Tag Archives: Philosophy

philosophy for life by rupert read, and bamford quaker community

Posted on June 20, 2018 by Houyhnhnm

philosophy for life: a series of essays by the green quaker norwich-based (uea) philosopher, chained together skilfully by editor m.a. lavery, this book is a serious, witty, and unashamedly intellectual attempt to take dame philosophie from her ivory tower and put … Continue reading →

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Protagoras

Posted on April 4, 2015 by Houyhnhnm

In Plato Protagoras seems to be a pompous but likeable old chap who’s dined out on his cleverness for many years. In both Protagoras and Theaetetus he seems to focus on advising young men, both those in power and those … Continue reading →

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Ethics Man

Posted on October 22, 2014 by Houyhnhnm

Going for a consistent set of principles seems to be really about: “Scientifically” imagining scenarios where we are clear about right and wrong courses of action, for example torturing an innocent person is wrong, giving a meal to a starving person is … Continue reading →

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Gary L. Francione: “An Introduction to Animal Rights”

Posted on August 25, 2014 by Houyhnhnm

A powerfully argued, technical and persuasive book: if you think it’s OK to eat animals and wear their skins then best not to read it. Francione’s argument is in two stages. First he reiterates Bentham’s view that animals suffer, so … Continue reading →

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“Truth or Beauty” by David Orren

Posted on April 2, 2013 by Houyhnhnm

‘”Beauty is truth, truth beauty,” – that is all Ye know on earth, and all ye need to know.’ (John Keats, “Ode to a Grecian Urn”, last lines) A random website on this poem says “The exact meaning of those … Continue reading →

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Plato’s “Protagoras”

Posted on May 16, 2012 by Houyhnhnm

Less cruel to Protagoras than I remember, but very funny in places nevertheless. Interesting prelude to utilitarianism at 356B, where Socrates, arguing (as usual) that people act badly through ignorance, suggests a calculus whereby actions can be considered good or … Continue reading →

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The success of Jesus and Socrates

Posted on March 25, 2012 by Houyhnhnm

Jesus and Socrates are standard examples of being counter-cultural, of teaching the unpalatable, of advocating unacceptable behaviour, of giving explanations which oppose those of their societies: “The Sabbath was made man, not man for the Sabbath”, “pray for those who … Continue reading →

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Rowan the wizard

Posted on March 11, 2012 by Houyhnhnm

Rowan Williams is how we imagine Pozzo’s Lucky in the days when he used to delight his master with his ‘thinking’ (Waiting for Godot, Act One:) He even used to think very prettily once, I could listen to him for … Continue reading →

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“The Last Philosophy” by Don Cupitt

Posted on December 23, 2011 by Houyhnhnm

A masterpiece in atheistic religion. Cupitt steers a path between realism and non-realism by on the one hand arguing that the three ’worlds’ of external reality, inner consciousness, and language are all made of the same stuff, all language-formed (or … Continue reading →

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Plato’s “Euthyphro”

Posted on December 23, 2011 by Houyhnhnm

The best thing I’ve read for ages. Fabulously tight, funny, profound, and challenging. I’d never noticed how Plato sets the (in itself important) argument about holiness in the context of Socrates’ forthcoming trial, and sets up Euthyphro and his father … Continue reading →

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