“I had the idea that there were secret laws of the universe that could explain the baffling human reality around me, and that philosophers maybe had the key to them.” HumansIdeasRealityLawUniverseSecretKeysPhilosopher Author:Catherine Wilson
“Oddly, since by now I've written quite a lot on early modern philosophers, I didn't care for the history of philosophy, which I thought dull and obscure, until I got a minor job writing articles for a children's encyclopedia in the history of science and began to make connections between science and philosophy.” WritingChildrenPhilosophyCareJobsWrittenModernConnectionsPhilosopherDullArticlesMinorsObscureEncyclopediaHistory Of ScienceScience And Philosophy Author:Catherine Wilson
“Aristotle saw nature as intelligent and purposive, whereas for the Epicureans, and the 17th century 'mechanical' philosophers, there is no intentionality in nature except where there are animal minds and bodies.” MindBodyAnimalSawsCenturyIntelligentPhilosopherMind And BodyIntentionality17th CenturyEpicurean Author:Catherine Wilson
“I have to say that some philosophers such as the late Bernard Williams, and I would include myself in this group, would say that tranquillity is overrated as the goal of life.” GoalGroupsLatePhilosopherLife GoalOverratedTranquillity Author:Catherine Wilson
“We use and need to use both systems in complex political societies, and we oscillate in our commitments, because both oligarchy and rule by the will of masses have their bad points, as the ancient philosophers all knew.” NeedsUsePoliticalMassCommitmentComplexesAncientPhilosopherOligarchy Author:Catherine Wilson
“People formerly seemed unable to evaluate a woman's c.v. or to accept a range of personal and communicative styles from the exuberant and confident to the sober and pedantic. It's much better than it was, and a number of male philosophers have been extraordinarily helpful in detecting and criticising everyday sexism in the profession.” PeopleHas BeensNumbersAcceptingStyleMalesEverydayPhilosopherProfessionRangeHelpfulSexismSoberEvaluatePedantic Author:Catherine Wilson