Recreational contrarianism is the behaviour of adopting an unpopular, contrary position for the sake of enjoyment. Similar to a provocateur, a recreational contrarian likes to provoke others, but does so specifically in matters of debate, in order to attain the high that comes with eliciting shock, outrage, and attention. Being able to influence such a…
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This is the dissertation I wrote for my Philosophy undergraduate degree in 2012. Some of the statistics may be a bit out of date, but recent developments in drug liberalisation (such as in the US) and research on the illicit drug trade – as well as the therapeutic application of certain illicit drugs – are still…
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The goal of end-of-life care is to offer compassionate care and the amelioration of suffering to people in the last days of their life, as well as those afflicted with a terminal condition that has become advanced, progressive, and incurable. However, if we are to be truly compassionate towards the dying – and towards many…
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Whatever your political persuasion, it’s important to recognise, point out and denounce the unscrupulous behaviour of others who share your worldview. If we genuinely believe that certain opinions and policies are harmful, then, of course, we will oppose those who promote them. But there is a danger of this outrage becoming ugly, when we turn…
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The Assisted Dying Bill had its 2nd reading in the House of Lords last Friday, resulting in a 10-hour debate on the matter. While the former Archbishop, George Carey, has supported the Bill, saying it is compatible with being a Christian, many have warned about the dangers of legalising assisted suicide. Some believe that if assisted…
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