Chong-Ming Lim

@cmlim.eurosky.social

1684 Followers 1055 Following

Philosopher at the University of Sheffield. Thinking about political resistance, public commemorations, disability, cats, dogs, naps, etc. www.cmlim.info

a cat, looking out of the window

Three cats cuddled up on a bed, suntanning

One cat is eating from her bowl. Two others are waiting behind, in a queue

a cat and a dog sitting beside each other

a calico cat wrapped in a blanket, as though a sith lord (or a burrito)

A ginger cat hugging a calico, both on a chair

A cat looking by the window, looking up

A calico cat eating from a bowl, with one of her hind legs raised

A cat curled up, as though Ouroboros

All too often, however, certain people make their signature conditional upon having a say about the list. More specifically, they make their signature conditional upon the exclusion of certain names from the list.
The arguments are familiar enough. A rough sample: “A’s views are, and are generally known to be, far too extreme. Having his
name on the list would destroy whatever effectiveness this petition might hope to have. I can’t add my name to a list containing this name.”
“B signs every petition under the sun. This cannot be taken seriously.
Having her name on the list would destroy whatever credibility and
respectability the petition might hope to have.”
“Where was C when we all signed that other petition? He has double
standards, he merely joins the band-wagon when it seems to suit his self image. His name ought not to appear on the list.”
There are subtler versions of these objections, but we need not spell them all out. The drift is clear. In addition to the considerations intrinsic to the actual text of the petition, there are extraneous considerations that affect people’s readiness to join. Salient among them are those that have to do with the list of signatories, but they are not the only ones. The identity of the initiators, their political (or other) affiliations, if any, and the source and method of financing the petition are examples
of some other extraneous considerations which will not be here considered.

photo of a dog, wearing a red harness and red boots

three cats with different expressions

It can serve as a mimicry of scrupulous scientific procedures. People can perhaps persuade themselves that if they fuss around enough with qualifications and counter-examples, they are conducting the philosophical equivalent of a biochemical protocol.

two cats snuggling

frog looking at candle, thinking of arson