Category Archives: Education

Standards Part Three — Perverse by design: Parasitic comparative standards

Posted on December 7, 2021 by Nicholas Gruen

Continued from Part Two. Introduction Within the fabric of our knowledge, some ideas serve more local needs — identifying a particular item — while others acquire a structural role. Thus, if you’re a physicist, ideas like ‘mass’, ‘velocity’, ‘momentum’ and … Continue reading →

Posted in Economics and public policy, Education, Public and Private Goods | 4 Comments

Academia: when there’s no ‘there’ there

Posted on November 18, 2021 by Nicholas Gruen

I The university is one of the finest creations of European culture. Alas, as a troublesome fellow once said, all that is solid melts into air. I’m a bit shy of attributing things to a single cause. These things tend … Continue reading →

Posted in Education, Methodology, Philosophy | 2 Comments

Practical steps towards Ivan Illich’s world

Posted on November 2, 2021 by Nicholas Gruen

I. Introduction Owing to quite a bit of recent hoopla about him, I’ve recently been reading Ivan Illich. Like the Molière character who discovers he’s been speaking prose his whole life, I discover I’ve been thinking a little like Illich for … Continue reading →

Posted in Cultural Critique, Democracy, Economics and public policy, Education, Ethics, Health, History, Innovation, Philosophy, Political theory, Sortition and citizens’ juries | 5 Comments

The Great Covid Panic: now out!

Posted on September 3, 2021 by Paul Frijters

It’s here, the booklet I am sure you have all been waiting for. The one which Gigi Foster and Michael Baker slaved over for 10 months. It is also on Kindle. It is dedicated to all the victims of the … Continue reading →

Posted in Bargains, Coronavirus crisis, Dance, Death and taxes, Democracy, Economics and public policy, Education, Employment, Ethics, Health, History, Humour, Inequality, Isegoria, IT and Internet, Journalism, Law, Libertarian Musings, Life, Literature, Media, Medical, Parenting, Philosophy, Political theory, Politics - international, Politics - national, Print media, Public and Private Goods, Religion, Review, Science, Social, Social Policy, Society, Sortition and citizens’ juries, Terror, Theatre, Travel, WOW! - Amazing | 7 Comments

Unseen trends and the society we are becoming.

Posted on July 21, 2021 by Paul Frijters

Societies are evolving and complex, which often makes it hard to see at any moment where things are going. It was thus with the move of Northern European countries towards democracy in the 19th century, which seems inevitable and clear … Continue reading →

Posted in bubble, Bullshit, Business, Climate Change, Education, Employment, Geeky Musings, History, Humour, Immigration and refugees, IT and Internet, Social, Theatre | 21 Comments

Vale David Savage, behaviouralist extraordinaire

Posted on May 12, 2021 by Paul Frijters

We lost David Savage this week to a heart attack at the age of 48, leaving a wife Deborah and many colleagues around the world. He was a Queensland boy who got educated in Brisbane and then quickly made it … Continue reading →

Posted in Art and Architecture, Dance, Death and taxes, Economics and public policy, Education, Geeky Musings, Social | Leave a comment

Covid-congestion effects: why are lockdowns so deadly?

Posted on February 3, 2021 by Paul Frijters

Consider the picture below of two hypothetical Accident and Emergency departments (A&E), one that has no covid-regulations and simply has the available nurses trying to help all comers as fast as possible. In the other one the nurses try to … Continue reading →

Posted in Coronavirus crisis, Death and taxes, Education, Health, Science, Society | 33 Comments