Writing on philosophy, art, nature, and the examined life, from the tutors and students of the School.
More blogs, page 10
Lectures
A talk given by John De Val on 11 January 2020 (The views expressed in this talk are my own views, and do not necessarily represent the views of the School of Philosophy, Cambridge – John De Val) The title of this talk is Coffee Economics and Spirituality. Economics and Spirituality are normally con
The School
Way back in 1959 I joined the School because of my wife; she bought me a ticket to an introductory public lecture by the Principal of the School. At that time I was a cartoonist and BBC TV Entertainment producer for Top of the Pops. None of us who joined the course at that time knew what to expect,
The School
Leon MacLaren was born in 1910 in Glasgow. His father, Andrew MacLaren, was MP for Burslem, and a great advocate of the teaching of the American Henry George and his land reform policies. In his youth Leon experienced the terrible poverty and social unrest arising from the great depression that fol
The School
“Why Shakespeare?” I was once asked to explain my passion for his words and universality. Ben Jonson, his fellow playwright back in 17th century England, said it so well: “Soul of the age! The applause, delight, the wonder of our stage…” He declared on Shakespeare’s death in 1616….. that “He w
Course
Is Calligraphy an Art? Is it a Hobby? Is it a Craft? Is it a form of Meditation? I cannot guarantee you will ever find an answer to these questions but if you come along to the Horizons calligraphy class you will begin something that can only reward your quest for your true self. To sit with a dozen
Essay
Richard Glover – September 2019 Abridged from article published in Land and Liberty (1238) with the kind permission. Interest is at the heart of today’s economy, affecting savings, investments, pensions, mortgages, the macroeconomy, and even international flows of finance....
Course
Conventional economics has come to regard itself as a positive science. It tells us that it does not deal in values so just aims just to describe how the economy is, rather than presenting a vision of how it should be. But economics is an ethical subject. This is the view adopted by the course ‘Eco
Course
Horizons Course – Saturday Mornings At a dinner given in his honour in 1947, the great economist John Maynard Keynes proposed the toast “To economics and economists, as trustees of the possibility of civilisation”. Now economics may not be the stuff of which civilisation is made, but unless the econ
Once a week in SW London nine women meet to read Plato. None are academics or have a degree in ancient philosophy. Most of us met Plato for the first time when studying philosophy at the School of Economic Science. How we read We read aloud, pause to discuss and question, and the aim is not necessar
Wisdom Of Women
First in a series Having the privilege to study practical philosophy for just over 10 years now, has been a life-enhancing activity. It may sound clichéd but that does not mean it is not true! But. From the early years of study, the absence of women thinkers and philosopher voices was felt and this
Conference
Report on one-day colloquium Eighty caring people gathered at Mandeville Place on Sunday 30th June in response to the growing awareness that the current rate of exploitation and degradation of the earth and our environment is neither sustainable nor morally justifiable. At the least enlightened self
Peter McLoughlin explains the latest scientific insights on Meditation. These studies are explained in a way that is accessible to all. The talk includes discussion of neurological insights, such as changes in the function, connectivity and structure of the brain, as well as molecules, genetics and
