claremaccool

Summer School on the Quartet in Munich, with Ana Barandalla!

Summer School on the Quartet in Munich, with Ana Barandalla!

Posted by | Nov 26, 2019 | ,

Report on a week with the Quartet in the Bavarian Alps, by Ana. “This summer we took the Quartet to the Bavarian Alps. The Philosophy Students’ Union at the University of Munich organised a retreat on one of the slopes surrounding Sonthofen for their annual Summer School. Our Quartet was one of four subjects that would be taught. The title: ‘Morality and Human Nature: A Study of the Moral Thought of Anscombe, Foot, Midgley, and Murdoch’. Over the course of a week, seven eager and smart students, all of MA or PhD level, joined me to mull over the...

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Launch of Murdoch Plaque and Stamp, Dublin July 2019

Launch of Murdoch Plaque and Stamp, Dublin July 2019

Posted by | Nov 26, 2019 |

Hurrah, the beautiful Murdoch stamp, designed by Steve Simpson is GO! You can order it here: http://www.irishstamps.ie/shop/c-288-centenary-of-the-birth-of-iris-murdoch.aspx Clare was at the unveiling of the plaque commemorating Murdoch’s birth in Phibsboro, near the lovely Blessington St. Basin – pictured here with the first day cover and the wonderful Aileen Mooney of An Post.  ...

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British Academy Summer Showcase 2019

British Academy Summer Showcase 2019

Posted by | Nov 26, 2019 |

We were chuffed to be selected as one of 15 interactive exhibits to take part in the BA Summer Showcase (for curious minds) last June. It was fab! Our exhibit borrowed its name from Mary’s recent book – What is Philosophy For? – and saw us re-creating Murdoch’s writing desk, with lots of archival finds scoured from the Murdoch and Newnham and various Oxford Archives by Amber, Mitch, Sasha, Cathy and Ellie! Ana, Hannah and Mara were also in town to help us launch Philosophy by Postcard. Thanks to everyone who popped by!...

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Irish Young Philosopher’s Awards – We have a Winner!

Irish Young Philosopher’s Awards – We have a Winner!

Posted by | May 28, 2019 |

We were thrilled to be part of the Irish Young Philosopher’s Awards Festival this year, created and run by In Parenthesis friends and collaborators Aine Mahon and Danielle Petheridge. The event was presided over by Irish president Michael D. Higgins, who, in inimitable fashion, gave a rousing address against “a narrow and utilitarian view of… education – one that suggests we exist to be made useful – which leads to a great loss of the capacity to critically evaluate, question and challenge”. Among the 350 finalists, was Amelia O’Donnell, 11, pictured with Clare, and winner of the Iris Murdoch prize....

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Mapping the Quartet! Coming Soon!

Mapping the Quartet! Coming Soon!

Posted by | Apr 16, 2019 |

We’re thrilled to announce a new IP project powered by a British Academy Rising Star Award awarded to Clare – Mapping the Quartet! We’re working with SHEDCODE and Morph Creative to build a responsive web application which allows users to: (1) Browse people’s connections with the Quartet (2) Provide information and links to further reading about the Quartet (3) View a zoomable map of locations of contacts (4) Provide a secure way for a user to add a story/connection (5) Add a location to their story/connection We’ll be looking for student volunteers over the summer to help to gather and...

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BBC3 Free Thinking and In Parenthesis

BBC3 Free Thinking and In Parenthesis

Posted by | Oct 17, 2018 | , ,

Last night we joined the brilliant Shahidha Bari to talk about the Quartet. Sorry we didn’t tell any of you in advance, but it was LIVE and there was no telling what we might say (or be like on air! – apparently, we were just fine…) Thanks to Luke Mulhall and the Free Thinking team for setting us at ease, but especially for giving us the chance to spread the word about the Quartet, our daily inspiration. The program included an excerpt from Mary Midgley’s radio transcript, ‘Rings and Books’, submitted to the BBC in 1954 but never aired...

