Monday, 4 January 2021
The Illustrated Man by Ray Bradbury | Book Review
I've been meaning to read this book for years, in 2020 I finally got round to reading it! I'm just catching up now with writing up book reviews on the books I read in 2020 including this one.
I didn't know what to expect wit the book, I only had it on my to read list as people often refer to it and to the character the illustrated man so it had be intrigued. I was surprised to find that the layout of the book was actually a collection of short stories that sort of all linked to the original story itself of the illustrated man. It's hard to explain without giving away too much but essentially you are drawn into the story of the illustrated man which then takes you off into short stories of which I'm lead to believe are stories happening on the skin of the man himself, through his illustrations / tattoos. This is how I've interpreted the book anyway.
I enjoyed the read and i would highly recommend it as something to put on your 'to read' list if you enjoy short stories.
Saturday, 2 January 2021
My new reading room
My new reading room
So toward the end of 2020, in December in fact, I decided to turn our unused 'spare room', which had a bed (which obviously through 2020 never got used as we were not allowed visitors!) and a desk in, into a reading room, a quiet space that I could surround myself with books, blankets and candles. It also has my desk in so I can study, write my essays and my blog posts in a calm and quiet space away from hustle and bustle of the family.
The room quickly became a favorite of mine but also surprisingly of my sons. They love to join me in the room, to relax on the sofa of the chair and read, colour or write. They understand that the space is a calm space and is not for gaming or loud music. As a music loving family every other room has devices for playing upbeat music, this room however has only classical music and calming spa style music. The boys seem to enjoy it of an evening, its been nice to share in this with them.

As we are a family on a budget I had to look for budget furniture. I was able to find 3 tall thin bookcases which worked well on one side of the room, I had to leave a gap as the only electricity sockets in the room are in there so needed to be accessible. I also found a low cost sofa and chair for the room too. I upcycled an old stool, painting it and re-purposing it as a side table.
I already have an area for books under the stairs in our house, the books there are mainly children's books and non-fiction about plants, cooking and the world. These bookcases will be for my interests. I have my favorite authors on one bookshelf, the one facing out here, then I have my fiction collection which has grown since i took this photo and I've now also used the last bookcase for my current study books, my previous study books and also my vintage books. We are a family of book overs, i have always wanted my boys to love books as much as i do so do my best to encourage reading of fiction and non-fiction as well as writing short stories and poems.
I have been looking on Instagram nd Pinterest for inspiration on how to make the room more cosy, I've got lots of ideas so I expect I'll do an updated blog in the future.
As you can see there is plenty of room for new books this year, I'm looking forward to visiting my local bookshops to stock up, i just hope i find enough time to read all the books on my wish list this year!
If you'd like to follow my book journey you can link with me on Goodreads using this link. I over to chat with other book lovers so feel free to get in touch via Goodreads or my book themed insta account here.
Thursday, 31 December 2020
Goodbye 2020

I'm pretty confident when I say I don't think there was anyone in the UK, if not the world who could have foreseen this time last year how 2020 would turn out. It has been one of the strangest years of my life.
I could list all of the things that went wrong this year, all of the struggles our family has been through and all of the times i wondered if I would get through another day but instead I think I'm going to review my 2020 goals and focus on the positives of 2020 for this, my final post of 2020.
The goals I set myself for 2020 were mainly focusing on spending more quality time with my family, looking at ways I could get more involved with my local community, working on the growth and success of my small business and improving my personal health.
Well I certainly managed to make more time for my family, not necessarily the family outside of my household but for sure my young sons! I spent more quality time with them this year that I ever have. The forced closure of my little shop was scary but it was also eye opening to how much i miss every day of my sons lives. I loved spending time with them, teaching them, playing games with them, creating with them and working on house projects with them.
I did my best to get more involved with my local community though i will admit at times my mental health got in the way stopping me from getting involved in some of the projects i would otherwise have liked too. I am enjoying working with a local team on some street art projects, i organised late night shopping for Seaton shops and i also towards the end of the year joined the town council to see if there are ways I can help so I'm happy that I've put in enough effort on this goal.
