08/06/2004: "Vale John"

John Passmore

is dead.

This has hardly been reported.

In Oz,

Philosophy doesn’t count.

Vale John

I pull out my dog-eared copy of the magnificent "100 Years of Philosopy" [first published 1957!] and note that

He is also very interested in history and science, and he enjoys travel - particularly wandering around in large cities.

In the Preface he writes:

I have deliberately chosen to be insular, exhibiting, however, that kind of insularity which does not rule out an occasional Continental tour …

In high style he apologises:

This book contains a number of errors: errors of omission, faults of judgement, simple slips and plain mistakes, So much I know a priori…

In a particularly pertinent Chapter entitled "Natural Scientists Turn Philosophers" Passmore writes:

In the nineteenth century, natural science came of age as a social institution…


I am reading Neal Stephenson's Quicksilver which takes as its theme Natural Philosophy.

Stephenson's novel is centred on the works of Isaac Newton in the middle of the 17th century.

See how long we've waited?

More than 100 Years…

Ah, time to read it again!

Vale John


lerevdr on Fri 06-Aug-2004 @ 17:57 e.s.t [Vale John">permalink]
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