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I taught in the philosophy department (“mental and moral sciences – philosophy”) at TCD in 1977-1979, and so had David…
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Professor Berman, who spent his career at Trinity College Dublin, was well-known for his work on Berkeley and also on Schopenhauer, and also wrote widely on Irish philosophy. The TCD memorial notice is here. Comments are open for remembrances from those who knew Professor Berman or for those who wish to comment on the significance of his work.
(Thanks to David Gordon and Paul Russell for calling this to my attention.)
I taught in the philosophy department (“mental and moral sciences – philosophy”) at TCD in 1977-1979, and so had David Berman as a colleague. We did not become very close (I was an arrogant and stand-offish new PhD), but I respected him.
David was, I think, an atheist, and an active supported of rationalism (in the popular rather than the technical sense of the word). One thing he did while I was in Ireland was to investigate the (late 19th C, I think) Marian apparition at Knock (which was, during my time in Ireland, a popular pilgrimage site, and was visited by the Pope in about 1980). He argued (citing details from contemporary accounts — the figures were seen as not moving — and contemporary catalogues of “magic lantern” slides — religious paintings were popular subjects) that it might have been a fraud worked with a slide projector.
My recollection is that he said he received death threats in the mail after discussing this on a radio or TV show.
I am sorry to hear of his death. To us an Irish idiom, “he wasn’t the worst.”
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