Epicurean beliefs in brief

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Epicureans believe in respect for your fellow human beings, generosity, friendship, treating others as you wish to be treated yourself, rationality based on science, politeness, care of people less able to look after themselves than you are, and exercising a sense of humour. Epicureanism stands for moderation in everything, rejection of fear-mongering styles of religion, and teaches that human beings have both rights and responsibilities to others.

Epicureanism is tolerant and isn’t hostile to religion per se, if it leads to peace of mind and contentment. They know that most decent Christians will have nothing to do with intolerance of homosexuals or other minorities; that they support family planning and abortion for poor women, for instance, and probably don’t think much of bishops, regalia, or ecclesiastical real estate. On the other hand Epicureans do not believe in the supernatural or punishment in some after-life. On the contrary, Epicureanism stands for happiness and and a pleasant life, not fear of future torment for some sin or other. They are independent-minded, think for themselves, and reject social control by politicians, billionaires and priests.

Putin on the rocks?

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Russia’s military expenditure is now over 4% of GDP, higher than any other country, including the US. The annual budget deficit has soared from 0.5% to 3.7% of GDP.  The oil price is way down and Putin cannot borrow abroad because of sanctions. He is using a reserve fund that could be depleted by the end of the year.  His aggressive antics, especially in the Ukraine, are quite likely to end as a result. An Epicurean outcome greatly to be desired.

Let’s hope Uber goes Unter

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The disruptive taxi app firm, Uber, is up to its ears in regulatory disputes with authorities from Brussels to Guangzhou. It now appears that Uber may have been hacked. US authorities are investigating a spate of claims from users that they have been charged for “phantom” cab rides they neither booked nor made. One user in London maintained that he had been charged for a $260 limo ride in California, which had been ordered in the middle of the night, UK time. Because of the time-lag, they didn’t pick up the notification till the following morning. Uber insists it has found no security breach, but the latest incidents follow speculation that some user account details have been found for sale on the “dark web”, making them vulnerable to criminal activity. (Mark Townsend, The Observer).

When my wife bought a new Samsung Galaxy phone and tried to download the Uber app, they wouldn’t approve her unless she agreed to give them access to all her contacts and her photos. Photos? Excuse me. This is a gross invasion of privacy. What does a taxi company want with your photos, unless it is for blackmail purposes? And what do they want your email contacts for (no prize for guessing)? It seems that young people are not as concerned about privacy as maybe they should be? But no Uber for us, thank you. We will continue to use ordinary taxis.

The rape culture in India

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A recent BBC documentary about a notorious Delhi gang rape tells the harrowing story of the rape and murder of Jyoti Singh, a 23-year-old medical student, on a bus in 2012. But it also exposes the attitudes that made the crime possible. One of the men sentenced to hang for his part in it, Mukesh Singh, blamed the young woman for her own death. “A girl is far more responsible for a rape than a boy,” he told the film-makers. “A decent girl won’t roam around at nine at night…..This wouldn’t have happened if she hadn’t fought back. She should have been silent and allowed the rape.”

India’s government furiously denounced the film, and banned it. Rajnath Singh, the home minister, called it “an affront to the dignity of women”. Other ministers worried that it would “defame India internationally” and “affect tourism”. (Amy Kazmin, Financial Times)

The attitudes revealed in this documentary seem to be widespread across India. Instead of criticizing the messenger, the Indian government should be announcing a policy of “zero toleration”, not only for murder, but also for rape. No exceptions. They should be trying to change the attitude towards women, not making crass statements about tourism. An Epicurean government (hah!) would make equality of the sexes before the law a principal and principled policy.