Maverick Philosopher

Footnotes to Plato from the foothills of the Superstition Mountains

Category: Civility

  • Jason Mattera’s Ambush Tactics Defended

    This just over the transom from a reader: You wrote:  ". . . one must turn their own Alinsky tactics against them . . . .  Conservatives should not allow themselves to be hobbled by their own civility and high standards."   I completely agree which is why I support the ambush tactics of Jason Mattera (most…

  • A Reader Poses Some Political-Philosophical Questions, Part I

    From a reader: I have been and continue to be an avid reader of your wonderful blog ever since I stumbled upon your post on Wittgenstein’s anti-philosophy some years ago. And I must say that your assorted musings and reflections – even your polemical jabs – have given me many valuable lessons, even if I…

  • Is ‘Obamacare’ a Derogatory Word?

    Some object to the popular 'Obamacare' label given that the official title of the law is 'Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act' or, as commonly truncated, 'Affordable Care Act.' But there is a good reason to favor the popular moniker: it is descriptive where the other two labels are evaluative, expressing as they do a…

  • The Left’s Double Standard on Civility . . .

    . . . is well exposed by James Taranto. For more on this topic, see my On Civility and Recent Civility Initiatives.

  • On Civility and the Recent Civility Initiatives

    Civility is a good old conservative virtue and I'm all for it.  But like toleration, civility has limits.  If you call me a racist because I argue against Obamacare, then not only do I have no reason to be civil in my response to you, I morally ought not be civil to you.  For by being…