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Mary Beatrice Midgley (1919-2018)

Mary Beatrice Midgley (1919-2018)

Posted by | Oct 16, 2018 | , ,

This piece was originally published at The Institute of Art and Ideas Mary Beatrice Midgley, collaborator and inspiration for the Women In Parenthesis project has died. Mary was a giant among philosophers, though she only published the first of her 19 books at the age of 59, a feat which is unfathomable today in more than one respect. That anyone could start so late and produce so much, and so vibrantly (she produced in addition over 280 articles) is close to miraculous – her last book What is Philosophy For? appeared just a few days before her 99th birthday. But more than...

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We’re in the 6th Hannah Directory!!

We’re in the 6th Hannah Directory!!

Posted by | Jun 7, 2018 |

Hot off the press! **** The Durham and Liverpool-based In Parenthesis project, directed by Dr. Clare Mac Cumhailll (Durham) and Dr. Rachael Wiseman (Liverpool) has been selected among the highlights of the year in the north of England. In Parenthesis studies the collective corpus of philosophers G.E.M Anscombe, Iris Murdoch, Philippa Foot and Newcastle’s own Mary Midgley. The project argues that the quartet – who were all at Oxford during WWII – should be recognised as the first all-female school in Analytic Philosophy. The goal of the project is to rewrite the history of 20th philosophy in the UK....

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SWIP-Ireland Event

SWIP-Ireland Event

Posted by | May 20, 2018 |

We’re just back from a whirlwind SWIP-Ireland conference. 3 fantastic days of philosophy with 64 speakers and 6 keynotes; an astonishing organisational feat on the part of Maria Baghramian and SWIP-Ireland, which we were honoured to be part of – especially at a such a crucial moment in Irish history. A referendum will be held on 25 May to determine whether the 8th Amendment to the Irish constitution – which gives constitutional rights to the unborn to be born on a par with those of the mother – should be repealed. The 8th is part of a wider, historic and...

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Some reflections on Stereotype Threat

Some reflections on Stereotype Threat

Posted by | Apr 18, 2018 |

by Ana Barandalla I first became acquainted with the concept of Stereotype Threat (ST) through one of Jenny Saul’s earlier versions of her paper ‘Implicit Bias, Stereotype Threat, and Women in Philosophy’.⁠[i] It felt liberating. The cognitive, emotional, and physiological manifestations of ST are things with which I was very familiar, and although I often felt that I could sense it in others, it was never discussed. What would you say? ‘I sometimes think that maybe (whisper – in being a woman) I’m not good enough for this’?[ii] For a start, you do not – DO NOT – want...

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Workshop with Anthony Kenny, Oxford, 23rd March

Workshop with Anthony Kenny, Oxford, 23rd March

Posted by | Feb 2, 2018 |

In Parenthesis will host a small workshop with Anthony Kenny on 23rd March, in Oxford. The idea is to discuss his influential ‘Action, Emotion, Will’, partly with a view to throwing light on the mid-century analytic philosophical scene. At 4pm, there will be an open lecture given by Kevin Mulligan on the topic of ‘Formal Objects – Old and New’. If you’d like to join us for this lecture (and dinner!), please email Clare to register...

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Fire and The Sun Reading Group, London

Fire and The Sun Reading Group, London

Posted by | Jan 13, 2018 |

Hannah Altorf, St. Mary’s University London, is hosting a two-session reading group on ‘The Fire and the Sun’ (but what has this got to do with gender?) on 7th and 8th in London. Wish we could be there! Set up your own satellite. Or get in touch with Hannah, for more details or to register. Details...

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WHAT IS PHILOSOPHICAL PLUMBING: ‘Is philosophy like plumbing?’

Posted by | Dec 21, 2017 |

by Ellie Robson Mary Midgley’s concept of Philosophical Plumbing suggests a distinct approach to the study and subject-matter of moral philosophy. I will endorse this method of practise and its recollection of an aspect of philosophy that has been largely missing from modern discourse. Midgely stresses the vitality of the creative, collaborative and visionary elements of philosophy, which she accords with the poet. I will draw together Midgley’s analogies of the poets and plumbers, suggesting that this ‘gap’ may be filled through an understanding of what is distinctive about the human condition and our thought in philosophy. Midgley suggests the practises of philosophy and plumbing are analogous in their vital and yet unnoticed existence in a complex culture. Both practises lie beneath the surface, supplying their members with necessary structures for everyday life. Notably, both hold high consequences in the event of their failure, for no singular designer exists, to consult for advice. If failure occurs, we must readjust our concepts and make reactive changes to our assumptions, to fix the problem (1). It is important that we remember how vast and powerful these hidden systems are, and we must be ready to ‘spot any particular elements of it that do make trouble’ (10). LAWYERS, POETS AND PLUMBERS There exists, a widening gap in modern philosophical debate. Midgley typifies this in her dichotomy between two aspects of thought; she...

