the philosophers’

magazine reporter 6news hound a round-up from the world of philosophy, including straw poll and mediawatch

11word of mouse the perils of groupthink in cyberspace

12celebration day? portentousness ruled at UNESCO’s second philosophy day in Paris

14out & about Tim LeBon on coping in Copenhagen

15city of philosophy will a US town rise to the challenge to become a thinking city?

thoughts 18easy universities Richard Double on the ethics of second-rate colleges

19sci-phiHowthe rational person can turn into an ass

20everyday ethics Emrys Westacott argues that ethics is not just about the big issues

22provocationswhyshouldn’t a couple choose the sex of their baby?

23bioethics myths Leigh Turner questions the routine use of four principles in medical ethics issue 26 • 2nd quarter 2004

contents forum 28A C Grayling talks about reason, rationality and his strong anti- religion stance

31on not being rational Alfred Mele argues that some irrationality may be a good thing

33coherence & co. Susan Haack on consistency, cogency and their cognates

36rational desires Nicholas Rescher on being rational about both ends and means

38perils of irrationality Michael Clark on the trouble with sloppy thinking and slippery statistics

41must we argue? Mark T Nelson on when reason doesn’t mean offering an argument

43bad thoughts Jamie Whyte on the bad thinking that plagues public debate discussion 46open debate Stephen Burwood cuts through the rhetoric on spin, lies and honourable deceptions

49a novel idea Dan Lloyd discusses his ground-breaking neuro- phenomenological novel the lowdown 51the directory listings for UK and US philosophy organisations

52snapshotsthelowdown on Jeremy Bentham and R G Collingwood

54theory of knowledge a new series on understanding epistemology

56conceptual carvery when to be a realist and when not to review 57What Is Good? by A C Grayling

58Defending Science by Susan Haack

59Walking the Tightrope of Reason by Robert Fogelin

60The Death of God and the Meaning of Life by Julian Young

61Thinking After Heidegger by David Wood last words 62Bertrand’s break fun and games

64lettershavingyour say

66the skeptic drugs and sport subscriptions page 10

The Philosophers' Magazine/2nd quarter 2004