Monthly Archives: September 2012

How far can you go?

Posted on September 27, 2012 by Quentin

It is many years since I first read David Lodge’s book How Far Can You Go? But re-reading it this month took me back to the 1950s and 1960s when I – like many others – was struggling with the … Continue reading →

Posted in Bio-ethics, Church and Society, Moral judgment, Quentin queries, Spirituality | Tagged , | 101 Comments

The perils of power

Posted on September 20, 2012 by Quentin

What have Stalin, the Pope and the chief executive of a large bank got in common? The answer to that is power. We have talked about this subject before, and today I want to look at what the psychologists have … Continue reading →

Posted in Catholic Herald columns, Moral judgment | Tagged , , | 66 Comments

Matilda

Posted on September 13, 2012 by Quentin

For every time she shouted “Fire!”  They only answered “Little Liar!” Let’s imagine that you have a friend who is in hospital and near to death from a road accident. He asks you about his passenger – his beloved wife. … Continue reading →

Posted in Moral judgment, Quentin queries | Tagged , , , | 63 Comments

Simply disgusting

Posted on September 6, 2012 by Quentin

Click-click-click. The man came down the road with his clapper, warning others to shun him. His face was disfigured by the lumpy excrescences and open sores of leprosy, his smell was foetid. He was an outcast – yet the young … Continue reading →

Posted in Bio-ethics, Catholic Herald columns, Moral judgment, Neuroscience, Philosophy | Tagged , | 98 Comments