“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
The last of the 20th century’s bona fide greats. New York Times profile from 1977 metaphyicsmodalityNaming and Necessityphilosophical logicPhilosophySaul Kripke
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.…
Here’s an obit in Vox but will compile and post other obituaries as they come out. New York Times Derek Parfit and Janet Radcliffe-Richards (not an obit) “With no other philosopher have I had such a clear sense of someone who had already thought of every objection I could make, of the best replies to them, of further…
It’s been brought to my attention that Experience and its Modes has been reissued with a preface by Paul Franco — see below. E+M is one of the most influential books across all genres to my thinking not to mention being one of the most entertaining. Dreadful new cover though . . . If you…
Check out this excellent discussion between Dan Dennett and Sam Harris. Both shine since I think they have raised each other’s game; this despite being recorded after an already long day. As Sam rightly says, since so much gets lost and/or miscognized in writing it is thus vital to listen to the first 8 or so minutes…
Richard Heersmink’s new EM paper. Cognitiondistributed cognitionExtended MindExternalismmetaphyicsnarrative selfpersonal identityPhilosophy of mindsituated cognition
Newly published EM paper Chinese RoomExtended MindfunctionalismKengo MiyazonometaphyicsPhilosophy of mindsituated cognition
Galen Strawson essay: Some find it comforting to think of life as a story. Others find that absurd. So are you a Narrative or a non-Narrative? Galen Strawsonmetaphyicspersonal identity
This in the NYT — H/T to Troy Camplin In a paper from a few years ago I had a section in a chapter in Hayek and Behavioral Economics that deals with this notion, a curtain-raiser to a more detailed examination. Taking Ignorance Seriously As already indicated the other component to thinking about complexity resides…
manwithoutqualities 