Vol 33 No 21

30 October 2023

AUSTRALIA

Can society function in an epistemic crisis?
- Bill Calcutt
- 10 November 2023
1 Comment
As demonstrated in debates around the Voice, increasingly divergent perceptions of reality affect our dedication to our societal obligations and the upkeep of our shared core values. If left unchecked, this drift away from a shared understanding of the common good will further undermine trust and mutual respect that bind us, challenging the very foundations of a humane, civilised and inclusive society.
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AUSTRALIA

Can we curb misinformation while retaining freedom of expression?
- Frank Brennan
- 09 November 2023
4 Comments
As the government drafts legislation to stem the rising tide of misinformation circulating online, the nation debates: will these measures sufficiently regulate online content and curb potential harms or threaten freedom of expression? This moment is a critical test for the integrity of Australia's public discourse.
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AUSTRALIA

The AI overmind: Can machines capture the human quirk?
- Andrew Hamilton
- 09 November 2023
4 Comments
Can the essence of human frailty—our inconsistencies, our biases, our passions—really be replicated in ones and zeros? And if so, what becomes of the human voice once the machines learn to speak?
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AUSTRALIA

The plight of the Australian whistleblower
- Binoy Kampmark
- 09 November 2023
1 Comment
Next week, former army lawyer David McBride will face trial, accused of leaking classified defence information. Meanwhile, the prospect of meaningful whistleblower reforms that would shield Australian public servants who contemplate exposing wrongdoing through the media seems remote.
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INTERNATIONAL

In remembrance of times, and wars, past
- Warwick McFadyen
- 08 November 2023
1 Comment
This November 11, for many at ceremonies around the nation, the clocks will stop, the breath will pause for a minute to remember the dead and injured of war. And like the poppies in Flanders fields, the lists of names of men killed in action continues to grow: in Africa, in Europe and Asia. If history is our teacher, then we are very poor students.
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ARTS AND CULTURE

Does cultural memory have an expiration date?
- Julian Butler
- 08 November 2023
It's curious how fragments of the past linger in our minds, waiting to be unearthed. But in an era where we're bombarded with endless content and quick digital answers, one wonders: Are these shortcuts eroding our ability to remember?
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AUSTRALIA

Borderline and beyond
- Neil Jeyasingam
- 08 November 2023
7 Comments
Personality disorders — especially Borderline Personality Disorder — are both ubiquitous and enigmatic, with Borderline cases alone occupying nearly half the beds in the nation's mental health wards. New therapies offer hope, but also cast light on the human need to be seen and understood.
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INTERNATIONAL

The Israel-Hamas War in perspective
- Alan Dowty
- 02 November 2023
2 Comments
In the midst of the fifth and deadliest war between Israel and Hamas, a retrospective analysis uncovers a history of missed chances and rising extremism that fueled this crisis. From Netanyahu's policies bolstering Hamas to declining support for the two-state solution, the situation raises a pivotal question: could a different approach have averted this catastrophe?
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AUSTRALIA

Why aren't rates of domestic violence going down?
- Ulrike Marwitz
- 02 November 2023
2 Comments
If we care about the welfare of those most impacted by domestic violence, predominantly women and children, we must ask ourselves: why are we failing to make headway on this issue, and what should we be doing differently? (From 2022)
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AUSTRALIA

Truth or dare: Australia's misinformation challenge
- Julian Butler
- 02 November 2023
1 Comment
The proposed Misinformation Bill straddles the delicate balance between freedom of speech and the rising threat of misinformation, posing a challenge that could redefine the landscape of media and public conversation. The problem goes beyond discerning the truth, but determining how a democratic society identifies it amid a sea of conflicting voices.
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AUSTRALIA

Discerning the call to choose sides
- Andrew Hamilton
- 02 November 2023
13 Comments
In the war between Israel and Hamas it's essential to look beyond the simplistic dichotomies of good versus evil, exploring how historical, cultural, and political nuances shape the landscape of this enduring conflict. In a world quick to take sides, there's a need for deep understanding, underscoring the importance of balanced perspectives in seeking lasting peace and justice in a region torn by decades of strife.
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RELIGION

Between war and peace: Pope Francis' Ukraine conundrum
- Bruce Duncan
- 01 November 2023
3 Comments
Pope Francis' cautious remarks on the Ukraine war have stirred a complex blend of admiration, confusion, and criticism as he finds himself straddling the line between moral authority and geopolitical pragmatism. The challenge for Francis is how to uphold ethical standards while effectively engaging in the nuanced world of global diplomacy.
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INTERNATIONAL

The humdrum of daily murder in America
- Warwick McFadyen
- 30 October 2023
4 Comments
In this latest mass shooting in the United States, horror does not issue automatically, it is weighed down by being too familiar. We feel for the victims, but in that feeling runs the dismal knowledge that it is just another in a long line, seemingly without end.
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AUSTRALIA

The balance of compassion
- David Halliday
- 30 October 2023
3 Comments
The Hamas attacks on civilians posed a profound ethical conundrum for some. And it’s been sad to see progressives, who have for years sympathised with the plight of the Palestinian people and followed the actions of hard-line Israeli governments with dismay, attempting to downplay or rationalise the brutality of Hamas. Must empathy for one tragedy necessarily diminish compassion for another?
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Vol 33 No 21