n our final episode of Crash Course Philosophy, we consider what it means to live a good life. We’ll look at the myth of Sisyphus, Robert Nozick’s experience machine, Aristotle’s eudaimonistic picture of a good human life, and the existentialists’ view that we each determine the value of our own lives. And we’ll think about how you, too, can live the life of a philosopher.
15 February 2017
BBC4 Book of the Week: Age of Anger
Inspired by Hindu nationalists in his own country, the rise of the so-called Islamic State, the emergence of Donald Trump as a candidate for President, as well as Brexit, the author attempts to re-examine the divided modern world.
Mishra looks at historical events from the industrial revolution to the French revolution, from the writings of philosophers to the end of the Cold War. Indeed, at the end of the Cold War, there was a belief that the global capitalist economy would alleviate ethnic and religious differences to usher in prosperity and peace. This belief, he states, now lies in tatters, with no alternative in sight, and with economic power shifting from the West. Meanwhile, the IMF suggests that emerging economies will take much longer to catch up economically with the West than was previously believed.
Further, Mishra looks at nationalism, alienation, xenophobia, the 'lone wolf' and the pack behind him, domestic terrorism and the frustration and resentment both aimed at the West and from those in the West who are alienated.
He introduces us to the people at the heart of much of the action as we discover the causes and consequences of their beliefs and their actions.
European Parliamentary Forum on Population & Development: Contraception Atlas
The Contraception Atlas is a map that scores 45 countries throughout geographical Europe on access to modern contraception.
The rankings -- which are based on access to contraceptive supplies, family planning counseling and online information -- reveal a very uneven picture across Europe.
The rankings -- which are based on access to contraceptive supplies, family planning counseling and online information -- reveal a very uneven picture across Europe.
The European Parliamentary Forum on Population & Development (EPF) has produced the Atlas in partnership with Third-i, while experts in sexual and reproductive health and rights designed the methodology.
“Access to contraception should be a key concern of governments in empowering citizens to plan their families and lives. Yet every country we analysed should be doing more to improve access. Our findings show that for many European countries, ensuring that people have choice over their reproductive lives is not a priority.” commented Neil Datta, EPF Secretary.
“This is borne out by statistics on unintended pregnancy: over 43% pregnancies in Europe are unintended. Contraception is used by 69.2% of European women aged between 15 and 49 who are married or living with a partner -- lower the usage rates of both the North America and Latin America/Caribbean regions.”
Deutsche Welle: Indonesia cracks down on condom sales on Valentine's Day
The city's mayor, Mohammad Ramdhan Pomanto, was quoted in local media as saying condoms were being sold "as if they were candy." He warned stores selling condoms to unmarried people that their licenses could be revoked. Last year, the mayor ordered stores to sell condoms only to married people.
The country's highest Islamic clerical council declared Valentine's Day forbidden by Islamic law in 2012, saying it violated Muslim culture and teachings. [...]
Most of the country's 220 million Muslims practise a moderate form of Islam, but conservative forms of Islam influenced by the Middle East have become more popular across the archipelago in recent years. [...]
In Indonesia's second largest city, Surabaya, schools were ordered to ban students from celebrating Valentine's Day "in or outside of school" because it ran counter to "cultural and social norms." A similar order was sent to public schools in West Java, the country's most populous province.
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