Phil Grad Conf

The 12th Annual Oxford Philosophy Graduate Conference takes place the weekend after next (i.e. 22nd-23rd November). A full schedule can be found here.

Democracy Means All Things

One problem with working on democracy is that the term has become so widely used that it's descriptive meaning has been almost completely erased. In popular discourse, it is now used as little more than a term of commendation, so it is no wonder that almost all regimes claim to be democratic (properly understood).

Obviously, this is not a new trend. Last Monday I saw Bonnie Honig give a paper on mourning and membership in Sophocles' Antigone - which is certainly not my normal kind of political theory - but it raised interesting questions about the nature of Athenian democracy. Although Pericles celebrated Athens for permitting individuality and freedom - the very features Plato condemned - her claim was that Creon represented an equalizing and collectivizing democratic tradition going back to Solon.

Athenian democracy, of course, operated by lot rather than election - so it is important not to conflate democracy with elections. There are still some present writers who would advocate sortition; while deliberative democrats sometimes aspire to 'talk as a decision procedure', hoping that we can reach unanimous consensus and thereby avoid the need for voting.

This BBC article focuses on elections, and correspondingly seems to adopt a minimalist understanding of democracy as the power to 'throw the rascals out': Any election that can actually depose a government fulfils the minimum requirement of democracy, by which no oligarchy can count on maintaining itself in power because the electorate might decide otherwise... A government should be certain that it has been elected, but never certain that it will be elected again. All kinds of benefits flow from that uncertainty. (As Adam Przeworski notes, these benefits could actually be achieved by a lottery).

Interestingly, however, it then goes on to make a number of rather inflated claims about the connection between democracy and openness, freedom, equal opportunity and justice. For example: In 1995 a young right-wing zealot called Yigal Amir murdered [Israeli] Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin... In a non-democratic country he would have been quickly dealt with, but in democratic Israel he is still alive. If democracies cannot have the death penalty, then the US (despite widespread coverage of their recent election) is no democracy.

The article goes on to talk about how democracy allows men of colour - such as Martin Luther King Jr, Lewis Hamilton and Barack Obama, to come to prominence. I'm actually writing a response to a paper on citizen leadership for the Public Reason Podcast Symposium that touches on this - to which I'll link in due course.

Liverpool 3-0 West Brom

Given our recent record over West Brom, I'd hoped that this match would be about as straightforward a win as we can expect in the Premier League, and so it proved - even Keane scored (twice)! The opening exchanges were surprisingly open but our quality shone through: their strikers tended to mis-control at crucial moments, while Keane was able to dance past the last defender and chip-over the advancing Carson for two fairly similar goals (except that the second time Carson had over-committed by rushing out of his area).

I was hoping we'd be able to kill the game off in the second half, but it remained two until Arbeloa sneaked into the area and curled in a left-foot shot (that had me thinking it was Benayoun at first) to put a more satisfying gloss on the scoreline. The other welcome sight was the return of Torres as a sub - although he hardly did anything in his 15 minute cameo (I barely even saw him run), it will be some useful match minutes and help his return to fitness. Imagine having him and Keane both scoring...

Adultery

There's an interesting article on the dissolution of civil partnerships (gay marriages) here. Interestingly, it says that adultery cannot be cited as grounds for dissolution.

The OED defines adultery as follows:
Violation of the marriage bed; the voluntary sexual intercourse of a married person with one of the opposite sex, whether unmarried, or married to another.

If we focus on the first part then, provided we are willing to describe civil partnerships as marriage, then adultery should be possible. If we take seriously the latter description, then adultery can only take place with one of the opposite sex. Even so, it would remain possible for there to be adultery in a gay relationship (e.g. one of the two men sleeping with a woman). Also, interestingly, if the husband in a heterosexual marriage sleeps with another man that wouldn't be adultery either.

Student Funding 'Lottery'

This BBC article quotes NUS President Wes Streeting as saying "All students have to pay £3,145 a year in top-up fees, but they face a postcode lottery when it comes to financial support... Richer universities in the Russell Group can offer poorer students an average annual bursary of £1,791, but those from the Million+ group can only offer £680.

I've pointed out before (e.g. here) that postcodes aren't allocated by lottery. The problem with distributing certain goods by postcode would be that the rich have more choice over where they live and can thus buy access to things like good schools or medical treatment via the back door.

This case is even worse as it's not as if the difference in funds is attributable to different LEAs or where one chooses to study (Oxford and Oxford Brookes, for example, may involve the same postcode). The problem is that traditional 'good' universities have more funds than modern ex-Polys. One would need a substantive debate to settle whether this was a fair meritocracy or whether competition for the best academic tuition should be of any relevance to funding, but it has nothing to do with postcodes.