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Laidlaw Scholarships 2017-2018!

Laidlaw Scholarships 2017-2018!

Posted by | Nov 28, 2017 | ,

Do you have a research idea that fits under the In Parenthesis research umbrella? Want to do some primary research in the newly acquired Mary Midgley Archive at Durham Special Collections? Are you interested in material and structural conditions that affect the participation of women in higher education at large? Or are you keen to develop your academic interest in any one of the four women philosophers at the heart of the project? If so, and you are a Durham undergraduate, you may be eligible to apply for a Laidlaw Scholarship! Scholarships will be advertised to all Durham UGs...

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An early evening of Cocoa and Film! 13th November, SCR Castle, Durham.

An early evening of Cocoa and Film! 13th November, SCR Castle, Durham.

Posted by | Nov 1, 2017 |

Join us for our first Cocoa party of the year, on 13th November from 4-6pm in Castle SCR. As well as Cocoa (and other beverages), please look forward to a presentation on the project with details about how you can get involved, the reading group, internships, as well as some documentary footage of interviews with Mary Warnock and Mary Midgley about mid-century Oxford philosophy and women in philosophy. All...

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Last chance to submit abstract for SWIP/IP Dublin Conference – 10th March Deadline

Last chance to submit abstract for SWIP/IP Dublin Conference – 10th March Deadline

Posted by | Oct 30, 2017 |

We are joining SWIP Ireland in May to co-host the SWIP Ireland AGM! The theme is Women in Philosophy: Past, Present and Future. Papers from all approaches and traditions in philosophy including submissions on neglected historical figures, reports of archival visits, as well as reflection on methodological practice and on visions for philosophy in the future are encouraged. JOIN US!!! Call for Abstracts Society for Women in Philosophy, Ireland In association with In Parenthesis, Durham University Would like to announce the 6th Annual Conference and General Meeting of SWIP-Ireland 17-19 May, 2018 University College Dublin, Ireland Conference Theme Women in Philosophy: Past,...

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Sebastian Sanchez-Schilling heads to Newnham College Archives…

Sebastian Sanchez-Schilling heads to Newnham College Archives…

Posted by | Aug 11, 2017 | ,

During the Easter holidays, I was lucky enough to visit the Newnham College Archives. After attending the (In Parenthesis) film screening and the subsequent talk by Mary Midgley, I felt compelled to take part in the project and aid it whatever way I could. I live in Cambridge so I thought my proximity to the colleges would be of help. Dr. Wiseman took me up on my offer and directed me towards Newnham College – mentioning some of the findings that Dr. Sophia Connell had presented at the workshop hosted after the film screening. Anne Thompson, the College Archivist,...

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Wiseman at BSHP

Wiseman at BSHP

Posted by | Apr 20, 2017 | , ,

Rachael Wiseman gave a brilliant presentation at this year’s British Society for the History of Philosophy annual conference in Sheffield, as part of the panel on Women in Analytic Philosophy (thanks for Sophia and Veronique for organising). As part of the talk, Rachael set out some of the main philosophical themes that emerge from reading the In Parenthesis philosophers as a school, as well as setting out their methodology, which we are calling depictive metaphysics. Depictive metaphysics is revisionary, and is distinct from descriptive and critical metaphysics. This is partly what we will be discussing at the upcoming annual...

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In Parenthesis at Durham Teacher’s Conference

In Parenthesis at Durham Teacher’s Conference

Posted by | Apr 20, 2017 | ,

Thanks to all the philosophy teachers who participated in the conference organised by Liz McKinnell at Grey’s College in early April. Downloadable teaching materials will appear through this portable soon! Please email us to arrange a visit for your students to the Midgley...

