Category Archives: philosophy

When facts don’t matter, democracy dies.

Posted on October 4, 2016 by lawrence serewicz

Everyone is entitled to their own opinion, but not their own facts. – Daniel Patrick Moynihan The reason people think facts are subjective is that facts are not self-evident, they require context to be understood. We could say that Belgium … Continue reading →

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Incest and tyranny, Trump fits a pattern

Posted on October 1, 2016 by lawrence serewicz

Incest is an abuse of power. The incest, though, is more than physical abuse as it can include emotional or psychological elements. From ancient times, incest was shunned for its effect on the family and more widely on society. For … Continue reading →

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Why QCs like cross examination: they can destroy witnesses.

Posted on August 28, 2016 by lawrence serewicz

In the recent case of Lord Janner, we are told that those who make the allegations must face cross examination. We are told that this is necessary for justice. We are told that this is what the UK legal system … Continue reading →

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Tyrants, Incest and the Trumps (revised)

Posted on August 20, 2016 by lawrence serewicz

We know from history, that tyrants display a disordered eros, an erotic longing, to rule others. The tyrant’s desire to rule others is often accompanied by other appetites for food, drink, drugs, and sex. In particular, their sexuality and its … Continue reading →

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A commentary on Zizek: either stop talking or stop thinking

Posted on June 27, 2016 by lawrence serewicz

In the immediate aftermath of the Charlie Hebdo shootings in Paris, Slavoj Zizek wrote a column for the Guardian.[1] Hs purported goal was to help us, the West, think about or even think through the shootings. One imagines that he … Continue reading →

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Why Andrew Sullivan is wrong about America, Trump, and extreme democracy

Posted on June 19, 2016 by lawrence serewicz

In a provocative essay, Andrew Sullivan suggests America is an extreme democracy ripe for tyranny.[1] America’s multiculturalism, sexual freedom, disrespect for any authority or expertise and intolerance of any inequality whether earned or natural characterise its extremism. These characteristics challenge … Continue reading →

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Should Caitlyn Jenner be Donald Trump’s Vice President?

Posted on May 30, 2016 by lawrence serewicz

On the surface, the pairing seems improbable if not impossible. What, if anything, do they have in common? They appear to share little except their celebrity status. Beneath the surface, though, they are animated by the same thing, a disordered … Continue reading →

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Why is the Queen silent on Hillsborough?

Posted on May 11, 2016 by lawrence serewicz

The Queen has not made a public statement about the Hillsborough finding of fact. Despite, 96 citizens being unlawfully killed, she is silent. In 2007 when 56 UK citizens died in a terrorist attack, she and other members of the … Continue reading →

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Social media’s corrosive effect on UK Monarchy’s legitimacy

Posted on May 4, 2016 by lawrence serewicz

Since 2008, Her Majesty’s Government (HMG) has opened up a number of public inquiries into long running scandals that have been a cause of public anger. For decades, HMG resisted such calls. The official story had closed these events and … Continue reading →

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To whom is the UK government accountable?

Posted on April 30, 2016 by lawrence serewicz

The question seems simple and the answer seems obvious. Yes, the UK government is accountable. If we understand being accountable as fitting one of the four types that Lord Sharman recommended, then it appears accountable.[1] giving an explanation providing further … Continue reading →

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