One edge must be sharper!

I was struck by the dangers of trying to deploy everyday philosophy (this blog!) by the following interchange on Stephen Fry’s ancient radio...

Being and saying

Last night I went to hear Hot Chip at the university. They sounded so much better than on cd. They seemed much livelier. But, perhaps more i...

Empathy and films

This week my colleague Gloria gave a fine, detailed research presentation on empathy which took as its point of departure the thought that o...

Philosophy as social science

Once one looks, one begins to see instances of constraining codifications everywhere. Yesterday I read a social science PhD thesis and was r...

Semantic normativity

I’ve begun reading a book I bought last year and put to one side because I couldn’t believe it could say anything persuasive: Martin Kusch’s...

Kafka and empathy

I trekked down to the Liverpool Playhouse at the weekend to see a production of Kafka’s Metamorphosis. It was strikingly theatrical. Samsa...

Craft skill and error

Out pounding the streets of Kendal last night I listened to the podcast of the sociologist Lawrie Taylor’s Thinking Allowed programme on Ra...

Cover versions and Wittgenstein on playing trains

Sitting up in front of the fire late last night with Brix and a glass of Oddbins’ modestly priced Domaine de Joy Bas-Armagnac, it seemed exa...