This blog has been in business for five years and a few days. I remembered at the beginning of the month that the anniversary was coming up, then it skipped my mind. Sorry, blog. I used to, by the way, hate to call it a blog.
The core idea of this blog has always remained a very simple one: apply the lessons of the most rudimentary skills (such as I have) in critical thinking to the big millionaire pundits and see what happens. I think in five years of doing this, I can say with confidence that George Will, for example, does not make the occasional forgivable error in argument, but rather engages in a systematic and morally despicable kind of activity, that is to say, sophistry. The same goes for the other frequent offenders–see the archives for them.
Sophistry, I think, is a very bad thing. Too many well educated people simply cannot distinguish good arguments from bad ones. They either don't have sufficient factual expertise or they simply don't know what makes a good argument.
For a discussion of one such person, see here.
Major congratulations, my friend. It’s quite a job you’ve taken on and so many of us admire the work you do. Thanks.
Congratulations on hitting the five year mark, and keep up the good work.
I didn’t realize it had been that long. Man, I’m getting old.
Kudos, John.
Congrats, John!
To celebrate this, how about a list with top 10 posts ever ?
Hey Thanks everyone–I wasn’t really looking for that, but while it’s here, let me also remind everyone that I have collaborators here–Colin Anderson and sometimes Phil Mayo–my thanks to them, of course, and you all for reading. I appreciate, though it may not always seem like it, the critical feedback. Thanks again.
yeah … great job Colin and Phil too.
BTW, maybe you should add Phil to your “About” section. I know he’s good at logic 🙂 but that’s about it.
Thanks for all your analysis; I have been reading the site for years, don’t know how I’d deal with the likes of George Will without it…
Love you, love your show.
I missed this – congratulations!
A wonderful acheivement and a great site!
Is there some carrot cake for the occasion?