So the ISHPSSB Conference is done, and here I sit in the University of Exeter Library getting some internetting done for the first time in a week. Great conference. I got to meet Scibling John Lynch and his colleagues and drink much beer of various UK kinds. I got to meet Massimo Pigliucci and his colleague Jon Kaplan (I had met Jon earlier). And a host of other names who mean a lot more to me than to you.
My talk denying Essentialism ever existed went down as well as a 20 minute presentation of a 300 page argument can, with historian Jon Hodge chatting to me enthusiastically over the rest of the day, while we had a Devonshire Tea (when in Rome...) at our host, John Dupré's home. Then more beer and the best Indian meal I've ever had (Ganges Restaurant, if you're in town).
Enough name dropping. That's what conferences are for.
A blog that has long been moribund - by Sahotra Sarkar - has been reactivated to deal with the recent election of creationists to the Texas school board. Sahotra has a recent book out on ID, too. Another day spent here in sunny (for the moment) England and then to home, to teach, perchance to dream...
...and drink much beer of various UK kinds
Sigh. I'm starting to forget what real beer tastes like...
I read it, liked it (mostly) and noted a number of references to one antipodian philosopher. I thought his explanation of what he called "the central argument" of ID was particularly helpful. I keep meaning to do a review.
I have been lucky enough to visit the Ganges myself, an unforgettable curry, although it did stem my Ale intake for the rest of the night - it was worth it.