Liverpool 1-1 Atletico Madrid

All square again, although this time it was us that needed the late goal to level things. I only saw the second half, and gather that Liverpool had fallen behind to a counter attack, but in the second half alone Liverpool had enough chances to win (similar to the Spurs game).

I must say, one thing I found disappointing was that Stevie G looked determined to produce one of his performances of match-saving heroics and kept shooting from 20-30 yards and missing the target. It reminded me of having Riise back in the team. Then again, with Keane and Ngog leading the line, maybe Stevie can't be blamed much.

It was, at least, Stevie who won and converted a 94th minute penalty to give us a deserved point. It's true that the award was possibly soft, but only in the sense that Stevie didn't have full control of the ball and was heading away from goal, so there was no need for the defender to barge into him - it's not like Stevie threw himself down without contact; he made sure he got to the ball first and then let the defender take him out. In any case, we'd been denied a fairly clear handball shout around 50 minutes in, which if converted may well have led to us winning the way things were going.

Still, one point each means that Liverpool and Atletico are both well-placed (although not guaranteed) to go through. Interestingly, if both are still level on points after playing PSV and Marseille again, the group could go to goal difference to decide 1st and 2nd - which is a blow for any plans Benitez might have had to rotate the squad.

Ox-er

I never knew but apparently the form abbreviation + -er suffix, as in rugger (rugby), soccer (Association Football) and various nicknames (Aggers, Tuffers, etc) has its origins in Oxford. Indeed, apparently Jesus College is known as Jaggers - although I'm not so sure about that myself. If it's not something I've heard in actual speech then I'm sceptical that it's really used (like minus one-th week).

Tottenham 2-1 Liverpool

I was wondering a while ago how long Spurs could stay so bad for - and hoping that it would be until at least mid-November (to cover both this and our Carling Cup game). Sadly, it wasn't to be - Harry 'Houdini' Redknapp arrived at just the wrong time for us, and Arsenal. (Indeed, Spurs' dramatic fightback against their local rivals may have done wonders for their confidence).

Even so, it looked for long periods like we would retain our winning start. Kuyt put us ahead inside three minutes and then, with the score at 1-0, we went on to hit the woodwork three times. Oh what a difference some clinical finishing would have made... As it was, Benitez introduced Babel shortly after the hour to threaten the Spurs defence with pace - but sadly things went wrong when soon afterwards Carragher inadvertently deflected into his own net to level the scores, thereby nullifying our game plan.

From that point on, Spurs seemed to have more belief and we lost our shape a bit. The commentators had pointed out earlier that we hadn't lost a league game from a winning position (or scoring first) in around two years - and that curse struck, when Pavlyuchenko scored a late winner.

The BBC described it as the least deserved victory of the season, but one can't complain too much - after all, we've won several that we didn't really deserve to with late winners ourselves (such as Middlesbrough). I'm not saying luck evens out, but individual games don't always go the way that the 'ought' to. At the end of the day, we're still the last team in the Premiership to lose our undefeated record and level with Chelsea on points despite having played several of our trickiest fixtures (Man Utd, Chelsea away and Everton away).

In fact, if anything, this might prove a reality check on any unrealistic expectations (one idiot on the Liverpoolfc.tv messageboards had already asked whether we could go the season undefeated...). The fact is that Liverpool are still working to catch Man Utd and Chelsea, and it's been far too long since they've really had to deal with the pressure of a title race. It's too soon to expect them to win anything this season; what I want is for them to challenge - to still be within reach of the leaders until at least March. Unfortunately, I remember the way that Arsenal made so much early running last year only to fall away, and the disasterous November we had in 2002 after leading the league. My concern is to see how we bounce back from this defeat...

Terrorist Attacks on Oxford

I remember, shortly after 9/11, receiving an email from our accommodation officer warning us to be on the look out for suspicious activity, packages, etc. I always thought it unlikely that we were next in line for Al-Qaeda attacks, but Oxford has more recently been targetted by animal rights activists. Most, in fairness, simply settle for making noise, but as this report reveals those that go further can indeed be considered terrorists.

I hope the 'War on Terror' (is that still going?) doesn't lead to Oxford being flooded with American troops - that would be even worse than the protestors...

Rise in Philosophy Applications

I don't know about Oxford, but the BBC reports record applications to Cambridge this year, with Philosophy one of the biggest growers.

