This chapter highlights a troubling tension within the philosophy of Michael Oakeshott. The relativistic stance that informs his radical constructivism gives license to socio-political conclusions we know Oakeshott could not possibly accept. constructivismLiberal educationLiberalismMichael OakeshottPolitical philosophyScientismsocial epistemologysociology of knowledgesociology of scientific knowledge
“He resented my worldview rather actively.” . . . Once a person was asked to step into this brutal century, anything could happen. Everywhere there lurked pitfalls like Abelman, the insipid Crusaders for Moorish Dignity, the Mancuso cretin, Dorian Greene, newspaper reporters, stripteasers, birds, photography, juvenile delinquents, Nazi pornographers. And especially Myrna Minkoff. The musky…
The intro to Brian Glenney’s chapter: The aim of this chapter is to propose an account of sensory perception from the known writings of Adam Smith, chiefly his juvenile work, “On the External Senses.” This account asserts that when we perceive an object we simulate its painful or pleasurable effects on our body—we imaginatively place…
Viewing this definitive, albeit hagiograhic, film on Bob Marley has reignited my interest in his music which I first came across, of course, via Clapton (two years earlier Jimmy Cliff and Johnny Nash gave me my first taste of reggae). It was when Sting came on the scene that my interest waned: about this time even Jagger’s silly effort…
A balanced and insightful analysis by very excellent Wayne Curtis. . . . more than the loss of indoor smoking itself, seems to aggrieve many of those who opposed the ban. In fact, the loudest grousing I heard came from friends who are nonsmokers. They saw this as an attack on what makes New Orleans…
Just published Harriet TaylorHayekLiberalismmillSandra Peartsocialism
existentialismFred NeilHarry NilssonJon Voightmidnight cowboymusicWho Is Harry Nilsson (And Why Is Everybody Talkin’ About Him)?
Richard Menary’s lovely essay I want to suggest that becoming a virtuous whisky drinker is not simply seeking after pleasurable sensations. Being a virtuous whisky drinker is taking pleasure in directing our senses at the complex array of tastes and smells that the beautiful dram affords us. My acquaintance enjoyed his sweet alcoholic mix, but…
It is my mother’s way to see life, past and present, in terms of a standard comic exaggeration. If she had spent four years in Buchenwald, she would recollect it so: “So I said to him: listen, Mister, if you think I’m going to eat this stuff, you’ve got another think coming.” . . .…
Excerpt from Robert Musil’s Man Without Qualities Volume One Translated by Eithne Wilkins and Ernst Kaiser Picador (1979) 28 A chapter that can be skipped by anyone who has no very high opinion of thinking as an occupation MEANWHILE Ulrich was at home, sitting at his desk, working. He had got out the analysis that…
manwithoutqualities 