It's been a seriously tough year for my small business, it's been a challenge to keep the shop afloat let alone work on growth or success. I am pleased though that I've been able to keep the business going despite the forced closures, I've worked 6 day weeks on my own with no staff as i can no longer afford staff members but I've also learnt that it is OK to limit opening hours to give my family more time. I used to think i needed to have the shop open all hours but life has been so much better since i set more manageable opening hours over 6 days a week so that i can still take my boys to school and pick them up every day then spend time with them afterschool rather than always being in the shop expecting them to occupy themselves. Customers have been supportive and i'm still open 5 hours a day 6 days a week for there is still plenty of time for people to shop. I've also added local delivery and click & collect services so all in all an OK year for my little business.
My personal health goals have been up and down through the year, it started with a dip, a very big dip both mentally and physically but has ended much better. I've lost 3 stone this year and I hope to lose another 3 in 2021.
So overall, I have a lot to be thankful for this year, it's been difficult for everyone due to the obvious global situation but as I look forward to 2021 I am full of hope and happiness.
Sunday, 22 November 2020
Reopening and 'Late Night Shopping' Event for Seaton's Independent Shops

All being well Seaton's independent 'non-essential' shops will be allowed to re-open at the start of December. Confirmation on this and a date we hope will soon be announced by the government.
Our little shops need your support now more than we ever have before so the majority of us are pulling together to offer you extra shopping hours in December.
Friday 4th December 2020
Giving you additional time to enjoy browsing safely and to purchase festive gifts locally.
I have been in contact with the majority of Seaton shop owners who will be taking part in this and I hope that you will show them all your support. Seaton has such a fantastic range of beautiful shops now, if you haven't looked around in the past year or so you'll be surprised at not only the variety of things you can now purchase locally but the quality too.
Please try and make time to have a browse and if you can purchase some items from Seaton shops this festive Seaton. Every tiny amount spent in a local shop helps them to keep going, every penny really does count for small businesses.
Kerri-Ann of Devon Art Supplies
30 Queen Street, Seaton.
*If you are a Seaton shop owner and have not heard about this please do get in touch with me and I will add you to our group page where we discuss these sorts of events. We are doing our best to pull together and support each other during these challenging times.
Tuesday, 13 October 2020
Die storage ideas on a budget
Since moving into my new craft room (take a look here at my new craft room set up!) i have come up with new ways of storing my dies. At first i thought i would keep them in a box, then i decided to put them onto magnetic sheets and into a folder but i realised the best way for me to storage them was out on display as that way i am more likely to be inspired to use them. Being on a budget as most of us crafters are i had to think up ways of using what i had available.
For my nesting dies i decided to use the peg board already up on the wall in my studio. I is a fantastic way to store the nesting dies together in their sets.

For the remainder of my dies i have opted for a large board that is up on the opposit wall. This is actually an old dry wipe board that is slightly magnetic. I've used the magnetic sheets that the dies came with. Some attached magnetically to the board others were not strong enough so i used double sided tape. As you will see in the You Tube video about my die storage i haven't yet finished filling the board. There is space for me to add more magnetic sheets and dies when i need too.
Wednesday, 7 October 2020
Sensory Garden for Seaton?
I recently proposed the idea of creating one or more sensory garden spaces in Seaton. The idea is to help Seaton become as inclusive as possible. Sensory gardens are not only beautiful spaces for all but are especially important for those with additional needs. The location for this space is yet to be decided but a few places have been identified as being possible.
What is a Sensory Garden?
Sensory gardens are carefully designed areas which
are devoted to engaging the senses. This may involve interactive elements – for
example, inviting visitors to engage with various sensory panels, or trigger
the sounds themselves.
The purpose of a sensory garden is to trigger
various neurological experiences, some of which are new, some familiar and
often in exciting combinations. These sensory experiences can be highly
impactful – visitors become more receptive to the world around them in a
positive manner. This allows children and adults to improve elements of their
cognitive function, whilst remaining in a safe, relaxing environment.
