Take Five Books
Five book recommendations about hospitality and the art of living alongside strangers.
News
Latest news, writing, essays, thoughts, fragments, explorations etc.
How Writing Opens Up New Spaces in a Crowded World
When the marketplace of words seems crowded, the best remedy is to keep on writing
Aztec Philosophy and the Slipperiness of the World
Aztec philosophy tells us that the world is slippery, and that if we don't want to lose our footing, we need all the wisdom we can get.
Free and Easy Rambling With Zhuangzi
The ancient Chinese philosopher who advocated uselessness and free-and-easy wandering.
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)
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 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)
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 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)
Is idleness a bad thing? Or does taking idleness more seriously offer us new possibilities for human liberation?
Creativity on the Academic Margins: Podcast
A podcast interview about writing, creativity and the challenges of teaching in multilingual environments, with Dr Tim Hannigan.