Monthly Archives: March 2010

EPHEMERAL ART—CHALK.

Posted on March 31, 2010 by Philip

EPHEMERAL ART—CHALK. I posted last week about the impermanence of the New York City Lego art project. Rick Rendeiro called my attention to the remarkable three-dimensional art work done in chalk on pavements by Julian Beever. Here are some of … Continue reading →

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WOK RACING.

Posted on March 30, 2010 by Philip

WOK RACING. People continue to invent sports. I have posted about a couple games that playmates created when I was a boy. Adam Cohen reported on the new sport of wok racing in the weekend Wall Street Journal (March 27-28). … Continue reading →

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COMPENSATORY ETHICS: “IN THIS WICKED WORLD….”

Posted on March 29, 2010 by Philip

COMPENSATORY ETHICS: “IN THIS WICKED WORLD….” A theory of compensatory ethics fits with the story I told here about the hotel detective who told Doc Kearns, the boxing manager, that he had just rolled a drunk and was wondering if … Continue reading →

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WHEN MY LIMITED STOCK OF VIRTUE WAS RECOGNIZED.

Posted on March 29, 2010 by Philip

WHEN MY LIMITED STOCK OF VIRTUE WAS RECOGNIZED. Kids, I think you know the story of how I earned my “C” in conduct in fifth grade. A “C” was considered a low grade—at least in conduct— even before grade inflation. … Continue reading →

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THE COMPENSATORY ETHICS THEORY EXPLAINS A LOT.

Posted on March 29, 2010 by Philip

THE COMPENSATORY ETHICS THEORY EXPLAINS A LOT. Although the theory is new (at least to me), compensatory ethical behavior has been around for a long time. Satirists have had a field day for years with puritanical characters who believe that … Continue reading →

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COMPENSATORY ETHICS—A NEW THEORY OF ETHICS?

Posted on March 28, 2010 by Philip

COMPENSATORY ETHICS—A NEW THEORY OF ETHICS? The Guardian article (by Kate Connolly) that I linked to earlier says that “According to a study, when people feel they have been morally virtuous by saving the planet through their purchases of organic … Continue reading →

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ANOTHER EXPLANATION—”ETHICAL INVESTMENT ACCOUNTS.”

Posted on March 27, 2010 by Philip

ANOTHER EXPLANATION—”ETHICAL INVESTMENT ACCOUNTS.” Julian Baggini offers another explanation for why green consumers might misbehave—and this is a theory that I think might have broad application. Baggini introduces the concept of ethical investment accounts: “Doing the right thing by the … Continue reading →

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EXPLAINING HOW GREEN CONSUMERS MIGHT BEHAVE BADLY—THE DANGERS OF FEELING VIRTUOUS.

Posted on March 26, 2010 by Philip

EXPLAINING HOW GREEN CONSUMERS MIGHT BEHAVE BADLY—THE DANGERS OF FEELING VIRTUOUS. Julian Baggini, the author of the Guardian article, entitled “Goodies Behaving Badly”, says that he is not surprised by the findings and notes a report that found that people … Continue reading →

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EXPLAINING HOW GREEN CONSUMERS MIGHT BEHAVE BADLY—SINGLE ACTION BIAS.

Posted on March 26, 2010 by Philip

EXPLAINING HOW GREEN CONSUMERS MIGHT BEHAVE BADLY—SINGLE ACTION BIAS. The New York Times article offers an explanation of the bad behavior of green consumers that is based on a theory of “single action bias”, and quotes a description of single … Continue reading →

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MANURE BUBBLES.

Posted on March 25, 2010 by Philip

MANURE BUBBLES. Lauren Etter has an article in today’s Wall Street Journal about some environmental and safety risks posed by manure ponds. Manure from cows and hogs is normally kept in large lagoons. Environmental laws regulate how the lagoons are … Continue reading →

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