The Folger Shakespeare Library, in co-operation with Simon & Schuster, is pleased to announce the release of the texts of its celebrated Folger Shakespeare Editions. The texts of the plays themselves, minus glosses, notes and interpretive material, will be available free for non-commercial use.
More here (via Steve Mentz).
“Political Political Theory” – text available here (via Clive Gamble, Thom Brooks, etc.)
I am conscious that for most of this lecture I have run the terms “political theory” and “political philosophy” together: my suggestion has been that if there is a difference between them, both need to be more political—in the sense of focusing on issues of institutions as well as the ends and aims and ideals of politics, like justice. But what I am suggesting may involve a slight redirection of interdisciplinary energy. Political philosophy is surely a branch of philosophy; and inasmuch as our teaching in the theoretical side of PPE presents itself as political philosophy we naturally orient ourselves towards the Philosophy Department. My predecessors Gerry Cohen and Charles Taylor were comfortable, I think, with that orientation. Me, I am more happy with an orientation towards law. As well as an approach that sees political theory dovetailing with empirical political science.
How philosophers might have coped with the modern university – The Department of Omnishambles. Hit and miss, but some of this is very funny. Thanks to Clare for pointing me to this.
Peter Adey to write the ‘Air’ volume of the Reaktion Earth series I mentioned last week.Should be good.
very interesting looking conference coming up in June. details here.
May 15th is the anniversary of the 1948 Nakba, ‘the catastrophe’, for Palestinians. The Funambulist site has linked to the fascinating ‘manual of return’, with English translations, that is distributed to those who make their way to the borders of Israel or Israeli-controlled territory to make their protest known. The original Arabic source is here.
Verso provides a reading list here.
Interesting edited collection now available in print or free download. Details here.
Animal, Mineral, Vegetable examines what happens when we cease to assume that only humans exert agency. Through a careful examination of medieval, early modern and contemporary lifeworlds, these essays collectively argue against ecological anthropocentricity. Sheep, wolves, camels, flowers, chairs, magnets, landscapes, refuse and gems are more than mere objects. They act; they withdraw; they make demands; they connect within lively networks that might foster a new humanism, or that might proceed with indifference towards human affairs. Through what ethics do we respond to these activities and forces? To what futures do these creatures and objects invite us, especially when they appear within the texts and cultures of the “distant” past?
Further details here – the fellowships are for three months, and provide an office, half-board accommodation, travel expenses, etc. The 2013-14 theme is ‘Light’, interpreted very broadly across all disciplines.
