Issues
Issue 89: March/April 2012
EDITORIAL
The Glum Reaper?
by Rick Lewis
NEWS
News: March/April 2012
Cetaceans “Should Have Rights” • Philosophers Think About Charity • Movies for Teaching Philosophy • Stubborn Brains • New journal LEAPs into existence • John Hick — News reports by Sue Roberts
DEATH & MORALITY
The Fable of the Dragon-Tyrant
Nick Bostrom tells us a philosophical parable about death.
Death and the Human Animal
Mary Midgley questions the superficial allure of endless life.
Are There Duties To The Dead?
Walter Ott doesn’t think so.
In Defence of Deciding to Die
Alex Carley looks briefly at the role of reason in the euthanasia debate.
ARTICLES
Peter Singer Says You Are a Bad Person
Howard Darmstadter shows us why the Australian abnegator is wrong.
The Philosophy Now Festival
We report on the magazine’s 20th anniversary celebration at London’s Conway Hall, where Martin Midgley gave this speech accepting Philosophy Now’s first Award for Contributions in the Fight Against Stupidity on behalf of his mother, Dr Mary Midgley.
Encouraging Communication Through Imagination
Shudong Chen communicates about the importance of communication.
Language-Using Apes
J’aime Wells is an ape talking about the possibility of apes talking.
The Multiverse Conundrum
Tim Wilkinson on the physics & philosophy of parallel universes.
Bertrand Russell (1872-1970)
Alistair MacFarlane reveals paradoxes in the long life of the third Earl Russell.
OBITUARIES
Michael Dummett (1925-2011)
Menno Lievers tells us about the ideas and life of an influential British philosopher.
LETTERS
Letters
Sustaining The Argument • Putting The ‘Me’ In Meaning • Pieces of Minds/Brains • Free Won’t? • Civil Wars Of Words
COLUMNS
The Sleeper Wakes
by Joel Marks
You Chemical Scum, You
Raymond Tallis engages with the dregs of philosophy.
REVIEWS
A Philosophy of Boredom by Lars Svendsen
Mark Frankel finds Lars Svendsen’s book interesting psychology but boring philosophy.
Doctor Who and Philosophy
Massimo Pigliucci searches time and space to reveal the philosophy of Dr Who.
The Beginning of Infinity by David Deutsch
Alistair MacFarlane finds himself in the foothills of infinity.
Film Socialisme
Sean Gittins has a different view of film, courtesy of Jean-Luc Godard.
FICTION
Jean-Paul & Simone In The Digital Age
Vivian Todini imagines a modern existential dialogue.