Liverpool 1-0 Portsmouth

Beating Chelsea put us top of the table but, unfortunately, Harry Redknapp's switch from Pompey to Spurs means that our next two opponents were unknown quantities with new managers. Perhaps unsurprisingly Tony Adams opted for a defensive formation with the intention of holding out for a point. It's an approach that we consistently struggled to deal with last season, and again against Stoke this season.

Although we thankfully managed to keep Crouch quiet, it looked like we'd be frustrated by another Anfield old boy at the other end - David James pulling off several good saves, notably tipping a Kuyt effort onto the post, and not showing any of the rashness that made him a liability for us and England. Thankfully, the moment of madness was to come from someone else: Hyypia escaped his marker from a corner and, in a moment of panic, Papa Dioup punched the ball away from the Finn's head. It was as clear a penalty as you will ever see, and Gerrard duly did the honours.

Three points today, but we need to be more clinical if we're to keep winning. Torres' return to fitness can't come soon enough...

Credit Crunch Inflation

Despite continued gloomy news stories, no one in my household is feeling much effects from the credit crunch. In fact, I'm due to receive my first salary cheque this week and we're all keen for house prices to fall. Nonetheless, I have noticed some knock-on effects. Last week, I bought some Sainsbury's Basics curry sauce and this week I find that the price has doubled. It may only be from 4p to 8p, but it's a 100% increase - almost like living in Zimbabwe...

UPDATE (06/11/08): It now seems to have reached 23p. While I was somewhat worried as to how they could possibly produce it and sell it for four pence, this is almost a 500% price increase it about a month...

Chelsea 0-1 Liverpool

The last time we won at Stamford Bridge it was thanks to a goal from Bruno Cheyrou (about all he contributed in his time here). Since then, the only side to take 3 points back from the Bridge have been Arsenal, back in February 2004. Chelsea's unbeaten league record ran for 86 games, over four years.

A lot of people had been saying, in the build-up to the game, that we could do it. I wouldn't have disputed for a minute that we could, but I wasn't expecting us to actually do so: I'd gladly have settled for a point before the game. Even though it must be pointed out that Chelsea were missing Drogba, Essien, Joe Cole and Ballack, we were without Skrtel and Torres ourselves, while several others had been rated doubtful (I think it was known in advance that Keane wouldn't play for more than an hour or so).

We had a bit of luck scoring first, when Alonso's shot took a deflection, and I was worried that we wouldn't be able to hang on - but with a lead to protect we defended like lions (or something more renowned for defensive abilities: maybe like a team of Jamie Carraghers?). In fact, I felt sorry for Agger being the only one of our back five not to make Garth Crooks' team of the week on the BBC website. So good was our defence that Reina hardly had a save to make - though he did claim a few crosses.

Chelsea will no doubt point to their loss of attacking options, but they were reduced to pumping hopeful long balls into the box - in a way that might have proved more effective had Drogba, rather than Anelka, been leading the line. Later on, John Terry started to venture forward, but was effectively neutralized by the introduction of Hyypia.

In fact, it was Liverpool that looked more like scoring another. Substitute Babel redeemed himself for some indifferent performances with a lively half-hour (including a near miss), while Alonso struck the post from a free kick.

Nothing's won in October, but hopefully this hugely satisfying performance and result will give us confidence for the coming months. I don't want to get carried away though - I remember being top of the table in November 2002 only for it all to fall apart. We need to consolidate this result by beating Portsmouth and Spurs - which will be all the more difficult following their recent changes in management.

Atletico Madrid 1-1 Liverpool

In a reversal of recent trends, Liverpool dominated the first half, scored first, and then conceded late. I guess I can't complain - particularly since, if anything, we had the better of some questionable off-side decisions (Benayoun's strike was ruled out, but so was Maniche's). It was good to see Keane net another goal, and a score draw away to our main group rivals has to be regarded as satisfactory. More worrying is fitness doubts over Keane, Gerrard and Alonso ahead of another table-topping clash back home...

Veale and Urmson

I didn't know until I actually turned up to dinner, but tonight's dinner in college was a special meal by bequest of composer Douglas Veale and philosopher Jim Urmson - a fellow of the college for 40 years. The main attraction was the choice of lobster or oysters for starter but, since I had soup, it made little difference to me. It did mean a total attendance of over 20, compared to last week's meagre six.

It's actually been quite a run of dinners for me, as on Saturday my housemates and I had a special dinner to which we each contributed a course and then on Sunday my former housemate and his girlfriend invited me for a Greek-themed 'Symposium'.

