COVER STORY Bryan Magee on writing philosophy

Too much philosophy is over-technical and poorly w ritten . The fact that something is obscure should never increase our respect for it. Sadly, the need to impress academic colleagues has become the supreme corrupter o f style. PAGE21

MY STORY 42 On Noah’s ark WILLIAMGILL WasthemanIhadknownand loved40yearsagoaNazi?

Fourlegsgood,twolegsbad.

SPECIAL REPORT 50 Education: the story so far TONYBLAIR Formostofthepast 150years, central governmentshave failed totakedirect responsibility foreducatingthemany. This government isdifferent—andit alreadyshows.

ARTS & BOOKS

60 Women behaving badly ANGELALAMBERT Dotheloathsomeself-obsessed heroinesofthe“citygirl” booksrepresent the triumphorthefailureofmodern feminism?

REGULARS 4 letters RepliestoJohnLloyd. 6 news & curiosities 8 tillyard’s tales STELLATILLYARD My husbandiswanted forahorriblecrime. 40 letter from Paris ALISTAIRHORNE Celui (jut a dit non.

41 the list Prospect's guidetolectures andseminars. 49 babel BRUCECLARK Christianity, joyand kill-joy. 59 clapham omnibus CARHILLS Ihaveaphobiaabout the simplest practical task.

67 choices Prospect's pickofthearts. 70 crossword DIDYMUS 71 brussels diary MANNEKENPIS BodoHombach’sexpenses. 72 previous convictions JOHNLLOYD Notting Hillshiddencode.

62 Greene on the screen NEILSINYARD WhyisGrahamGreeneso difficult toadapt tofilm?

65 Square one JAYNORDLINGER ThomasSowell hasalarge reputation, but not largeenough.

M IL LENNIUM BRIEFING Philip Ball on climate change

We know that greenhouse gases, living systems, the circulation o f the oceans and the planet’s orbit all influence climate. That's why the science of global warming is so complex. PAGE54

FORTHCOMING

• Mike Maclay on Europe • Jason Cowley on Russian fiction • Martin Walker on the

US presidential election • Shyama Perera on cyber relationships

PROSPECT/ESRC £12,000 ESSAY PRIZE

SEE PAGE 73 VISIT PROSPECT ON-LINE: www.prospect-magazine.co.uk

PROSPECT February 2000 3