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RickLewis
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Philosophy Now magazine Suggestions Box

Post by RickLewis »

This thread is for any suggestions you might have for improving Philosophy Now magazine.

If there is anything in the mag that you like and would like more of, or anything that you don't like and would prefer less of, then this is a good place to say so (though of course you could always email me instead.)

Also, if you have any suggestions for future themed issues, that would be great. The theme of the current issue (Issue 63) is 'philosophy and education', the previous one was on personal identity and time, and the next will be on 'philosophy & popular culture'. I'd love some more ideas of themes for future issues.

Thanks in advance,
Rick
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Psychonaut
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Post by Psychonaut »

Free money slipped into the front page?
RachelAnn
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Suggestion

Post by RachelAnn »

Hi Rick!!
I would love to see an issue about THE FALLACIES,with examples like good arguments gone bad; arguments that fit the criteria of good logic yet are bad for human beings. I find that attacking faulty reasoning requires more than purely logical justification. My impression of philosophy in the USA is that is has flipped philosophical analysis into analytic philosophy (read: cold logic). There are lists of fallacies on the internet, there are books on fallacies like David Hackett Fischer's Historians' Fallacies (I think that is its title); you get the idea. It is, for me, a fun area to explore.
What do you think?
-RachelAnn-
RickLewis
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Post by RickLewis »

I think it is a good idea! I'll see what we can do.
philofra
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Post by philofra »

Hi Rick

How about and issue on architecture and what buildings and urban planning mean to us.

Cities are working hard to be alluring and accommodating. It wasn't that long that people were opining the death of cities. However, urban spaces are becoming more and more important. It might be worth mentioning that some cities have had renaissances driven by tragic events. For instance, Manchester had a makeover after an IRA bombing and NYC after 9/11.

Cities art competing with each other with some fabulous postmodern architecture. Look at London.

Yes, I think that would make and exiting issue.
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bullwinkle
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Post by bullwinkle »

Hi Rick,

I think your magazine is already excellent.

I would be interested in an issue covering ideas of subjectivity and objectivity and whether they trap us in a false dichotomy. I'm thinking of some of the ground that Mary Midgley covered in 'The Myths we Live By' and I'm also interested in Michael Polanyi who I consider a neglected philosopher. Polanyi's development of his concept of Personal Knowledge is fascinating and its applicability to areas as different as science and theology would make a fascinating issue.

Bullwinkle
sally
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Post by sally »

I really like the question of the month features, because it gives you something really good to think about, and then its fascinating to see how differently others respond to it.

Has there been an issue on eastern philosophy? I enjoy how it demands a different style of thinking, and an open mindedness for us westerners.
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Rortabend
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Post by Rortabend »

How about an issue devoted to Rorty? He's just died so it would be a nice tribute. I also think that some of his concerns about analytical philosophy are very similar to the concerns expressed by many people in this forum. Of course, a Rorty issue might upset a lot of analytical philosophers but I don't see why you couldn't present a balanced presentation with articles from those both for and against. Rorty has been kind of ghettoised by the analytical philosophy community, yet his views are highly influential in other spheres. It might be a good idea for a popular philosophy magazine like yours to present a balanced dicussion of his legacy. What do you think?
RickLewis
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Post by RickLewis »

sally wrote: Has there been an issue on eastern philosophy? I enjoy how it demands a different style of thinking, and an open mindedness for us westerners.
Thanks for the suggestion! No, there hasn't been one specifically on eastern philosophy, though Issue 23 had a 'world philosophies' theme, with an article on Indian philosophy, one on Chinese philosophy, one on Uzbek philosophy, an interview on African philosophy and so on.

One point about an 'eastern philosophy' issue might be that the two biggest traditions of 'eastern philosophy', namely Indian philosophy and Chinese philosophy, are so different from one another that maybe each deserves its own issue. I think Anja (my wife and co-editor) would think that, anyway: her PhD was on a modern Chinese philosopher. I'll suggest to her that maybe it's time for a Chinese philosophy issue.
RickLewis
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Post by RickLewis »

Rortabend wrote:How about an issue devoted to Rorty? He's just died so it would be a nice tribute. I also think that some of his concerns about analytical philosophy are very similar to the concerns expressed by many people in this forum. Of course, a Rorty issue might upset a lot of analytical philosophers but I don't see why you couldn't present a balanced presentation with articles from those both for and against. Rorty has been kind of ghettoised by the analytical philosophy community, yet his views are highly influential in other spheres. It might be a good idea for a popular philosophy magazine like yours to present a balanced dicussion of his legacy. What do you think?
This is a good suggestion too! I'll add it to the list and discuss it with my accomplices (I mean, fellow editors).

We had an interview with Richard Rorty back in Issue 43:
http://philosophynow.org/issue43/43rorty.htm
and (sadly) an obituary of him in Issue 62:
http://philosophynow.org/issue62/62calder.htm
but maybe it is time for something more than that.

Is "Rortabend" a combination of Rorty and Feyerabend?
philofra
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Post by philofra »

Rick,

You didn't care for my idea on doing an issue on architecture and what buildings and urban planning mean to us?
RickLewis
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Post by RickLewis »

philofra wrote:Rick,

You didn't care for my idea on doing an issue on architecture and what buildings and urban planning mean to us?
Darn - I missed that one! Sorry. Actually I think it is a pretty good idea.

I'm not very qualified to edit it. When I was a teenager I owned an album called 'Architecture and Morality' by O.M.D., but I don't think the songs contained much actual philosophy. And I do remember Manchester city centre and the old Arndale Centre before the IRA deconstructed it, but haven't really seen the new reconstructed version yet. But the idea sounds good. Let me add it to the list and discuss with the other editors, and maybe get back to you to discuss it some more in the future?

Thanks for the suggestion!
philofra
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Post by philofra »

I can seen the cover of that issue, with postmodern buildings like Foster's 'gherkin' in London and Libeskind's ROM in Toronto.

The issue could also discuss the philosophy behind waste management and traffic control. It could discuss the proliferation of 'green' buildings. It might also discuss camera surveillance in the street or how the threat of terrorism has influence building design and technology. For instance, the IRA bombing in the City many years ago changed and improved the strength of office tower's glass windows.
RachelAnn
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Post by RachelAnn »

Suppose that one is more interested in truth than in winning debates, and is more concerned with what is right than with being right. Might Philosophy Now readers be interested in exploring philosophy from that angle?
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Rortabend
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Post by Rortabend »

Is "Rortabend" a combination of Rorty and Feyerabend?
Well spotted Rick. It is the name that Larry Laudan gives to the relativist in Science and Relativism.
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