Name: Retreat of Reason
ISBN: 9781903386507

David Conway

Anthony Browne

Political Correctness & the Corruption of Public Debate in Modern Britain

Retreat of Reason

Gavin

Pamphlet about PC by a man most famous for arguing that Britain’s AIDS came from African immigrants. 

Tricky: the pamphlet is pumped up with outrage, and on the face of it his central claim is hallucinatory tabloid racism at its worst. On the other hand, he’s careful to list PC’s achievements, and official figures underlie some of his arguments. I wasn't skilled enough to judge when I read this.

Like everyone, he tries to claim the rational high ground over his enemies, but the connection between identity politics and postmodern irrationality is nowhere near the tight causation he claims. He seems to be genuinely hurt by the reaction to his argument.

Reality is fucked up; if we can’t even test any hypothesis which offends anyone, then we are doomed to delusion and early death.

Retreat of Reason Political Correctness & the Corruption of Public Debate in Modern Britain