Posted by: Jim W
on Mar 20, 2010
Woke up this morning hearing this song. SO appropriate, given our circumstances.
Posted by: Barthélemy Barbancourt
on Jun 17, 2009
This Post was written by Nobody per my request. Bart
In a comment I referred to some views held here as a "cartoon." I was taken to task by BB. I stand by that statement. I know that this is a blog and being such, some people are constrained by the written word. When one is going to reference a complicated enlightenment philosophy it becomes not unlike the political 30 second sound bite politics. Bumper stickers are not a reasoned argument, as much as I like some of them. While it's true if you have a real understanding of a subject one can vastly condense it down for the lay person, it is usually advisable to issue a caveat (i.e. to build a watch all you need are some gears...but there's more to it than that). To boil down the enlightenment to only Lockes "natural law" with its inherent property rights and self-awareness, is absurd. To beat ones chest over the Founders understanding of Locke is not helpful in ones rational arguments. Facts are useful, but one must have them. Opinions are fine too, I just happen to like ones that have been well thought out. I have heard valid opinions pro-choice and pro-life, The Second Amendment anti and pro. School choice vs vouchers. I always liked the Junior High insults but I see how they can get grating. Perhaps I should have called it a character of the Enlightment.
Offering an opinion referencing a certain philosophy, in my opinion, one should have a bit more than a Wikipedia, Cliff's Notes knowledge of the subject.
