Colm Gillis's Blog, page 4

THE PUBLIC NATURE OF MARRIAGE GOT LOST IN KENTUCKY

Why does Kim Davis work in a public office that certifies a couple’s suitability for each other? This simple point has been missed. In this blog it is pointed out that only a marriage between a man and woman makes any sense if relations between couples are to meet with public approval.[continue reading ...]

A JOURNEY TO THE DARK SIDE OF INTERNATIONAL LAW

International law can be shown to be unworkable by invoking a three pronged model of law. While the institution and administration of law do not pose fundamental problems for international law, the third component, the political power wielded, must do so. It is argued that this is not just a problem in practice but in principle. [continue reading ...]

CHRISSIE HYNDE, AJE, CARL SCHMITT, AND THE CONCRETE SITUATION

Carl Schmitt was a jurist of the concrete situation. He always looked at what the circumstances at any particular moment were. Two news stories that went viral over the weekend reminded me of Carl Schmitt. Without pre-judging what Schmitt may have thought about the cases, we can at least have some idea of how Schmitt would have approached these cases.[continue reading ...]

HAVING YOUR CAKE AND EATING IT IS NOT A HUMAN RIGHT

Is it my body? Do I have a right to do as I please under any circumstances? Why do we have government in the first place? In light of these questions and recent controversies, I show how personal sovereignty is not a basis for human rights. [continue reading ...]

WATCHING US FROM A DISTANCE: FROM DEISM TO ATHEISM

The song ‘From a Distance’ encapsulates the theological position of Deism, a belief that God merely set the world in motion and then withdrew from His creation. This belief was popular amongst the American revolutionaries. Yet, the belief system could easily be converted into Atheism and this is what occurred in the 20th century. [continue reading ...]

DE-POLITICIZATION OF THE ECONOMY MOTIVATION FOR ATTACKS ON CORBYN’S FOOTPRINTS

Over the last two decades, the economy has been de-politicized in the UK. In the meantime, the wheels have come off the neo-liberal bandwagon. The ascent of Jeremy Corbyn, a hithereto non-runner, has shaken up the British establishment because of the possibility of the economy being re-politicized. [continue reading ...]

Is Bravery Always a Good Thing?

Bravery is a popular epithet and being ‘brave’ is increasingly seen as validating behaviour, no matter how lurid or shameless. But is bravery always to be praised? The answer is, quite simply, no. Bravery is merely a quality that can be used in the service of both virtuous or unethical conduct.[continue reading ...]

What's in a name part II? The X-Factor

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The popular talent show The X-Factor derives its name from the fact that X traditionally denotes something that is unknown, undiscovered, or indescribable. Long before The X-Factor, Black Muslims in the US used the cultural significance of ‘X’ to achieve certain political goals. In this blog, the phenomenon of the X will be noted in the context of the importance of names. [continue reading ...]

A Hip-Hoppers Guide to Carl Schmitt

Carl Schmitt was a controversial German jurist who made valuable contributions to political philosophy. His writings were academic in nature. Yet can we discuss Schmitt in more ‘down-to-earth’ language? One will give it a spin and attempt to break it down. [continue reading ...]

What is in a name?

We all have a name. We give names to things and are given names. Our lives are dominated by names. Names are what compose government and law and they come before any disputes or any political unions. Carl Schmitt pursued the meanings of names because he understood the relevance of such meanings when considering matters of political or legal import. [continue reading ...]