Philosophy Now
Encyclopedia
Philosophy Now is a philosophy
magazine, published every two months and sold from news-stands and bookstores in the USA, UK, Australia and Canada. It aims to appeal to the general educated public, as well as to students and philosophy teachers. It was founded in 1991. The publishers claim that the magazine "has grown to become the most widely-read philosophy periodical in the English language." http://www.philosophynow.org/about
, Antony Flew
, Mark M. Goldblatt
, Ted Honderich
, Tibor Machan, Mary Midgley
, Christopher Norris, JJC Smart
, Richard Taylor
and Colin Wilson
.
Philosophy Now also regularly features book reviews, fiction, cartoons and readers' letters. Its regular columnists include Joel Marks ('Ethical Episodes'), Thomas Wartenberg (philosophy and film column), Raymond Tallis
('Tallis in Wonderland') and Massimo Pigliucci
, who writes on philosophy and science. There is also a philosophical agony-aunt column called 'Dear Socrates', allegedly written by a reincarnation of the Athenian sage.
, in May 1991. The first issue included an article on Free Will
by then atheist philosopher Antony Flew
, who remained an occasional contributor for many years.
The magazine was initially published in Lewis' home town of Ipswich
, in England
. In 1997, a group of American philosophers including Raymond Pfeiffer and Charles Echelbarger lobbied the American Philosophical Association
to start a similar magazine in the USA. The then APA Executive Director Eric Hoffman arranged a meeting in Philadelphia in 1997, to which Lewis was invited. At the meeting, it was decided that the American group should join forces with Lewis to further develop Philosophy Now. Since that time, the magazine has been produced jointly by two editorial boards, in the UK and USA. Other members of the US editorial board include Timothy Madigan (a former editor of Free Inquiry
magazine) and Jonathan Adler
. The UK editorial board includes Anja Steinbauer
, who is the editor for feminist, continental and non-Western philosophy. The magazine is distributed in the US by the Philosophy Documentation Center
.
In 2000 Philosophy Now increased its frequency to appear bimonthly. Lewis remains the overall editor.
Philosophy
Philosophy is the study of general and fundamental problems, such as those connected with existence, knowledge, values, reason, mind, and language. Philosophy is distinguished from other ways of addressing such problems by its critical, generally systematic approach and its reliance on rational...
magazine, published every two months and sold from news-stands and bookstores in the USA, UK, Australia and Canada. It aims to appeal to the general educated public, as well as to students and philosophy teachers. It was founded in 1991. The publishers claim that the magazine "has grown to become the most widely-read philosophy periodical in the English language." http://www.philosophynow.org/about
Purpose
According to its website, Philosophy Now "aims to corrupt innocent citizens by convincing them that philosophy can be exciting, worthwhile and comprehensible, and also to provide some light and enjoyable reading matter for those already ensnared by the muse, such as philosophy students and academics." http://www.philosophynow.org/aboutContents
The magazine contains articles on most areas of philosophy. Most are written by academics, though some are by postgraduate students or by amateurs. Although it aims at a non-specialist audience, Philosophy Now has frequently attracted articles by well-known thinkers. Contributors have included Daniel C. DennettDaniel Dennett
Daniel Clement Dennett is an American philosopher, writer and cognitive scientist whose research centers on the philosophy of mind, philosophy of science and philosophy of biology, particularly as those fields relate to evolutionary biology and cognitive science. He is currently the Co-director of...
, Antony Flew
Antony Flew
Antony Garrard Newton Flew was a British philosopher. Belonging to the analytic and evidentialist schools of thought, he was notable for his works on the philosophy of religion....
, Mark M. Goldblatt
Mark M. Goldblatt
Mark Meyer Goldblatt is an American journalist, novelist, theologian and educator. He attended Queens College of the City University of New York from 1974-1979, where he earned a bachelors degree in English...
, Ted Honderich
Ted Honderich
Ted Honderich is a Canadian-born British philosopher, Grote Professor Emeritus of the Philosophy of Mind and Logic, University College London and Visiting Professor, University of Bath...
, Tibor Machan, Mary Midgley
Mary Midgley
Mary Midgley, née Scrutton , is an English moral philosopher. She was a Senior Lecturer in Philosophy at Newcastle University and is known for her work on science, ethics and animal rights. She wrote her first book, Beast And Man: The Roots of Human Nature , when she was in her fifties...
, Christopher Norris, JJC Smart
J. J. C. Smart
John Jamieson Carswell "Jack" Smart AC is an Australian philosopher and academic who is currently Emeritus Professor of Philosophy at Monash University, Australia...