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Workshop with Mary Midgley!

Workshop with Mary Midgley!

Posted by | Apr 20, 2017 |

We had our first discussion workshop on 18th March. Mary Midgley and members of the Midgley family were in attendance, along with panel members. Topics for discussion included the Wartime Context, Did It Matter that they were Women? and the philosophical work of the Wartime Group. We also had a visit to the Midgley Archive at Palace Green Library. Thanks to everyone involved! It was a super occasion. Here’s the workshop handout to give you an idea of what we discussed. We think the jury is in: they are a School!...

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In Parenthesis Film Night, Side Cinema

In Parenthesis Film Night, Side Cinema

Posted by | Apr 20, 2017 |

Thanks to all who attended the In Parenthesis film night on 17th March, and especially to Mary Midgley who, as ever, was a complete inspiration. Clips of footage will be uploaded soon. In the meantime, here is a little taster…...

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In Memoriam: Pamela Sue Anderson

In Memoriam: Pamela Sue Anderson

Posted by | Mar 15, 2017 |

Last year, Pamela Sue Anderson was to be the keynote speaker at our International Women’s Day conference ‘Resounding Voices’. She couldn’t make it and, in her stead, Liza Thompson read out the text of her beautiful paper. You can read it below. It offers a way of conceptualising what we are, or should conceive ourselves as,  (collectively) doing  as philosophers: cultivating reciprocal relations to the unknown. Read Pamela Sue Anderson’s...

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Identity and a good life

Identity and a good life

Posted by | Feb 22, 2017 |

Just had a great session with some fantastic young philosophers talking about our women as part of Durham’s post-offer open day! We asked the question ‘How might a person’s experience and identity affect their idea of human flourishing?’ Great discussion of Anscombe’s ‘Promising and its Justice’, Midgley’s ‘The Myths we Live By’, Foot’s ‘Natural Goodness’ and Murdoch’s ‘Sovereignty of the...

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Reading Group Facebook Group

Reading Group Facebook Group

Posted by | Dec 8, 2016 |

We now have a Facebook Group for all you wonderful ‘satellite’ reading groups scattered across the globe! It’s called LivingInParenthesis. (Hopefully) you can request to join the Group directly through Facebook. Otherwise send a request to info@inparenthesis.co.uk and we can work something...

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More In Parenthesis News!

More In Parenthesis News!

Posted by | Nov 15, 2016 | , ,

Sorry for the brief lapse! The In Parenthesis group have been busy behind the scenes but we keep forgetting to update you all. Last month saw us host Silvia Panizza for a departmental research seminar on ‘Moral perception beyond supervenience: a Murdochian perspective’ She then joined us for a reading group meeting on Iris Murdoch’s ‘The Sublime and The Good’. We also hosted a Cocoa Party in the Castle SCR. Here we are talking about the project with some of our wonderful students and colleagues.    Yesterday our UG In Parenthesis reading group kicked off – more on this...

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First Reading Group Meeting

Posted by | Jun 30, 2016 |

We had our first Reading Group meeting last Friday in Durham! Discussion was  wide-ranging. We wondered how the private language argument and considerations about rule-following play out in Anscombe and Murdoch, the Kantian aspects (if any?) of Foot’s Natural Goodness, and whether we can see themes on interiority in Murdoch writ large in Midgley’s treatment of myth. All very sketchy and tentative but a super start. We are looking forward to getting stuck into the detail with Anscombe next July. Please join us and share your thoughts via our twitter feed @parenthesis_in using...

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Visit to Foot Archive at Somerville College

Visit to Foot Archive at Somerville College

Posted by | Jun 30, 2016 |

Yesterday we all spent the day at Somerville College, delving into Philippa Foot’s archive! The archive contained a variety of interesting materials –  a number of notebooks, drafts of papers, photos, newspaper clippings and postcards. Thanks to Lesley Brown, Ann Manuel and the archival team at Somerville! Hopefully in the months to come we will be able to jot down concrete reflections on some of what we found there. In the meantime, here’s a photo of us all in the SCR at Somerville – apparently, Philippa and Elizabeth were often to be found there, sitting by the fire after...

