Category Archives: Human Nature

Posts that deal with claims, research and the science and philosophy of human nature

The Right’s Dependence on Welfare

Posted on 15th May, 2011 by Puddleglum

A recent comment by Don Brash [about 7mins45secs into the video] gave me the clue as to why the right are so dependent on the ‘welfare’ argument. They are, to put it bluntly, dependent on ‘welfare’ as the explanation for all … Continue reading →

Posted in Free Market, Human Nature, Human Wellbeing, Labour, New Zealand Politics | Tagged , , , , , | 4 Comments

Who’s afraid of (the charge of) ‘elitism’?

Posted on 14th Apr, 2011 by Puddleglum

Is it elitist to advocate government funding of TVNZ 7 and, by extension, Concert FM, National Radio, the NZSO and the Royal New Zealand Ballet? I don’t think so. Michelle Boag, in her appearance on Jim Mora’s ‘The Panel’ on … Continue reading →

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Earthquake Reflections and Connections

Posted on 7th Apr, 2011 by Puddleglum

We care most about things that happen to us and affect our interests directly. Try as we might, it’s harder to care about things that happen to others, at a distance, and which have little impact on our interests (which, … Continue reading →

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The limits of human nature – and books I have read Part II

Posted on 16th Feb, 2011 by Puddleglum

This is a post about the Amish, diversity and Thomas Sowell’s visions. I’ll try to keep it brief. Just to remind anyone who’s interested, this is part of my response to the post directed at me over at ‘A Life … Continue reading →

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The limits of human nature – and books I have read: Part I

Posted on 12th Feb, 2011 by Puddleglum

This is getting interesting. Lisek has posted again on my post – which is very welcome, as I genuinely do welcome debate and discussion. It’s not quite as welcome to find an accusation in the title of the post to … Continue reading →

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Ten Degrees of Difference: Is it all just a tragic misunderstanding?

Posted on 28th Jan, 2011 by Puddleglum

I’d like to thank Walenty Lisek at The Life of the Mind blog for the detailed response to my post on the Tragic Vision. I’ll try to reciprocate as best I can with ten points in response. I should start, however, … Continue reading →

Posted in Free Market, Freedom, Human Nature, Human Wellbeing, International Politics, Military | Tagged , , , , | 5 Comments

It’s ‘Tragic’ but it’s not ‘Right’

Posted on 16th Jan, 2011 by Puddleglum

This post on the blog “A Life of the Mind” picks up on Steven Pinker’s comparison in his book The Blank Slate, of the Utopian and Tragic Visions, that, some argue, underpin ‘liberal’ and ‘conservative’ impulses. These ‘visions’ come from … Continue reading →

Posted in Free Market, Freedom, Human Nature | Tagged , | 3 Comments

It’s got to be good for you! – But is it?

Posted on 6th Jan, 2011 by Puddleglum

Economists have a saying; there’s no such thing as a free lunch. It’s usually invoked as a cautionary response to a new tax or social programme but it may well apply to the modern world – and modern economy – … Continue reading →

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Reflections on the Pike River Mine Disaster November, 2010

Posted on 25th Nov, 2010 by Puddleglum

“As flies to wanton boys are we to the gods. They kill us for their sport” Gloucester in King Lear, Act 4, Scene 1: William Shakespeare The end of a person’s life is the end of the most diaphanous of … Continue reading →

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‘Mother of harlots and earth’s abominations’

Posted on 17th Oct, 2010 by Puddleglum

Saturday Morning on Radio New Zealand National featured Doug Saunders – journalist and author – talking about his book ‘Arrival Cities: How the largest Migration in History is Reshaping Our World‘. You can go here for the link to the … Continue reading →

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