Ideas of things to include in a sensory garden:
- Scented
plants
- Edible
plants
- Engraved seating
- Play sculptures
- Mirrors
- Water
features
You could also enhance the interactive aspect of a
sensory garden with outdoor
musical instruments and drawing
equipment. For example:
- Chimes
- Glockenspiels
- Rain-wheels
- Drums
- Chalkboards
I would like to approach the project as a community project. Firstly though i need to know if you, our community feel this sort of space is needed or wanted?
Next i'm looking to hear from anyone who would like to get involved in the project? Are you able to volunteer your time, donate supplies or have ideas to share?
I've already presented this idea to Seaton Town Council who will consider the project for funding in the next budget. However i would like to fund the project through donations and volunteers as much as possible to show what can be achieve if we work together and support each other here in Seaton.
If you would like to be added to the contact list for updates and details of meetings etc please email me your name and contact details - kabriggs@hotmail.co.uk
Friday, 2 October 2020
Art Studio for hire in Seaton, Devon
Are you a creative based in Seaton who would like the opportunity to rent a studio space?
In 2021 i will be looking at the possibility of hiring out my beautiful conservatory studio space to someone who would like to use it to display and sell artwork as well as a space to create and demonstrate in. The space has served me well but due to my commitment to my Masters studies i will be unable to make use of the space to its full potential for the next year as i need to focus on my MA and dissertation.
The space has shelves, a large art desk and some easels and it joins onto the art shop Devon Art Supplies with a courtyard garden which has a space that can be used to work in and some sculptural works on display too.
The space will be available to book on a week by week basis so that a variety of different artists can take up the opportunity at a time span that suits them and so i can ensure there are gaps for me to deep clean between changeovers.
The space will only be accessible during shop opening times which are currently 9.30am to 2.30pm Monday to Saturday though i hope these hours will be extended in the future. The space layout can be adapted to suit the needs of the artist. There is a tea/coffee making area on site and a toilet.
Ideally i'm looking for people who will spend at least half of the time on site creating as i feel this will be great for visitors to see. Obviously i will support with social media advertising and there will be the opportunity to have a sample piece of work and blurb board about the 'artist in residence' at the time in the front window.
If you are interested in finding out more about this opportunity for 2021 please contact me via kabriggs@hotmail.co.uk or pop in to see me at 30 Queen Street, Seaton, Devon, EX12 2RB
Tuesday, 29 September 2020
Are beautiful towns better?
This year I'm studying for the final year of my Masters. I'm hoping to complete my MA in Philosophy after successfully completing year 1 in 2019/2020. As this year I get to chose my subject focus I have chosen to look at aesthetics, in particular the affect a towns aesthetics has on the wellbeing of communities who live in them and other linked questions. My ultimate goal is to go on to complete a PhD related to similar research.
'Are beautiful towns and cities better?' obviously this is a very broad question but this will lead to me researching firstly what we mean by 'better', what makes towns beautiful, whether beauty in terms of towns is subjective or objective, what effect being beautiful really has for the towns/cities and other linked questions.
I'm looking for information and opinions on how people feel about the aesthetics of the towns and cities they live in. I'm talking about the architecture, layout and design but also the day to day look of the town. If it is well kept and tidy, if it is clean, has floral displays and freshly painted buildings etc
Do you feel that the look of the town affects you? Does it make you feel proud of the town or feel frustrated with it?
Do you feel that a towns aesthetics has an affect on its future development and investment potential?
Do you feel that a towns aesthesis affects its ability to draw in tourism.
Do the look or a town have no affect at all? Does it even matter?
If you have any views on this or you have any advice for me on research already available. If you have studied this subject before and have any suggestions for me I would love to hear from you. You can comment here on my blog or you can email me at kabriggs@hotmail.co.uk
Thank you in advance for any opinions or help you are able to offer.
Tuesday, 22 September 2020
Is ‘the conceivability argument’ a proof of dualism
Is ‘the conceivability argument’ a proof of dualism
In
this paper I intend to discuss how the conceivability argument helps to prove
dualism. Dualism
over the years has been the subject of many papers and studies. One of the most
well known names linked to dualism is Rene Descartes who was arguably the first
to formulate the ‘mind-body’ problem as it is known today. However, I intend to
look closely at the more modern form of the conceivability argument as put
forward by David Chalmers. I will look
at his arguments premise and in this paper and consider is they are true.
