Back Issues
Issue 25
Winter 1999/2000
EDITORIAL
What's So Funny?
by Rick Lewis
NEWS
WORLD REPORT
Field Being
Rick Lewis was at the 3rd Symposium on Field Being and the Non-Substantialistic Turn, August 12-27 1999
HUMOR
Philosophy and Humor
An introduction by Tim Madigan
The Philosopher as Joker
Peter Rickman on the unsettling similarities between jokes and philosophy.
Abbott and Costello meet Wittgenstein
Tim Madigan on some philosophical comedians.
A Philosophy Department Commencement Address
Randall Curren finds that talking about humor is no laughing matter. Especially on national television.
The Secret of Seinfeld's Humor
Jorge J. E. Gracia on the Significance of the Insignificant.
INTERVIEW
John Searle
One of the leading figures in contemporary philosophy, John Searl is the author of many influential books, but thinks that in a way he has just been writing one book all along. In June he visited London, where Julian Moore asked him what it is about.
OTHER ARTICLES
Christian Ethics: An Ambiguous Legacy
Terri Murray tells the story of how St Paul hijacked a religion.
Detecting Androids
Antoni Diller isn't one. And he can prove it.
Humans and Dumb Animals
Jane Forsey asks, what makes us so special?
The Origins of Don Giovanni
If our genes are selfish, does that mean that we are too? Mary Midgley explains the facts of life.
The Library of Living Philosophers: Donald Davidson
by Jim Hopkins
OVERVIEW
Vagueness: an introduction (sort of)
Fred Ablondi tells you Everything You Always Wanted To Know About Vagueness. But not quite.
LETTERS
Opinions on the Meaning of Life, Muhammed, and Violence.
BOOKS
Robert Taylor cheers to the rafters the attack by Alan Sokal and Jean Bricmont on modern French philosophy's misuse of scientific language.
HUMOUR
Ethical Emergency
Carl Maxim is the Bill Gates of philosophy.
COLUMN
Peg's Piece: Gun Law
Philosophy Now's columnist Peg Tittle fires off a few rounds.