Bernard Andrews
@bernardandrews.bsky.social
The house paradox: houses are both costly and valued
November 22, 2025 at 2:48 PM
The house paradox: houses are both costly and valued
Worst "paradox" ever...
November 22, 2025 at 2:42 PM
Worst "paradox" ever...
But then Socrates points out that we would have no way of knowing whether we had captured ignorance or knowledge, unless there's a third kind of bird which is the knowledge of how to tell the difference between knowledge and ignorance... which leads to a horrible circularity...
November 4, 2025 at 10:48 PM
But then Socrates points out that we would have no way of knowing whether we had captured ignorance or knowledge, unless there's a third kind of bird which is the knowledge of how to tell the difference between knowledge and ignorance... which leads to a horrible circularity...
But the aviary metaphor is rejected in Theaetetus because it doesn't make any sense.
T suggests that there would have to be birds of ignorance flying around as well as birds of knowledge....
T suggests that there would have to be birds of ignorance flying around as well as birds of knowledge....
November 4, 2025 at 10:48 PM
But the aviary metaphor is rejected in Theaetetus because it doesn't make any sense.
T suggests that there would have to be birds of ignorance flying around as well as birds of knowledge....
T suggests that there would have to be birds of ignorance flying around as well as birds of knowledge....
The word ‘norm’ comes from the latin word ‘norma’ meaning a carpenter’s square. And ‘norma’ comes from the greek ‘gnomon’ (γνώμων) which comes from the word ‘gignosco’ (γιγνώσκω) meaning to know. A carpenter’s square is a knower, a discerner —a tool for comparing, discriminating, etc.
October 9, 2025 at 1:12 PM
The word ‘norm’ comes from the latin word ‘norma’ meaning a carpenter’s square. And ‘norma’ comes from the greek ‘gnomon’ (γνώμων) which comes from the word ‘gignosco’ (γιγνώσκω) meaning to know. A carpenter’s square is a knower, a discerner —a tool for comparing, discriminating, etc.
Just as a ruler is wood, plastic, or metal structured in particular ways, an idea is a set of sounds, words, gestures, images (etc.) structured in particular ways. The genius of language is that we managed to create tools using nothing more than the noises and marks that we make.
October 9, 2025 at 1:12 PM
Just as a ruler is wood, plastic, or metal structured in particular ways, an idea is a set of sounds, words, gestures, images (etc.) structured in particular ways. The genius of language is that we managed to create tools using nothing more than the noises and marks that we make.
But a ruler is made of plastic, metal, or wood. What is an idea made of? —again, we are tempted to think that ideas are made up of something mystical like ‘thoughts’, but this is a mistake.
October 9, 2025 at 12:57 PM
But a ruler is made of plastic, metal, or wood. What is an idea made of? —again, we are tempted to think that ideas are made up of something mystical like ‘thoughts’, but this is a mistake.
An idea is a tool just as a ruler or a protractor is a tool. We use rulers to compare, discriminate, classify things, and we do the same with ideas.
October 9, 2025 at 12:57 PM
An idea is a tool just as a ruler or a protractor is a tool. We use rulers to compare, discriminate, classify things, and we do the same with ideas.
Here's my handout from my ResearchEd talk yesterday about the origin of the computational model of knowledge
(and how this view contrasts with the normative view of the Sumerians-Aristotle-Wittgenstein)
I tried to show different strands of thought: technologial, psychological, neuroscientific etc.
(and how this view contrasts with the normative view of the Sumerians-Aristotle-Wittgenstein)
I tried to show different strands of thought: technologial, psychological, neuroscientific etc.
September 7, 2025 at 8:47 AM
Here's my handout from my ResearchEd talk yesterday about the origin of the computational model of knowledge
(and how this view contrasts with the normative view of the Sumerians-Aristotle-Wittgenstein)
I tried to show different strands of thought: technologial, psychological, neuroscientific etc.
(and how this view contrasts with the normative view of the Sumerians-Aristotle-Wittgenstein)
I tried to show different strands of thought: technologial, psychological, neuroscientific etc.
but the judge argued that 'this was not educational provision that would be made generally for children of HD's age in mainstream schools in England' hence it was necessary.
July 5, 2025 at 1:52 PM
but the judge argued that 'this was not educational provision that would be made generally for children of HD's age in mainstream schools in England' hence it was necessary.
Yes... here's the bit. The CC argued that it wasn't necessary...
July 5, 2025 at 1:52 PM
Yes... here's the bit. The CC argued that it wasn't necessary...
(Actually, I've just checked, and that's not exactly what AR White said. He said...
May 15, 2025 at 8:02 PM
(Actually, I've just checked, and that's not exactly what AR White said. He said...
Simone Weil.
I love this so much.
I love this so much.
May 6, 2025 at 11:06 AM
Simone Weil.
I love this so much.
I love this so much.
