As noted, I’m reading Nassim Nicholas Taleb’s The Black Swan at the moment. One of the things he talks about early on is the narrative fallacy, which involves our need to create narratives and see patterns to explain the world around us. This seems a good chance to talk about the meaning and purpose of … Continue reading On Narrative
Morality
On the Purpose of Fiction
Actions are largely driven by emotional responses, which in turn are created by thoughts. Now, a man may, of course, act a given way through cool reflection: because he sees it is the thing to do. But he will not do so reliably. The head rules the hands through the heart. A man becomes moral … Continue reading On the Purpose of Fiction
First Post up at ‘The Everyman’
My first post is up at the new Catholic / Conservative commentary site The Everyman, which you definitely should check out. It's only a week or two old, but there's some good stuff there. In our day, of course, telescopic charity has never been easier. We have television and the internet to bring us tales of … Continue reading First Post up at ‘The Everyman’
On Moral Ambiguity
"There are precious few at ease / with moral ambiguities / so we act as though they don't exist." That's a lyric from the show Wicked, in which the Wizard - here portrayed as wholly a bad guy, rather than an ultimately harmless 'humbug' - sings about why he deceived the ignorant and superstitious people of Oz. I … Continue reading On Moral Ambiguity
Why Relativism is Intolerant
I don't know about you, but I can't help noticing that people who argue that truth or morality are relative tend to be much more intolerant than those who adhere to the idea of objective values. The tolerance they boast of is purely specific: that they don't object to certain given acts (e.g. homosexuality) that … Continue reading Why Relativism is Intolerant
Establishing Morality
In addition to establishing setting, character, and plot, it is important, when writing a story, to establish morality. That is, to make sure the audience will consider your protagonists to be on the right side and your antagonists on the wrong. It needs to feel that the protagonists deserve to win. Obviously, this is not … Continue reading Establishing Morality
Doctor Simon’s Remedy
There was a small town somewhere tucked back among the hills. The people there were much the same as everywhere; some beautiful, some ugly, most rather plain. Several would have been lovely if not for noticeable scars, and all got cuts and abrasions once in a while. One day a traveling doctor rode into town … Continue reading Doctor Simon’s Remedy
The Land Before Time and the Proper Approach to Prejudice
Over the weekend I posted my first video review, of The Land Before Time. I discovered how time-consuming such things are to make, and so I wasn't able to address everything I wanted to. In particular, I glanced over the film's approach to prejudice, partly because it's actually kind of a minor theme compared to its … Continue reading The Land Before Time and the Proper Approach to Prejudice
Christian vs. Feminist
From Lutheran Satire: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qa4eHTD1ZJA
The Dangers of Attacking Hypocrisy
There’s nothing more popular these days, either in the Church or the surrounding culture, than attacking hypocrisy or moral pride: Pope Francis talks about it all the time, and slinging accusations of it back and forth has become something of a pastime among Catholics of differing traditions. Of course, the Other Side uses it as … Continue reading The Dangers of Attacking Hypocrisy
Serpent's Den 