“Intellectual empathy can transform philosophical conversation and teaching. If you understand from the other’s point of view their doubts, concerns, their philosophical hinterland, you will be able to communicate ideas in ways not otherwise available”. — David Wiggins: A Personal Philosophical Memoir (open access). christopher peacockeDavid Wigginsmetaphyicssameness and substance
To mark the birthday of David below is a relatively recent and welcome return by him to metaphysics after moving away, primarily to ethics, for the latter part of his career. Sameness and Substance would figure in my top twenty favourite philosophical books, historical or contemporary, and one of a handful of direct influences upon my…
Born on this day — a true gentleman in every sense. If ever Wiggins was miffed that I preferred to talk to him about his metaphysics rather than his ethics, he never let on. Sameness and Substance Renewed (2001) and its two precursors, 1967’s Identity and Spatio-Temporal Continuity and 1980’s Sameness and Substance, jointly remain one of my favourite reads. See discussion of…
Very pleased to come across this book on one of my favourite philosophers. Here too is Michael Ayers’ review. Adam FernerDavid WigginsmetaphysicsOntologypersonal identityphilosophy of biologysameness and substancesortals
One of my favourite living philosophers (if not the favourite) is David Wiggins. He was my tutor for ethics but not unfortunately for metaphysics which by then had become a secondary interest for him. Great to see that he has just released a new book gathering several of his most important essays on identity in one volume.…
After a long break from writing on metaphysics the wonderful David Wiggins has a freely available paper published in the European Journal of Philosophy. Sameness and Substance remains one of the most satisfying (and most difficult) reads I’ve ever experienced. Forty four years ago I published a short monograph called Identity and Spatio-Temporal Continuity, henceforth ISTC…
Below is David Wiggins’ Preface from one of my favourite books. A tough read but well worth the effort. Here also is the Table of Contents and Preamble. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ When Sameness and Substance (Blackwell, 1980) went out of print, Cambridge University Press agreed to take over the book. They suggested that the Longer Notes be dropped…
I chanced upon this old review of Essays for David Wiggins: Identity, Truth and Value and was pleased to find that others are aware what a treasure this man is, not only in terms of his philosophical writings, but as a person. Speaking of the former, one of my favorite reads of all time is his Sameness and…
It’s been ten years since the release of David Wiggins’ Sameness and Substance Renewed. I notice that it has gone into a second edition, which is good news. This book must rate as one of my favourite works and I believe is somewhat neglected (I originally read S&S and was impressed that reading S&SR didn’t…
manwithoutqualities 