Philosophy Now 164 October/November 2024

Issue 164: October/November 2024
EDITORIAL
Thoughts on Thought
by Rick Lewis

NEWS
News: October/November 2024
World Congress: a report from Rome • Morality found to change with weather • Critic & philosopher Fredric Jameson dies — News reports by Anja Steinbauer

THOUGHTS ON THOUGHT
From Birds To Brains
Jonathan Moens considers whether emergence can explain minds from brains.

Mary Leaves Her Room
Nigel Hems asks, does Mary see colours differently outside her room?

Love & Metaphysics
Peter Graarup Westergaard explains why love is never just physical, with the aid of Donald Davidson’s anomalous monism.

Iain McGilchrist’s Naturalized Metaphysics
Rogério Severo looks at the brain to see the world anew.

Managing the Mind
Roger Haines contemplates how we consciously manage our minds.

We’re as Smart as the Universe Gets
James Miles argues, among other things, that E.T. will be like Kim Kardashian, and that the real threat of advanced AI has been misunderstood.

ARTICLES
The Funnel of Righteousness
Peter Worley tells us how to be right, righter, rightest.

Why is Freedom So Important To Us?
John Shand explains why free will is basic to humanity.

Philosopher Kings – & Queens?
Helene Scott-Fordsmand explores legitimacy in philosophy.

Is Brillo Box an Illustration?
Thomas E. Wartenberg uses Warhol’s work to illustrate his theory of illustration.

Taylor Swift: A Philosopher For Our Times
Susan Andrews parallels Taylor Swift with Aristotle and Socrates.

Anselm (1033-1109)
Martin Jenkins recalls the being of the creator of the ontological argument.

INTERVIEWS
Sarah Bakewell
Sarah Bakewell, popular author of engaging books about exciting ideas, chats with Tim Madigan about Iris Murdoch, Montaigne, the meaning of hope, humanism, fallibility, and her own life, among other topics.

LETTERS
Letters
Absurd Assumptions • Post Post, Meta Letter • I Am Not ‘Sexuate’ • Freedom For Snails Now! • Meaning Multiplies • Whipping Nietzsche Into Shape • Literature vs Life • Angry Stoics • Atomism

COLUMNS
Francis Bacon (1561-1626)
by Terence Green

Philosophers on Sneezing
by Matt Qvortrup

Extending The Mind
Raymond Tallis considers the mind in the body & beyond.

Four Threats To Our Judgment
Massimo Pigliucci hails the stoicism of a philosopher-emperor.

REVIEWS
How To Think Like A Woman by Regan Penaluna
Hugo Whately argues that analysing the problems of philosophy’s history is doing philosophy.

Nonhuman Humanitarians by Benjamin Meiches
Andrew Strebkov considers animals to be unlikely humanitarians.

Love Lies Bleeding
J.R. Dickerson decodes a film that likes to pretend it doesn’t have messages because it’s a comedy.

CARTOONS
Phil Witte’s Cartoon
by Phil Witte

Guto Dias’ Cartoon
by Guto Dias

Ryan James Terry’s Cartoon
by Ryan James Terry

Simon & Finn
by Melissa Felder

Chris Gill’s Cartoon
by Chris Gill

FICTION
Bubblegum Prayer
Dawn Muenchrath considers the nature of art.

Thought Experiment
by Carol Hart