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Walker Percy, Philosopher (8)

Forthcoming: Walker Percy, Philosopher. To Take the Writer’s Meaning: An Unpublished Manuscript on “Peirce and Modern Semiotic” by Walker Percy Kenneth Laine Ketner Percy has been studied under several headings: Catholic, Southerner, Existentialist. Two such aspects, however, have been neglected: the strong influence of Charles Sanders Peirce, plus Percy’s deep competence in laboratory science. His typescript…

Rob Haskell

Today marks the death of my chum Rob Haskell. With hindsight, so much of what Rob told me in his last two years (in person and telephonically) reveals just how profoundly hurt he was: a hurt perpetrated not just by departmental bullies but also by a cowardly lack of gumption in coming to his defence…

David Murray

I was lucky enough to have had David Murray as one of my tutors at Birkbeck who I’ve only just discovered, died two years ago (I don’t think I’d any idea that he was originally a Canuck). Here is his obituary in the FT and Toocool2betrue along with a squib from the Edmonton Journal, and so far as…

Microblogging and stigmergy

Yet another article that detects a stigmergic dynamic within a digital domain, namely microblogging, made freely available via Sensors.   distributed knowledgemicrobloggingspontaneous ordersstigmergicstigmergic cognitionStigmergy

Walker Percy, Philosopher (7)

Forthcoming: Walker Percy, Philosopher. Walker Percy’s Intersubjectivity: An Existential Semiotic or 3 + 3 = 4 Rhonda McDonnell Rhonda McDonnell argues that Walker Percy’s self-described “radical anthropology” is properly understood as Existentialist semiotics. The cornerstone of this anthropology is his concept of intersubjectivity, which was developed through his examination of language development in humans, his participation…

Butley

Alan Bates’ performance of a lifetime (and he’s had a few) deliciously embodies Simon Gray’s scathing insider’s perspective into the grim world of humanities academia (already that in 1971). Butley has much in common with Malcolm Lowry’s Under the Volcano insofar as all the action takes place in one day, everything falls apart, and alcohol is part and…

Gigerenzer papers

The most distinguished Gerd Gigerenzer has very kindly alerted me to some of his most recent writings. Roger and I were honoured to have Gerd participate in our co-edited Minds, Models and Milieux: Commemorating the Centennial of the Birth of Herbert Simon and moreover, with whom we spent an enjoyable time in San Francisco a couple years back.…

Liberty Fund Book Sale

Liberty Fund is offering a 20% discount on all their books and DVDs. (Use promo code JULY18 at checkout — expires July 31, 2018). Discount aside, their books are incredibly good value for money and are superbly bound. David Humefree speechFriedrich Hayekliberalityliberty fundMichael Oakeshott

Walker Percy, Philosopher (6)

Forthcoming: Walker Percy, Philosopher. Diamonds in the Rough: The Peirce-Percy Semiotic in The Second Coming Karey Perkins Karey Perkins makes the case for the view that Percy is more than a novelist with occasional random existential musings or themes. Although Percy begins in existentialism, his coming across semiotics sparked Percy’s interest in language as the uniquely…