality that not much is changing. We as a species are not driven by logic. And efforts to move forward are resisted by the ptb. Justice has no place at the table in this conversation much.

up
0 users have voted.

Stop Climate Change Silence - Start the Conversation

Hot Air Website, Twitter, Facebook

enhydra lutris's picture

@magiamma
the facts and science are out there, the situation is unchanging with indications that it is worsening, hints of promising technologies somewhere down the road maybe, anger and fear for some, ennui and avoidance from others and willful inaction from thtb. Day in, day out. Thanks for all your work and efforts.

up
0 users have voted.

That, in its essence, is fascism--ownership of government by an individual, by a group, or by any other controlling private power. -- Franklin D. Roosevelt --