One of the UK's foremost living moral philosophers, Mary
Midgley recounts her remarkable story in this elegiac and moving
account of friendships lost and found, bitter philosophical battles
and of a profound love of teaching.
Table of contents:
Foreword: Light, Darkness and Owls Part 1: Early Days, 1924-33
Greenford Rectory Starting School Moving On Greenford Growing
Parental Activities Other Scrutton Relatives More Relatives The
Hays Ladies and Non-Ladies Part2: Ancestors Thomas Urquhart and the
Universal Language Early Scruttons The Lord Justice Part3: At Downe
House School, 1932-37 The Place Learning This And That Attending to
History; Collingwood A World Apart Part4: At Oxford, 1938-42
Preparations First Impressions Marxist Dreams Studying the Classics
A Changing World Life in Wartime Marxism in Decline Starting Greats
The Philosophical Scene What is Empiricism? Gender Queries What
Iris Said Part5: Wartime Jobs, 1942-45 In The Civil Service
Interlude at Downe At Bedford School Part 6: In Oxford Again,
1945-9 On Boars Hill Winter Interlude Not Doing the B.Phil. Part7:
At Reading, 1949-50 Dialectical Difficulties Part 8: At Newcastle,
1950 2004 Settling In Journalistic Ploys Newcastle University The
Philosophy Department Writing About Beasts And Other Things Family
Movements; Geoffs Activities Darker Weather; Survival
Strategies
One of the UK's foremost moral philosophers, Mary Midgley
recounts her remarkable story in this elegiac and moving account of
friendships found and lost, bitter philosophical battles and of a
profound love of teaching.
In spite of her many books and public profile, little is known
about Mary's life. Part of a famous generation of women
philosophers that includes Elizabeth Anscombe, Philippa Foot, Mary
Warnock and Iris Murdoch, Midgley tells us in vivid and humorous
fashion how they cut a swathe through the arid landscape of 1950s
British Philosophy, writing and arguing about the grand themes of
character, beauty and the meaning of rudeness.
As the mother of three children, her journey during the 1950s and
1960s was one of a woman fighting to combine a professional career
with raising a family. In startling contrast to many of the
academic stars of her generation, we learn that Midgley nearly
became a novelist and started writing philosophy only when in her
fifties, suggesting that Minervas owl really does fly at
dusk.
Charting the highs and lows of philosophy and academia in Britain,
this publication sheds light on Marys close friends, her moral
philosophy and her meetings with major philosophers, including
Wittgenstein and Isaiah Berlin.
One of the UK's foremost moral philosophers, Mary Midgley
recounts her remarkable story in this elegiac and moving account of
friendships lost and found, bitter philosophical battles and of a
profound love of teaching.
'Not only a superbly lively account of being educated in the first half of the twentieth century, but a portrait of one of the most utterly sensible, accessible and humane philosophers of our age.' - Rowan Williams (Archbishop), Times Literary Supplement 'Her memoir is a warm and reassuring account of the value of civilised life and of the confidence it can provide.' - The Scotsman This memoir contains humour as well as wit and is a joy to read.' The Tablet 'A warm and humorous memoir by one of the UKs leading moral philosophers. Many young students sense well enough that in the present darkness, articulate and well-informed understanding of their scientific civilization, its values and politics is necessary. They need their Midgleys.' Simon Blackburn, The New Scientist 'Insightful and enjoyable' TPM Online
Mary Midgley is retired but was professor of philosophy at the University of Newcastle until 1980. She is one of the best known and most popular philosophers of her generation and the author of eight books, all published by Roultedge. The best known include Wickedness and Beast and Man, both in Routledge Classics.
Inhaltsangabe
Foreword: Light, Darkness and Owls Part 1: Early Days, 1924-33 Greenford Rectory Starting School Moving On Greenford Growing Parental Activities Other Scrutton Relatives More Relatives -- The Hays Ladies and Non-Ladies Part 2: Ancestors Thomas Urquhart and the Universal Language Early Scruttons The Lord Justice Part 3: At Downe House School, 1932-37 The Place Learning This And That Attending to History; Collingwood A World Apart Part 4: At Oxford, 1938-42 Preparations First Impressions Marxist Dreams Studying the Classics A Changing World Life in Wartime Marxism in Decline Starting Greats The Philosophical Scene What is Empiricism? Gender Queries What Iris Said Part 5: Wartime Jobs, 1942-45 In The Civil Service Interlude at Downe At Bedford School Part 6: In Oxford Again, 1945-9 On Boar's Hill Winter Interlude Not Doing the B.Phil. Part 7: At Reading, 1949-50 Dialectical Difficulties Part 8: At Newcastle, 1950 -- 2004 Settling In Journalistic Ploys Newcastle University The Philosophy Department Writing About Beasts And Other Things Family Movements; Geoff's Activities Darker Weather; Survival Strategies
