What are the prospects for world peace? Zero. At least according to Chicago professor of Political Science, John J. Mearsheimer. In his Tragedy of Great Power Politics, Mearsheimer argues that great powers are engaged in competition with one another to become the global hegemon – the world’s most powerful state – and since no state […]
Second Thoughts
Second thoughts: mind-reading
Creepy, right? The idea that someone could read my mind makes me really uneasy, although it’s mostly thinking of cute dogs or food. Nevertheless, I can’t help thinking what it would be like to be able to read someone’s mind. Would it make life easier, easing the paranoia of not knowing? Or would I just […]
Second thoughts: immortality
In José Saramago’s book ‘Death at Intervals’, everyone in one country stops dying. This leads to thousands of living dead, a mafia forming to sneak people over the border to die and general chaos ensues. Saramago addresses the issue with immortality that no one thinks about; even if people stop dying, they do not stop […]
Second thoughts: is a change as good as a rest?
For centuries, the colloquial proverb “a change is as good as a rest” has been glibly bandied about to keep the conscientious at their millstones. The way that those with committed work ethics are taken advantage of and manipulated should, however, be challenged. Of course, changing which skill set you are utilising will provide some […]
Second Thoughts: Hunting the Self
Beyond Biology – Chantal D’Arcy One of the hardest aspects of moving away from home and into the real world – whether it be university or anything else – is the realization that you’re not as special to the rest of the world as you are to your mum. Every day I find myself overwhelmed with […]
Second thoughts: The wisdom of pessimism
Pessimists and Peter – Jack Morgan Jones Peter Hitchens has a pessimistic view on modern Britain. When Exeposé ran an interview with the outspoken journalist, he defended his pessimism, asking why “should I be ashamed?” Should we treat pessimism itself with an optimistic glow or pessimistic reproach? It seems to me that it doesn’t matter whether […]
Second thoughts: The good life
Emma Dunne – The Social Media Situation It is fair to say that everyone wants ‘The Good Life’, but many of us cannot define what it is. Is it fulfilment, happiness, or a sense of purpose? And how do we achieve it? Nowadays, much of our lives are lived online. With Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and […]
Second thoughts: The problem of free will
Katie Russell – The capitalist’s conundrum We all seem to think that we are responsible for our own actions and that we have unique identities. This is particularly clear at our uni, where every other person is wearing trousers they bought on their ‘gap yah’ whilst skateboarding to Urban Outfitters. When we look at these […]
Second thoughts: Euthanasia
The case against: Our right to freedom of choice is one of the pillars of our society – what to wear, what to say, how to act – but this does not extend to our decision on how, or indeed when, to die. Whilst the popular argument states that euthanasia is a dignified way to […]