Author Archives: Mark English

About Mark English

Academic background in intellectual history, linguistics and philosophy (PhD, Monash University). Contrarian tendencies.

Sex, Schisms and Pseudo-Scholarship

We are seeing open warfare between various feminist and other progressive factions on social media and in the universities. A key divide is between so-called gender critical feminists and trans activists. Professional scholars might once have been expected to bring … Continue reading

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , | 1 Comment

A “new post-ideological strategic world order”?

Pepe Escobar sees Eurasian integration and associated trade developments as possibly marking the emergence of a new, post-ideological strategic world order. China, with its infrastructure-focused Belt and Road Initiative, is driving this process. By contrast, the US appears to be locked … Continue reading

Posted in politics | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on A “new post-ideological strategic world order”?

More than a crisis

Variations on the general theme that things ain’t what they used to be are often heard but rarely taken seriously. And, as a general rule, the older the speaker is, the less seriously the claims are taken. Of course he would say … Continue reading

Posted in culture | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on More than a crisis

The problematic concept of religion

Christmas time highlights — usually in relatively trivial ways — the tensions between traditionalists and advocates of progressive forms of secularism and multiculturalism. The underlying issues run deep, however, and go to the heart of some basic political principles and … Continue reading

Posted in Religion | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off on The problematic concept of religion

Radicalism, religion and climate change

Although Christianity is now in rapid decline, secularized versions of Biblical ethics and eschatology still flourish and continue to exert a profound influence on moral and political thinking, especially in left-wing and radical circles. But a case can be made … Continue reading

Posted in politics, Religion | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

Fantasies, facts and values

The Western cultural tradition, which combined various elements (religious, intellectual, scientific) into a rich and resilient and trans-national framework of thought and practice, is all but dead. Witness, for example, the increasingly propaganda-ridden media environment, the absurdities of identity politics … Continue reading

Posted in culture, philosophy, politics, science | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Fantasies, facts and values