, Richard Taylor
Richard Taylor (philosopher)
Richard Taylor was an American philosopher renowned for his dry wit and his contributions to metaphysics. He was also an internationally-known beekeeper....
and Colin Wilson
Colin Wilson
Colin Henry Wilson is a prolific English writer who first came to prominence as a philosopher and novelist. Wilson has since written widely on true crime, mysticism and other topics. He prefers calling his philosophy new existentialism or phenomenological existentialism.- Early biography:Born and...
.
Philosophy Now also regularly features book reviews, fiction, cartoons and readers' letters. Its regular columnists include Joel Marks ('Ethical Episodes'), Thomas Wartenberg (philosophy and film column), Raymond Tallis
Raymond Tallis
Raymond Tallis F.Med.Sci., F.R.C.P., F.R.S.A. is a British philosopher, humanist, poet, novelist, cultural critic and retired medical doctor.-Medical career:...
('Tallis in Wonderland') and Massimo Pigliucci
Massimo Pigliucci
Massimo Pigliucci is the chair of the Department of Philosophy at CUNY-Lehman College. He is also the editor in chief for the journal . He is known as an outspoken critic of creationism and advocate of science education.-Biography:...
, who writes on philosophy and science. There is also a philosophical agony-aunt column called 'Dear Socrates', allegedly written by a reincarnation of the Athenian sage.
History
Philosophy Now was founded as a low-budget quarterly magazine by Rick LewisRick Lewis
Rick Lewis is the founder and editor of Philosophy Now, and thereby one of the main initiators of the popular philosophy movement in the English speaking world. He launched the magazine in 1991, the first ever philosophy magazine worldwide...
, in May 1991. The first issue included an article on Free Will
Free will
"To make my own decisions whether I am successful or not due to uncontrollable forces" -Troy MorrisonA pragmatic definition of free willFree will is the ability of agents to make choices free from certain kinds of constraints. The existence of free will and its exact nature and definition have long...
by then atheist philosopher Antony Flew
Antony Flew
Antony Garrard Newton Flew was a British philosopher. Belonging to the analytic and evidentialist schools of thought, he was notable for his works on the philosophy of religion....
, who remained an occasional contributor for many years.
The magazine was initially published in Lewis' home town of Ipswich
Ipswich
Ipswich is a large town and a non-metropolitan district. It is the county town of Suffolk, England. Ipswich is located on the estuary of the River Orwell...
, in England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. In 1997, a group of American philosophers including Raymond Pfeiffer and Charles Echelbarger lobbied the American Philosophical Association
American Philosophical Association
The American Philosophical Association is the main professional organization for philosophers in the United States. Founded in 1900, its mission is to promote the exchange of ideas among philosophers, to encourage creative and scholarly activity in philosophy, to facilitate the professional work...
to start a similar magazine in the USA. The then APA Executive Director Eric Hoffman arranged a meeting in Philadelphia in 1997, to which Lewis was invited. At the meeting, it was decided that the American group should join forces with Lewis to further develop Philosophy Now. Since that time, the magazine has been produced jointly by two editorial boards, in the UK and USA. Other members of the US editorial board include Timothy Madigan (a former editor of Free Inquiry
Free Inquiry
Free Inquiry is a bi-monthly journal of secular humanist opinion and commentary published by the Council for Secular Humanism, which is part of the Center for Inquiry. Philosopher Paul Kurtz is the editor-in-chief and Thomas W. Flynn the editor. Feature articles cover a wide range of topics from a...
magazine) and Jonathan Adler
Jonathan Adler
Jonathan Adler is a Jewish-American designer renowned for his "happy chic" approach to home furnishings and interior design...
. The UK editorial board includes Anja Steinbauer
Anja Steinbauer
Anja Steinbauer is a London-based Sinologist and philosopher. She was born in Mainz, Germany. She is notable as one of the pioneers of the popular philosophy movement, and is the president of Philosophy For All in London...
, who is the editor for feminist, continental and non-Western philosophy. The magazine is distributed in the US by the Philosophy Documentation Center
Philosophy Documentation Center
The Philosophy Documentation Center is a non-profit publisher and resource center dedicated to providing affordable access to a wide range of materials in applied ethics, classics, philosophy, religious studies, and related disciplines...
.
In 2000 Philosophy Now increased its frequency to appear bimonthly. Lewis remains the overall editor.
External links
- Online edition of Philosophy Now.
- Online discussion forum linked to the magazine.
- Philosophy Documentation Center