Amsterdam; the end of Erdogan?; ACT flicks the Micks; 5 min philosophy

Published: Fri, 05/12/23

RSA Daily

For atheists, rationalists and secular humanists in Australia

Saturday, May 13, 2023

Rationale, the magazine of the Rationalist Society of Australia

Good morning ,

Had dinner last night with Anna, an Australian expat, and her husband Richard, a NZ expat, in their 4th floor apartment in Amsterdam (18 month old Elio meant a home meal was the thing to do). Hours long conversation about local politics, local living and local working.

Why, oh why, do Australians only consider London?

Lead stories

Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu: Turkey's opposition leader is leading in the polls, here's what you need to know

Turkey goes to the polls on Sunday. If you think our elections were a contest, just read what's at stake in Turkey! Countering 20 years of underming the rule of law, massively centralised presidential power, and a govt that's taken control of the media.

ACT government decision on Catholic hospital welcome news for taxpayers | Rationalist Society of Australia

RSA president Dr Meredith Doig said the decision would have the benefit of freeing ACT taxpayers from dealing with Calvary’s Hospital’s ‘institutional conscientious objection’ to providing lawful health services like abortion, contraception and voluntary assisted dying.

The First 5 Philosophy Books You Should Read

A 15 minute primer in philosophy (with thanks to Paul):

Plato: Five Dialogues. Emphasis on Euthyprho for its dilemma on whether something is good because the gods approve of it or do the gods approve of it because it is good.
Aristotle: Nichomachaen Ethics. How to be a good person ..
Descartes: Meditations of First Philosophy. Including letter from Elizabeth of Bavaria on the link between mind and body.
Thomas Nagel: Mortal Questions. Including "What is it Like to Be a Bat", phenomenonology, philosophy of mind.
Elizabeth Anderson: Private Government. Ethics of employee/employer relations. Political philosophy of work.

Other stories of interest

Despairing about climate change? These 4 charts on the unstoppable growth of solar may change your mind

For Dave...

Anger over plan to move Amsterdam's Red Light District to suburb

Just because I'm in Amsterdam!

Got a comment on any of these stories?

Write to me at president@rationalist.com.au