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Latest news, writing, essays, thoughts, fragments, explorations etc.

Refugee Writers Workshop at the Goethe Institut

Refugee Writers Workshop at the Goethe Institut

Working with refugee writers in Sofia, Bulgaria.

Arete of Cyrene and the Smooth Motion of the Flesh

Arete of Cyrene and the Smooth Motion of the Flesh

Arete of Cyrene was an early woman philosopher who emphasised the centrality of bodily pleasure to the good life.

The Future of Work (Work #7)

The Future of Work (Work #7)

In our final class, we're looking back at the last six weeks, and looking forward to ask about the future of work.

Mencius and the Sprouts of Virtue

Mencius and the Sprouts of Virtue

Mencius argued for the inherent goodness of human nature, and insisted that good government is about nourishing this inherent goodness.

The Opposite of Work Part 2: Philosophy and Play (Work #6)

The Opposite of Work Part 2: Philosophy and Play (Work #6)

We spend a lot of our life not just working, but also playing. But what is play, and why does it matter?

Plato's Cave, and Escaping the Prison of Ignorance

Plato's Cave, and Escaping the Prison of Ignorance

Plato opened up a series of questions — about philosophy, knowledge, truth, politics and ethics — that have preoccupied philosophers down to the present-day.

The Opposite of Work? All About Idleness (Work #5)

The Opposite of Work? All About Idleness (Work #5)

Is idleness a bad thing? Or does taking idleness more seriously offer us new possibilities for human liberation?

Creativity on the Academic Margins: Podcast

Creativity on the Academic Margins: Podcast

A podcast interview about writing, creativity and the challenges of teaching in multilingual environments, with Dr Tim Hannigan.

Spiritual Damage: How Work is Bad for Us (Work #4)

Spiritual Damage: How Work is Bad for Us (Work #4)

In the last piece, we explored the idea that work might just be the thing that saves us. But what if the reverse is true?

New Book Chapter: A Rude People Subjected to No Restraint

New Book Chapter: A Rude People Subjected to No Restraint

A new book chapter, in Travel Writing in An Age of Global Quarantine edited by Gary Fisher and David Robinson.

7 Ways of Reading Philosophy: #3 Reading self-interestedly

7 Ways of Reading Philosophy: #3 Reading self-interestedly

Why be a dutiful reader, when you can read self-interestedly?

The Goodness of Work: Virtue, work, and salvation (Work #3)

The Goodness of Work: Virtue, work, and salvation (Work #3)

Work, according to Thomas Carlyle, is a purifying fire that saves us from all vices. But is Carlyle right? And is work really a path to virtue?