Liverpool 3-2 Wigan

Stop me if this is getting repetitive... Liverpool fall behind (twice this time), only for their opponents to have a man sent off for fouling Alonso (again!) and then the reds to snatch victory - with Riera scoring another equalizer and then Kuyt scoring his second of the match.

Certainly Kuyt scoring in the Premiership isn't something we've seen too much of. Last season he scored only three: two penalties against Everton and a rebound off his knee against Newcastle). Having only just scored his first league goal in 11 months, he's already equalled that tally for this season.

Moreover, it's nice to see Benitez is willing to take risks to win games - sacrificing both fullbacks in favour of El Zhar and Benayoun - meaning we were playing with four wingers towards the end. It'd be nice, of course, if we had a striker of Crouch's quality to bring on in these situations, but there's no point throwing on strikers without any service and, as it turned out, the wingers did the business: El Zhar creating space for Riera and then Pennant crossing for Kuyt's winner.

Censoring Music

Plato on purifying musical modes:

Ban lamentations and music fit for drinking parties. "[L]eave me, then, these two modes [Dorian and Phrygian], which will best imitate the violent or voluntary tones of voice of those who are moderate and courageous, whether in good fortune or in bad... [W]e won't need the craftsmen who make triangular lutes, harps, and all other such multistrigned and polyharmonic instruments" (Rep 399a-d)

'Ultra-Orthodox' Rabbi Luft:

Rabbi Luft has drawn up a black-list of musicians and bands - music that he says that is not kosher and cannot be played at ultra-orthodox weddings or public events because of its decadent nature... "The main part of the music should be the melody. Percussion should be secondary. They should not bend notes electronically and should not use instruments like electric guitars, bass guitars or saxophones in Jewish music," he says... [T]he "purpose of modern music - its influences - is to distract young people and change good characters into bad"... such music, even Jewish rock music, "where the dangerous beat plays more of a part than the melody, has no place in a society where people are trying to keep their moral standards high.

Is Plato "really totally in another league as far as insanely illiberal policy preferences go"? If he is, it certainly isn't a league of his own...

Japanese Banks

I was just sent this and thought it was mildly amusing. Really I'm just filling a post as I've been too busy with freshers' week to write anything proper:

Following the problems in the sub-prime lending market in America and the run on HBOS in the UK uncertainty has now hit Japan:

In the last 7 days Origami Bank has folded, Sumo Bank has gone belly up and Bonsai Bank announced plans to cut some of its branches.

Yesterday, it was announced that Karaoke Bank is up for sale and will likely go for a song, while today shares in Kamikaze Bank were suspended after they nose-dived.

While Samurai Bank is soldiering on following sharp cutbacks, Ninja Bank is reported to have taken a hit, but they remain in the black.

Furthermore, 500 staff at Karate Bank got the chop and analysts report that there is something fishy going on at Sushi Bank where it is feared that staff may get a raw deal.

Man City 2-3 Liverpool

What a game. Rafa Benitez has instilled Liverpool with a certain 'bouncebackability', which has actually seen them win every game this season in which their opponents scored first - but that must rank as one of the greatest comebacks.

Liverpool apparently dominated the early exchanges, only to fall apart and concede a couple of goals - leaving them trailing 2-0 at half-time. Coming back from two down was a tall order, especially against a team like City, but the trick is to score the next - which Torres did, to put us back in the game.

This gave me hope but then Zabaleta decided to follow Cahill's example - earning a straight red for a sliding tackle on Alonso. (It was worse than Cahill's - I haven't heard any neutral argue with the sending off). I worried that, reduced to ten men, City would close ranks and defend for a 2-1 win but, soon after, Torres scored another - all five of his goals this season have come away from home; if only he could score at Anfield!

As is often the case, momentum was in our favour, but it looked like we might have to settle for a draw that we'd have gladly taken at half-time. As it was, after Torres had missed a glorious chance for his hat-trick, Kuyt was able to stick away his deflected shot for a winner late into injury time. Unfortunately, we only had the extra 6-7 minutes due to a serious injury to Skrtel: I'd have preferred to have taken the draw, or even defeat. Still, at least it gives Daniel Agger his chance to re-establish himself...

Stats fans: Kuyt's goal was his first in the league for almost a year. Torres' first was Liverpool's 1000th in the Premier League and his brace takes him ahead of Patrik Berger as Liverpool's highest scoring foreigner (which I take to mean non-Brit).

Liverpool 3-1 PSV

PSV look like being the whipping boys of the group and this was a fairly comfortable win - with an early goal from European goal machine Kuyt (if only he could do it in the Premier League...), the 100th club goal from Steven Gerrard and the first from Robbie Keane. Job done, thank you very much...