The Overflowings of a Liberal Brain

The Overflowings of a Liberal Brain

(Audio) The Difference Between Truth Claims and Principles

Why J.K. Rowling's first intervention was not a softened truth claim but a fundamentally different kind of argument.

Helen Pluckrose's avatar
Helen Pluckrose
Jul 21, 2026
∙ Paid
Upgrade to paid to play voiceover

In a recent post, The Famous Artist Birdy Rose responds to a critic who asks whether she could soften the wording of her gender-critical stickers in order to reach more people. They carry messages such as, “HUMANS CANNOT CHANGE SEX,” “NO ONE IS BORN IN THE WRONG BODY,” and “THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS A ‘TRANS’ CHILD.” Rose makes two points, both of which I agree with. First, she ar…

User's avatar

Continue reading this post for free, courtesy of Helen Pluckrose.

Or purchase a paid subscription.
© 2026 Helen Pluckrose · Privacy ∙ Terms ∙ Collection notice
Start your SubstackGet the app
Substack is the home for great culture