Suggested readings, 4 October 2020

Image by Christian Fregnan 

Here are some interesting articles I've read over the past week that I think are worth checking out.

James Harold, “Is it rational to condemn an artwork for an artist’s personal immorality?” 3 Oct, OUP Blog. 

Should we appreciate art created by bad people?

Shane Timmons, “The pandemic isn't down to one reckless group - it's because of the contagiousness of Covid-19.” 2 Oct, Journal.ie. 

"Social disapproval of non-compliance is important for maintaining the high levels of cooperation we’ve seen in Ireland, but it should be proportionate to the transgression and come from appropriate sources."

Jeff McMahan, “How Britain and the US became trapped in the nationalism of decline.” 2 Oct, New Statesman. 

Philosopher Jeff McMahan argues that the contempt shown by Britain and the United States for international law is a betrayal of the postwar order they both helped to create. 

Mariana Mazzucato, Reda Cherif and Fuad Hasanov, “How to End the Pandemic This Year.” 1 Oct, Project Syndicate. 

Even without a vaccine, the Covid-19 could be ended within months through an effective universal testing programme.  

Tom Chivers, “Has Covid become less dangerous?” 30 Sep, Project UnHerd. 

The virus hasn't really changed, but death rates have declined largely because  doctors are dealing with it better and it is now mostly infecting younger people.

Fintan O'Toole, “My father wanted to die and I promised to help him.” 29 Sep, Irish Times. 

"Many people are instinctively repelled by the idea of legalising assisted dying – but if you ask them what they want for themselves if terminal illness makes their lives unbearable, they too want this choice."