Practical Ethics

Sometimes justice wears a mask: blogging, anonymity and the open society

After the Times exposed the identity of the police blogger "Night Jack" he has been disciplined by the police force. The blog (now deleted) had won the Orwell Price for political writing and often expressed critical views related to the police and the justice system. In a court ruling Mr Justice Eady claimed that blogging was "essentially a public rather than a private activity" and that it was in the public interest to know who originated opinions and arguments. Do we have a right to anonymity on the net? And is it truly in the public interest to know who every blogger is?

Philosophers' Carnival LXXVIII

Welcome to the 78th Philosophers' Carnival!

The Philosophers' Carnival this week goes practical.  We tried to find the best philosophical blog posts from the last couple of weeks, with the emphasis on accessibility to a wide audience.  Thanks to everyone who nominated.  The pick of the bunch is below.

Applied Ethics

David Hunter argues that open-mindedness, not ‘tolerance’ is the appropriate attitude towards different methodologies in bioethics. In the comments (worth reading), Mark Cutter argues that moral philosophy should not have primacy in bioethical discourse.

Does the United States really not engage in torture?  As Jessica Wolfendale argues, it depends what you mean by 'torture'.

Moral Philosophy

Enigman asks whether lying is always wrong, citing the familiar paradox of the placebo effect.

Does the focus on the economy in political debate lead to a fragmentation of citizenry? Joseph Orosco draws on Singer, and Aristotle to question whether money makes us mean and lonely.

Kant famously objected to actions that arise from inclination rather than duty. Aaron Weingott argues that this is a form of psychological egoism.

Richard Chappell considers whether society ought to compensate people for turning them evil.

Political philosophy

Aaron Kenna questions whether there is such a thing as ‘society’, or are all groups merely collections of individuals?

Kevin Schutte gives a thoughtful commentary on Thomas Nagel’s recent paper on the place of Intelligent Design in the classroom, arguing that Nagel’s definition of evolution and of science are idiosyncratic.

Sage Canada reflects on the consequences of economic rationalism and the banality of evil.

Psychology

Over at one of our affiliated blogs, Robin Hanson and his respondents consider the hidden agendas in politics and elsewhere.

The next carnival takes place here on 6th October.

 

Compiled by Dominic Wilkinson and Rebecca Roache

Practical Ethics News to host Philosophers' Carnival

Practical Ethics News will host the next Philosophers' Carnival on 22nd September.  If you know of a particularly good philosophy blog post, please consider nominating it for inclusion via this link.  Posts need not be on the topic of practical ethics, although they should be accessible to a popular audience.  Posts relating to current affairs are especially welcome.