Echidna Strategy; car dealers lose; Shermer no 9

Published: Thu, 08/31/23

RSA Daily

For atheists, rationalists and secular humanists in Australia

Thursday, September 7, 2023

Rationale, the magazine of the Rationalist Society of Australia

Good morning ,

As readers might realise, I don't normally include articles about China and Australia's defence strategy - for two reasons. First, because foreign affairs policy, for all its importance and, now, timeliness, is not a 'rationalist' issue (for what is a rationalist issue, see here); and second, because there are many other publications that cover these issues well but few (none?) that cover the defence of secularism in this country.

But our lead article is an exception. It relates to a new book - The Echidna Strategy - which argues against the uncritical acceptance of AUKUS and Australia's unthinking assumption that building a reliance on the US is necessarily in our best interests. Instead, the book argues for an 'echidna' strategy - non-threatening but prickly when attacked. RSA's patron Gareth Evans also wrote about this here. Both reviews praise the book's clear and critical thinking.

Lead stories

The Echidna Strategy's prickly reality for liberal values - Rationale Magazine

RSA Fellow Paul Monk reviews a new book, The Echidna Strategy by analyst Sam Roggeveen. It makes the case against AUKUS but from a conservative point of view. But Monk writes, "If his recommendations are to get any traction, we can’t be giving up the liberal principles of freedom of expression and critical inquiry. Nor should we want to retreat to a world of mercantilism, or from universal human rights .. there is a great deal at stake .. that’s why the ‘Quad’ and AUKUS have arisen .. are they our best defence? Roggeveen thinks they’re not .. read his book and keep thinking."

Mercedes-Benz's legal win over car dealers could transform the way new cars are sold in Australia

As someone who used to work in the car industry, this court case caught my eye. If you're thinking of buying a new car, read this first!

Michael Shermer's 10 moral principles - no 9

9. The Expanding Moral Category Principle: Try to consider other people not of your gender, sexual orientation, class, family, tribe, race, religion, or nation as an honorary group member equal to you in moral standing. [Comment: why has Shermer omitted 'sex' in his list of characteristics??]

We have a moral obligation not only to ourselves, our kin and kind, our family and friends, and our fellow in-group members; we also owe it to those people who are different from us in a variety of ways, who in the past have been discriminated against for no other reason than that they were different in some measurable way. Even though our first moral obligation is to take care of ourselves and our immediate family and friends, it is a higher moral value to consider the moral values of others, and in the long run it is better for yourself, your kin and kind, and your in-group to consider members of other groups to be honorary members of your own group, as long as they so honor you and your group (see #8).

Other stories of interest

The case for investing in public schools: the economic and social benefits of public schooling in Australia

For the record.

Edinburgh Council ends religious reps voting powers

"The City of Edinburgh Council has voted to end voting privileges for unelected religious appointees." At least we don't have religious people 'as of right' on our councils!

Germany highlights discrimination risks of AI

Saudi Man Receives Death Penalty For Posts Online

According to court documents, the charges levied against al-Ghamdi include "betraying his religion".

Got a comment on any of these stories?

Write to me at president@rationalist.com.au