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Erasmus+ traineeship with the In Parenthesis Project!

Posted by | Jun 24, 2016 |

We are currently welcoming expressions of interest from MA and research students in EU universities for a traineeship on the In Parenthesis project through the instrument of Erasmus+. The internship will be funded via Erasmus+ through the ‘Sending Institution’ – that is, your home university. If you are interested, drop us an email outlining how you meet the ‘The Intern’ criteria, along with your CV (please direct emails fao. Clare Mac Cumhaill (clare.maccumhaill@dur.ac.uk). We are currently looking for an intern for January to April 2017. Below is a sample ‘Learning Agreement’ which you can send to your Erasmus co-ordinator at your home institution in order to establish your eligibility (viz. from the point of view of the ‘Sending Institution’ and your particular study program). Fortunately, Erasmus+ is still live for 2016-2017 despite the recent referendum. We welcome your applications and to fostering new research links outwith the UK....

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Questions for Midgley?

Posted by | May 4, 2016 |

We are meeting Mary Midgley on Monday next week to get further low-down on the Golden Age. Send us your questions! These can range from ‘Who taught you Kant?’, ‘What do you think about contemporary philosophy?’, ‘In ‘Beast and Man’, what do you mean by ____’?, ‘What was Elizabeth Anscombe like?’ to…...

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British Academy Funding Success!

Posted by | Mar 25, 2016 |

We are thrilled to announce that the In Parenthesis project has been awarded a British Academy/Leverhulme Research Grant! The grant will run for two years from April 1st 2016. Among other initiatives, a monthly reading group will kick off soon. Virtual posts will give pointers and context on key Wartime Group texts. If you want to join in, or set up a satellite reading group, let us know! In Parenthesis Grant Proposal Abstract Elizabeth Anscombe, Phillipa Foot, Mary Midgley, Iris Murdoch, and Mary Warnock all graduated from Oxford during WWII. This period has been called “The Golden-Age of Female Philosophy” since it constitutes a unique case of women achieving collective prominence in the male-dominated discipline of philosophy. While each member of the ‘Wartime Group’ is recognized as an important philosopher, no study has been made of these remarkable women as a collective or distinct philosophical school. The current project acts as a corrective. Historical work will paint a picture of the structural and institutional conditions under which they studied and worked. As the social and intellectual landscape of academic philosophy was altered as a result of the disruptions of WWII, some have hypothesized that the absence of men, both as tutors and peers, created a more conducive environment for women to flourish intellectually and professionally. Archival work will test this suggestion. Their philosophical worldview will be detailed through close...

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Pamela Sue Anderson: ‘Silencing and Speaker Vulnerability: Undoing an oppressive form of (wilful) ignorance

Posted by | Mar 25, 2016 | ,

Presented at International Women’s Day Conference Durham University, UK 8 March 2016 Silencing and Speaker Vulnerability: Undoing an oppressive form of (wilful) ignorance Pamela Sue Anderson ABSTRACT The French feminist philosopher, Michèle Le Doeuff, has taught us something about ‘the collectivity’, which she discovers in women’s struggle for access to the philosophical, but also about ‘the unknown’ and ‘the unthought’ (Le Doeuff 1989, 128). It is the unthought, which will matter most to what I intend to say today about a fundamental ignorance, on which speaker vulnerability is built. On International Women’s Day, it seems appropriate to speak about – or, at least, to evoke – the silencing which has been imposed on women by an oppressive form of ignorance. My question is: how do our resounding voices as women – on 8 March 2016 – avoid what feminist philosophers have distinguished as wilful forms of silencing? Silencing exploits vulnerability; and speaker vulnerability is an exposure to either violence or affection, in its dependence on an audience. My response seeks to undo the silencing of women by transforming an ignorance of vulnerability into a distinctively ethical avowal. To see the significance of this undoing, we will consider how our contemporary global world reduces vulnerability to an openness to violence, ignoring what has been unthought: an openness to affection. A wilful ignorance of vulnerability develops not as a lack of...

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Themes