From H O Mounce
April 25, 2025 at 10:32 AM
From H O Mounce
And the original sense of 'teach' was 'to show, present or offer to view'-you can't show something successfully or unsuccessfully. You either to or don't.
So the verb ‘to teach’ has developed this strange sense of a kind of performance, separated from the success that actually defines it.
6/11
So the verb ‘to teach’ has developed this strange sense of a kind of performance, separated from the success that actually defines it.
6/11
April 15, 2025 at 8:34 PM
And the original sense of 'teach' was 'to show, present or offer to view'-you can't show something successfully or unsuccessfully. You either to or don't.
So the verb ‘to teach’ has developed this strange sense of a kind of performance, separated from the success that actually defines it.
6/11
So the verb ‘to teach’ has developed this strange sense of a kind of performance, separated from the success that actually defines it.
6/11
According to OED, originally, the direct object of the verb ‘to teach’ was always the topic being taught, and the person to whom it was being taught was the indirect object. Hence, originally, the passive would have been ‘Maths was taught to her’ rather than ‘she was taught maths’.
5/11
5/11
April 15, 2025 at 8:34 PM
According to OED, originally, the direct object of the verb ‘to teach’ was always the topic being taught, and the person to whom it was being taught was the indirect object. Hence, originally, the passive would have been ‘Maths was taught to her’ rather than ‘she was taught maths’.
5/11
5/11
In terms of philosophical insights per page, this is top-draw.
I'd heartily recommend it to anyone interested in Conceptual analysis.
Up there with 'Modal Thinking' by AR White.
I'd heartily recommend it to anyone interested in Conceptual analysis.
Up there with 'Modal Thinking' by AR White.
March 6, 2025 at 7:10 PM
In terms of philosophical insights per page, this is top-draw.
I'd heartily recommend it to anyone interested in Conceptual analysis.
Up there with 'Modal Thinking' by AR White.
I'd heartily recommend it to anyone interested in Conceptual analysis.
Up there with 'Modal Thinking' by AR White.
And if you were wondering whether Christianity could ever be combined with Nietzschean thought!
Christian Nationalism has some very surprising takes.
Christian Nationalism has some very surprising takes.
March 3, 2025 at 8:08 PM
And if you were wondering whether Christianity could ever be combined with Nietzschean thought!
Christian Nationalism has some very surprising takes.
Christian Nationalism has some very surprising takes.
I'm introducing 19th century philosophy to year 11s this week, and thought I'd do this via an overview of the groups that make up the Trumpism intellectual hinterland and what they have in common.
February 24, 2025 at 10:33 AM
I'm introducing 19th century philosophy to year 11s this week, and thought I'd do this via an overview of the groups that make up the Trumpism intellectual hinterland and what they have in common.
pages 5-8 of 9
January 31, 2025 at 9:14 PM
pages 5-8 of 9
This explanation of Philosophical Analysis by AR White is great, I think. The book is an introduction to philosophy of law, but this bit is just about Philosophical Analysis. I really think you can see how it applies to lots of the problems related to SEN language.
January 31, 2025 at 9:14 PM
This explanation of Philosophical Analysis by AR White is great, I think. The book is an introduction to philosophy of law, but this bit is just about Philosophical Analysis. I really think you can see how it applies to lots of the problems related to SEN language.
Look at this graph: house price to earnings from 4x to 11x since 1983!
We have to pile so much money into property. Who gains from that? (I'd be up for some very radical reforms re. property and motgages myself. I think that's what would have a bigger effect on public sector and CPI related jobs.
We have to pile so much money into property. Who gains from that? (I'd be up for some very radical reforms re. property and motgages myself. I think that's what would have a bigger effect on public sector and CPI related jobs.
January 3, 2025 at 12:44 PM
Look at this graph: house price to earnings from 4x to 11x since 1983!
We have to pile so much money into property. Who gains from that? (I'd be up for some very radical reforms re. property and motgages myself. I think that's what would have a bigger effect on public sector and CPI related jobs.
We have to pile so much money into property. Who gains from that? (I'd be up for some very radical reforms re. property and motgages myself. I think that's what would have a bigger effect on public sector and CPI related jobs.
A good idea came out of a discussion with year 11s today: battery farmed chicken should always be sold with a photo on packaging of a battery farmed chicken (or on the menu at restaurants).
December 9, 2024 at 7:01 PM
A good idea came out of a discussion with year 11s today: battery farmed chicken should always be sold with a photo on packaging of a battery farmed chicken (or on the menu at restaurants).
Here's a diagram from Peter Hacker's connective conceptual analysis of knowledge. I think it illuminates some of the complexity and different aspects of the concept quite well.
December 1, 2024 at 4:38 PM
Here's a diagram from Peter Hacker's connective conceptual analysis of knowledge. I think it illuminates some of the complexity and different aspects of the concept quite well.