You may have guessed that I wrote a lot in advance in order to take the pressure of what has been an incredibly busy spell. I just wish I had managed to be ten posts ahead of myself. But there we go. Such is life.
I am writing today just to say that I am currently three days into my Masters (yes, this was nearly a week before the date that you are reading this - forgive me - I could not face rescheduling all my posts) - which means a total of... gosh... maybe 13 or 14 lectures. All the speakers have been incredible. I really loved Roger Crisp on the problems facing Utilitarianism (I would). He is a respectful, thoughtful and dignified man as well as a deep thinker with incredible credentials.
Today we had a talk on animals given by Dr. Ben Davies, which was excellent. A young man and an excellent teacher. Michael Robillard taught on the Just War Theory - he came to philosophy from the US military and so that was fascinating. Janet Radcliffe Richards spoke about organ donation and she is fabulous - so clear and rigorous in her thinking. She is one of the two women on the schedule. Philosophy does seem, like football, to be a mans game.
Dr. Jonathan Pugh gave a talk on autonomy. You may have seen that I have written a little about that - although I referred to Hurka in the post, I got that paper from Pugh's book. I was happy in that talk as I asked a 'really excellent question'. Yup. Me. Despite the imposter syndrome - which I am feeling. Of course I am. There are people here who are doctors and university teachers; people at Google and Deep Mind; people with masters in philosophy and people starting their third degree while still in their twenties; people working in the Cabinet Office and people working for WHO. Imagine how they respond when I say I'm a football journalist. My question? Oh, about L. A. Paul and transformative experiences.
The reason for the name of the post is that Radcliffe Richards said that we all have, however secular we are, intuitions arising from our Christian culture - and we must be careful not to smuggle them in. Those intuitions for me are not as persuasive as the ones suggesting that a) life is not a 'good' and b) that my cats matter more to me than malaria nets. I'm not meant to smuggle those in either.
I will attempt to be more inspiring next time...
But here is my introduction to my peers for the second week of the course which starts today - in real time not time of writing:
I am Issy - the loudmouthed one usually in the room but once online.
I am a football journalist. As I am a journalist, I think in questions. As I work in football (soccer), I think for 90 minutes once or at most twice a week. As I work in TV, I am incredibly shallow.
Originally, I read English Literature at St John's College Oxford and have been meaning to come back for the last 28 years, but things got in the way. Like TV, football and journalism. And being not that financially secure but deciding it would be a great idea to have horses (as I did when a kid on a farm in Devon). That led to a week's induced coma so it was not a great decision.
This is my second attempt at a big decision and I am rather hoping it is less of an epic fail.
I am in awe of you guys - the commitment, the comments and the smarts. So, whatever happens, you have a fan in me - and if you ever need a football reporter, you know where to look. My colleague Dave Beckett is EXCELLENT.
Issy
Enjoyed reading a few notes & names about the First Week. And I loved your intro :-D !