Musings of various topics.
Check out the History of Philosophy (without any gaps) webpage. If you are looking for a (nearly) inexhaustible supply of rich scholarship on the history of ideas and philosophy to explore, you could hardly do better than to delve into this treasure trove.
It has long been known that there is no one-to-one correlation between Humanities, Arts and Social 
Sciences, or HASS, study and specific career pathways. That fact spooks some students and their parents. But it is an asset in fluid and flexible job market – and a fluid and flexible job market is precisely what we are facing when we look to the future.
Continue reading “Australian Higher Educational Funding, HASS and the Future of Work”
Many lament the restrictions that socially distancing orders have placed on us.
That is
understandable. But perhaps, if we focus on the positive, there is an upside to our new situation as well.
For today’s students, at least, our new post-Covid conditions of life should afford more time for direct and unfettered engagement with and exploration of great works and ideas. Indeed, it was in under similar conditions that some of the greatest works that we have come to admire and learn from were first produced.
Continue reading “Taking A Leaf Out of Newton’s Book: Making the Best of Social Isolation”
At the close of 2018 the University of Wollongong partnered with the Ramsay Centre to create a unique degree that focuses on the study of the great works of Western civilisation. In early 2019, I assumed leadership of the School of Liberal Arts with oversight of its flagship BA in Western Civilisation degree.
At the start of 2020, our School is fully operational: it is populated with outstanding staff and students and concretely established with a suite of exciting new subjects. Yet, just as our unique intellectual enterprise launched, the entire world is confronted with one of its greatest challenges – one of the greatest challenges we will face in the 21st century. The continued threat of Covid-19 requires us to drastically adjust our familiar ways of living and learning.
What does this mean for School’s study of great works of philosophy, art, literature, religion and science?
The main messages of this short INC piece, The Most Unexpected Workplace Trend Coming in 2020: the Return of the Liberal Arts Major, tally well with this analysis, Yes, Employers Do Value Liberal Arts Degrees, by the Harvard Business Review and also those of a piece I published in the Times Higher Education over a year ago – Critical thinkers honed in the liberal arts are in sharp demand.
Continue reading “Liberal Arts in Demand in the 21st Century Workplace”
A Tale from the Decameron, by John William Waterhouse, 1916
This New Statesman piece that explains how The Decameron – a 14th-century Italian book shows us how to survive coronavirus. Narrative practices play a central part in this story: “Boccaccio’s prescription for an epidemic was a good dose of “narrative prophylaxis”. That meant protecting yourself with stories”
Continue reading “Narrative Practice Joins the Fight Against COVID-19”
Having a sense of humour may not be necessary for doing philosophy, but it may help.
The Irish Times reports on the latest instalment, The Trip to Greece, of Steve Coogan and Rob
Brydon’s BBC series, The Trip, in which they seek to follow in the footsteps of Socrates and Aristophanes.
Continue reading “Philosophical Jests: Many a Serious Word …”
It has been an absolute delight to welcome the bright-eyed and eager students who will be joining us as part of the first cohort in our Bachelor of Arts of Western Civilisation degree. 
Continue reading “Reflections of a Student on the Eve of Starting Her Studies”
Here is a short piece that draws out some consequences of radically enactive views of extensive minds, ultimately defending the view that “self-reflective philosophical work is best conducted by deeply delving into traditions of thought”.
Continue reading “Folk Philosophy and Traditions of Thought”
This short piece in Outlook, the University of Wollongong’s Alumni magazine, provides insight into the inspiration and vision of our new School.
Continue reading “Philosophical Adventures in Time and Space: Opening up Great Conversations”
