Leiter Reports: A Philosophy Blog

News and views about philosophy, the academic profession, academic freedom, intellectual culture, and other topics. The world’s most popular philosophy blog, since 2003.

  1. Jason Aleksander's avatar
  2. J.P. Loo's avatar
  3. Sebastian Sunday Grève's avatar
  4. Giovanni Molteni Tagliabue's avatar
  5. Fabien Muller's avatar

In Memoriam: Mary Midgley (1919-2018)

A moral philosopher, perhaps best-known for her work on animal ethics, Professor Midgley spent most of her teaching career at Newcastle University.  I will add links to memorial notices as they appear.  (Thanks to several readers for sending along news of her passing.)

UPDATE:  An obituary from The Guardian written by philosopher Jane Heal (Cambridge).

Below the fold, some comments from Ian Ground at Newcastle about Professor Midgley:

It is with sorrow that I must report the death of the philosopher, Mary Midgley, at the age of 99.

My own and the sadness of all who knew her, personally, through her teaching or through her writings, will be mixed with a profound sense of celebration of a great souled life of the mind, lived to the full.

Mary’s death came quickly with the lack of fuss and drama and with the pragmatic sanity, that all who had the privilege of knowing Mary would recognize as her signature. She felt unwell, called a close friend to ask him to let her sons know and 45 minutes later had passed.

The last time I saw Mary, just two weeks ago, she had ready for me a copy of her latest book. What is Philosophy For? https://www.bloomsbury.com/uk/what-is-philosophy-for-9781350051089/

There could be no more appropriate response from the philosophical community than to read and further recommend her last contribution to the life of our ideas and our culture. It is a work of wit and warmth, and of wisdom and warnings.

If you were touched, inspired or energized by Mary’s thought and wish to make your thoughts about her work known, please send your reply directly to me at Ian.ground@newcastle.ac.uk. I shall collate responses and make them available in subsequent memorial events. Please do ensure that that you reply off list.

There will be more eloquent obituaries than I can offer and events and publications to celebrate Mary’s life and thought.

But the most fitting tribute at present is the project to celebrate the philosophical thought of the Oxford generation of women philosophers of which she was part. Please visit http://www.womeninparenthesis.co.uk/about/ to find out more. You may also be interested to note the coming Royal Institute of Philosophy series A Centenary Celebration: Anscombe, Foot, Midgley, And Murdoch http://royalinstitutephilosophy.org/events/london-lecture-series/

I entreat colleagues to bring the philosophical work and spirit of these amazing women to the attention of the coming generation. They need each other.

 

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Designed with WordPress