Tag Archives: Katherine Cheng

Q: DO we take our democracy for granted? TWO weeks ago I noticed a billboard advertisement not far from where I live.

Q: IS there a political obligation to obey the law? EVENTS in England this past week bring to mind that old starting point of political philosophy: the state of nature. This is the hypothetical condition of humanity before the establishment … Continue reading →

Author: Jeffrey Rosen, a law professor at George Washington University An essay about the difficulty of forgetting & re-invention in the age of the Internet, Facebook, etc. Excerpt: We’ve known for years that the Web allows for unprecedented voyeurism, exhibitionism … Continue reading →

Q: Is it illiberal for governments to ban practices judged to be illiberal, as the French government is doing with its intended ban on the burka? AskThePhilosopher 01May2010 Burka ban a headache for a liberal society (docx) (Uploaded by Katherine Cheng.)

Q: Is it disloyal to criticise aspects of Anzac Day because you believe it involves myth and ritualised militarism? AskThePhilosopher 24Apr2010 Pride in the past isnt necessarily a lost cause (docx) (Uploaded by Katherine Cheng.)

Q: If we believe that nation-states should be sovereign, what role should notions of universal human rights play in refugee policies? AskThePhilosopher 17Apr2010 Land of the fair go (docx) (Uploaded by Katherine Cheng.)

Q: What is the difference between being a renaissance man and a dilettante? AskThePhilosopher 10Apr2010 The quest for Renaissance man (docx) (Uploaded by Katherine Cheng.)

Q: In which circumstances can our notions of justice accommodate trials by media? Ask The Philosopher 03Apr2010 When media become dispensers of justice (docx) (Uploaded by Katherine Cheng.)

Belgian MPs are set to pass a law to ban the burka & nikab (full body and full face coverings). Women who defy the ban will be fined or jailed. Suggested discussion topics: – What are the different ‘-isms’ at … Continue reading →

Q: Have we become accustomed to thinking of political greatness as involving moments of symbolism rather than as involving reform achievements? Ask the Philosopher, The Australian, 27 Mar 2010. ‘. . .the ultimate test of greatness is to be able … Continue reading →

Q: Is an acknowledgment of traditional ownership by public officials tokenistic political correctness or a genuine effort to achieve reconciliation with Aboriginal Australians? From: A nod to traditional owners, The (Weekend) Australian, 20 March 2010, Tim Soutphommasane mentions this ritual … Continue reading →

Three essays in response to France’s ban on women wearing veils and other full body coverings in secular spaces. Two of the essays are written by women; the other by a political writer (Greg Sheridan). Themes: Secularism, nationalism, identity politics, … Continue reading →

by Julie Hosking about the sentiments expressed by bumper stickers. ‘F*** off, we’re full’, says one bumper sticker. Useful for discussing the paradox of tolerance. *What are the limits of tolerance? Of free speech? *If racist and other sentiments are … Continue reading →

Q: How do we define patriotism? And how does it compare to jingoism? Ask the philosopher by Tim Soutphommasane in The Australian on January 2010 Ask the philosopher 2010 Jan 30 Patriotism (docx) (Uploaded by Katherine Cheng.)

Q: Should we apply racial or national profiling when screening passengers at our airports? by Tim Soutphommasane in The Australian, January 16 2010, ASK THE PHILOSOPHER Ask the philosopher 2010 Jan 16 Racial profiling (docx) (Uploaded by Katherine Cheng.)