Category Archives: Philosophy

Adam Smith on the Meaning of Wealth

It is in the last dregs of life, his body wasted with toil and diseases, his mind galled and ruffled by the memory of a thousand injuries and disappointments which he imagines he has met with from the injustice of … Continue reading

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Rebranding Immigrants

Immigrants are mobile human capital. Immigrants are poor tourists. Immigrants are citizens of the world. Chris

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The Philosophical Lizard

Laying on a warm rock the lizard Smiled knowingly at Wittgenstein “You think I’m enjoying the sun.” Winking her achingly sinister eyes . Wittgenstein was numb with doubt If the lizard wasn’t enjoying the sun What was she doing? Paralysed, he … Continue reading

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The Sorites Paradox (problems of vagueness)

Professor John Curtice Would you describe a man with one hair on his head as bald? Yes. Would you describe a man with two hairs on his head as bald? Yes. … However a man with ten thousand hairs on his head … Continue reading

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Hannah Arendt* Escapes Nazi Germany

(Hannah and her mother) crossed to Czechoslovakia (then still safe) by a method that sounds almost too fabulous to be true: a sympathetic German family on the border had a house with its front door in Germany and its back … Continue reading

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Why Conservatives win elections

“…we have a disposition to admire, and almost to worship, the rich and the powerful, and to despise, or, at least, to neglect persons of poor and mean condition…..We see frequently the vices and follies of the powerful much less … Continue reading

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Training to be a beggar

He* once begged alms of a statue, and, when asked why he did so, replied, “To get practice in being refused.” *Diogenes a Greek philosopher from ancient times Chris

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Existential Ranting*

After calling his taxi driver a ‘sweaty, stupid little shit’, David Mellor rattled through the long list of things that make him a superior human being. ‘You’ve been driving a cab for ten years? I have been in the Cabinet!’ … Continue reading

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Philosophy meets religion

Because there are many religions is it the case that there must be at least one god? (Chris)

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Retirement

Recently, well at the September AGM I carried out my last duty as the PETRA Chair, and after giving the committee my last ever monthly Chairs report – my 147th in the 13 years I held the position as Chair, … Continue reading

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