‘The Clarke Plato’: the oldest manuscript (discounting papyrus fragments) for about half the dialogues of Plato, perhaps once the first volume of a two-volume set. Commissioned by Arethas of Patrae (bishop of Caesarea, 902-c. 939), who paid 21 gold coins for the copying and the parchment, and added scholia in the margin in a tiny…
Now available in paperback. a companion to michael oakeshottMichael OakeshottPhilosophy
The more he learned, declared Michael Oakeshott, the less he knew. ConservatismConversationLiberalismMichael OakeshottPhilosophy
Born on this day. If you can’t make it to the upcoming Second Annual Walker Percy Weekend and you haven’t already seen this excellent documentary, check it out. existentialismLouisiananew orleansphilosophical literaturePhilosophyWalker PercyWalker Percy Weekendwin riley
This from the Smithsonian. For all that science has studied and mapped the brain in recent decades, the mind remains a black box. A famous 1974 essay by the philosopher Thomas Nagel asked, “What Is It Like to Be a Bat?” and concluded that we will never know; another consciousness—another person’s, let alone a member…
Some artistic representations of classic thought experiments. ArtDerek ParfitDescartesevil demonfrank jacksongrueLaPlacenelson goodmanPhilosophythought experimentsWilliam Lycan
The wonderful Gilbert Ryle in discussion with James Urmson from 1972 (in 5 parts). Also see Jerry Cohen’s take-off of Ryle in the final video: category mistakeCognitionCognitive scienceConcept of MindDescartesghost in the machineGilbert RyleJ. O. Urmsonjerry cohenknowing-that knowing-howphilosophical psychologyPhilosophyPhilosophy of LanguagePhilosophy of mind
Speaking of physics . . . here is Tim Maudlin on The Nature of Reality blog. EinsteinmathematicsmetaphysicsNatural sciencePhilosophyPhysicsQuantum mechanicsrealityRichard FeynmanStephen HawkingTim Maudlin
Speaking of Jerry . . . Yes, I know that traditional Dead Heads are divided by this song. But so far as I can tell it really is in keeping with the Dead’s eclectic open-mindedness about not only music but artistic endeavor in general. I mean Jerry’s guitar at about 12:14 is a fantastic blend of jazz, rock,…
This from Cogito, Volume 8, Issue 1, 1994, pp. 3-19 Cogito: Perhaps you could start by telling us something about your own philosophical background. How did you come to study philosophy, and what have been the main influences that have helped to shape your thought? Williams: I started learning philosophy formally at Oxford, where I went, in the…
manwithoutqualities 