The Joy of Curmudgeonry

It is hoped under the impress of the mechanical philosophy that men will one day be able to look upon the world and explain all of its aspec...

“If that claim [about the nature of final causation] sounds obvious and trivial, then terrific: You’re starting to understand Aristotle and ...

“The aim of life is to pass on one’s genes”, says Mr Worstall, adding that “we are told by the scientists” that it is so. [1] Well, randy s...

“A young man is not a fit person to attend lectures on political science, because he is not versed in the practical business of life from wh...

“If one looks upon nature as a tutor, and us poor humans as listeners, then one is inclined to give room to a quite strange idea of mankind....

“This website is made up of old, grumpy, impotent men who pretend to be profound thinkers. How sad they are with their limited views of life...

“The best prediction that could have been made 20 years ago is that things can only get better. That’s also the best prediction that can be ...

“We must grasp the essential contrast between the whole modern world-view and that of previous thought, and use that clearly conceived contr...

“The left always feel faintly embarrassed at attempting to promote their own political agenda”, says Steven Barnett, [1] professor of commun...

“Science being, it is said, a pure service of truth for truth’s sake, is not called upon to consider whether the selfish wishes of men’s sou...

In the course of decline, a nation can pass through a time of pessimism into a time of optimism whence the gloominess of the earlier time lo...

“In Britain [between the world wars], many concluded that the wrong people . . . were giving birth at a rate that threatened to engulf socie...

“I certainly cannot explain how we got here, but I’d rather wait a thousand years to see if science can push back a few more layers of our i...

“Ants behave in an extremely collective fashion. Each has no say in what happens, and it’s no problem for them, why should it be a problem f...

The bellwether-intelligentsia are always one step ahead of the herd in the run of ideas, but are usually outpaced and trampled down in the r...

“Novelty pleases all because it is uncommon, taste is refreshed, and a brand new mediocrity is thought more of than accustomed excellence.” ...