Comments on: Honderich on terror http://crookedtimber.org/2006/09/19/honderich-on-terror/ Out of the crooked timber of humanity, no straight thing was ever made Sun, 22 Nov 2009 11:43:48 -0800 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.6 hourly 1 By: Crooked Timber » » Honderich: After the Broadcast http://crookedtimber.org/2006/09/19/honderich-on-terror/comment-page-1/#comment-172469 Crooked Timber » » Honderich: After the Broadcast Tue, 19 Sep 2006 20:57:57 +0000 http://crookedtimber.org/2006/09/19/honderich-on-terror/#comment-172469 [...] Well now the Honderich’s The Real Friends of Terror has gone out, I’m free to post, and, to be honest I thought it was simply awful. The whole thing was a showcase for Honderich’s fatuous “principle of humanity”, as called in aid of the proposition that the Palestinians have a “moral right to their terror”. This “principle”, which is presented as a pathbreaking step in moral philosophy, is basically just Honderich’s pet list of 6 essential components of human flourishing coupled with the suggestion that we have duty to take all rational steps necessary to bring them about. So think Sen and Nussbaum (similar list) plus a heavy dash of consequentialism. The programme consisted largely of archive footage of the aftermath of terrorist acts coupled with Honderich interviewing a few talking heads: Jenny Tonge (the Lib-Dem peer), Brian Klug, Helena Kennedy and a couple of UK-based Palestinian academics (Ghada Karmi and Rik Mozal). The central theme was that all recent terrorism, 9/11 and 7/7 included, were basically caused by the failure of the US and UK to restrain what Honderich calls “neozionism”. The whole shoddy programme was further worsened by Honderich intoning portentously in his Canadian baritone “this I believe” in connection with a series of eminently dubitable propositions. [...] [...] Well now the Honderich’s The Real Friends of Terror has gone out, I’m free to post, and, to be honest I thought it was simply awful. The whole thing was a showcase for Honderich’s fatuous “principle of humanity”, as called in aid of the proposition that the Palestinians have a “moral right to their terror”. This “principle”, which is presented as a pathbreaking step in moral philosophy, is basically just Honderich’s pet list of 6 essential components of human flourishing coupled with the suggestion that we have duty to take all rational steps necessary to bring them about. So think Sen and Nussbaum (similar list) plus a heavy dash of consequentialism. The programme consisted largely of archive footage of the aftermath of terrorist acts coupled with Honderich interviewing a few talking heads: Jenny Tonge (the Lib-Dem peer), Brian Klug, Helena Kennedy and a couple of UK-based Palestinian academics (Ghada Karmi and Rik Mozal). The central theme was that all recent terrorism, 9/11 and 7/7 included, were basically caused by the failure of the US and UK to restrain what Honderich calls “neozionism”. The whole shoddy programme was further worsened by Honderich intoning portentously in his Canadian baritone “this I believe” in connection with a series of eminently dubitable propositions. [...]

]]> By: Ben http://crookedtimber.org/2006/09/19/honderich-on-terror/comment-page-1/#comment-172465 Ben Tue, 19 Sep 2006 20:23:05 +0000 http://crookedtimber.org/2006/09/19/honderich-on-terror/#comment-172465 Thanks for the notification. I saw it was also a 'choice of the day' in our Times TV guide, but hadn't noticed it until your post pointed me towards it. Thanks for the notification. I saw it was also a ‘choice of the day’ in our Times TV guide, but hadn’t noticed it until your post pointed me towards it.

]]> By: Ophelia Benson http://crookedtimber.org/2006/09/19/honderich-on-terror/comment-page-1/#comment-172449 Ophelia Benson Tue, 19 Sep 2006 15:41:31 +0000 http://crookedtimber.org/2006/09/19/honderich-on-terror/#comment-172449 "a transcript will appear in a future issue of TPM" Probably the next issue, which is going to press very very very soon, so soon that I will barely have time to sub the transcript. We like to do things on the fly around here. “a transcript will appear in a future issue of TPM”

Probably the next issue, which is going to press very very very soon, so soon that I will barely have time to sub the transcript. We like to do things on the fly around here.

]]> By: James Kroeger http://crookedtimber.org/2006/09/19/honderich-on-terror/comment-page-1/#comment-172427 James Kroeger Tue, 19 Sep 2006 12:57:40 +0000 http://crookedtimber.org/2006/09/19/honderich-on-terror/#comment-172427 Thanks for the notification. I'm looking forward to it. My personal hope is that professional negotiators will begin to awaken to the fact that an <a>Extreme Generosity</a> Peace offer from the U.S. and Israel would have a very good chance of bringing lasting peace to the region, especially if it is enhanced with a couple of other face-saving 'gifts.' Thanks for the notification. I’m looking forward to it.

My personal hope is that professional negotiators will begin to awaken to the fact that an Extreme Generosity Peace offer from the U.S. and Israel would have a very good chance of bringing lasting peace to the region, especially if it is enhanced with a couple of other face-saving ‘gifts.’

]]> By: abb1 http://crookedtimber.org/2006/09/19/honderich-on-terror/comment-page-1/#comment-172412 abb1 Tue, 19 Sep 2006 09:55:00 +0000 http://crookedtimber.org/2006/09/19/honderich-on-terror/#comment-172412 From what I've read, Honderich is OK, but a bit too tame to my taste. In some cases he seems afraid to go all the way to logical conclusions. But I understand - no one wants to get banned for being out of line. One has to walk the line. From what I’ve read, Honderich is OK, but a bit too tame to my taste. In some cases he seems afraid to go all the way to logical conclusions.

But I understand – no one wants to get banned for being out of line. One has to walk the line.

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