The Conceivability Argument, also known as the modal argument or the Zombie
argument, uses a theory which using David Chalmers modern explanation can be
explained as 1) A ‘philosophical zombie’ is someone who appears outwardly as a
normal human but does not have conscious experience or sense experience. 2)
This ‘zombie’ would have all physical states but none of the mental states that
of a human would. David Chalmers states that “according to this argument it is
conceivable that there be a system that is physically identical to a conscious
being but that lacks at least some of that being’s conscious states” (2010) If this is conceivable, then it is
metaphysically possible there are zombies. Chalmers is not the only philosopher
to support the conceivability argument, Descartes is a supporter as is Saul
Kripke though that have their own ways of explaining the argument.
There are various forms of dualism. Mind-Body dualism suggests that mind and
body are capable of being separated and are distinct. Substance Dualism
suggests that the mind is a different substance from the brain which leads to
the thought that the mind can exist apart from the brain. Property Dualism
states that mental states are nor physical states. That Mind cannot exist apart
from body because mind and body are two aspects of the same substance. Though
there are different forms of dualism all agree on one core theory. That
physicalism is false.
Looking
further in depth at the ‘Zombie Argument’ as put forward by Chalmers in his
many papers and books he offers a strong case. It is important though for such philosophical
claims to be considered sound. To be sound, an argument must be both valid and
the premises must be true. Chalmers’s argument I and many others consider to be
valid, the next questioned I intent to look further into through this paper is whether
his premises are true.
Chalmers (2010) sets out his argument are follows:
1)
It is conceivable that there are zombies.
2)
If it is conceivable that there are zombies, it is
metaphysically possible that there are zombies.
3)
If it is metaphysically possible that there are
zombies, then consciousness is non-physical.
4)
Consciousness is non-physical.
So if we consider Chalmers first
premises, is it conceivable that there are zombies? This subject has been a
popular topic over many years. Daniel Dennett (1995) argues that we cannot
‘clearly and coherently’ conceive or ‘imagine’ normal human beings without
conciseness while leaving their behaviour unaffected. His argument goes further
in his paper ‘The unimagined
preposterousness of zombies’ Where he appears to take a very strong stance
against Chalmers Zombie argument arguing what that the use of the zombie
argument is ‘misleading’ and he goes on to argue that it is not possible for us
to imagine such things as zombies. Further to this he suggests an alternative
that he calls ‘zimboes’. His argument could be considered similar to that of
Kripes which I will further discuss in a moment. Initially though I want to
consider what is needed for something to be conceivable. For something
to be considered conceivable it needs to be coherently imaginable and free from
contradiction.
Joseph Almog in his paper ‘What am I?’ raises an argument brought forward by
Kripe “When we say that we seem to
imagine water without oxygen, we mean that we have really imagined another
substance that is qualitatively indiscernible from real water. Thus, he who
says, that for example, he seems to imagine that this wooden table is made of
ice is really asserting that another object, looking like this table, is really
imaginable (and indeed is really possibly) made of ice.” (2002) Here it is
being suggested that when we imagine something we know as one way to be another
we are in fact imagining a whole other ‘thing’. Lloyd Reinhardt in his article Metaphysical Possibility
argues “that all Kripke has given us is
either an overdressing of natural necessity as metaphysical necessity or a
misperception of something like rules for the use of natural-kind terms” Kripe’s argument does raise questions. hough I
would argue that the ability of something to be imaginable depends very much on
the individual.
Some may consider something is imaginable whereas others may consider it not to
be. This can be different for a number of reasons such as different ages, those
who have had different experiences, different educations and upbringings. Some
may consider themselves closed minded whereas others are more open to
considering things to be conceivable. Interestingly things through history that
at first seem unimaginable and in no way conceivable have gone on to be not
only conceivable or metaphysically possible but possible in our world. Flight
could be considered an example of this, as could water. We did not always know
that water was H2O, at one point in time scientists discovered it to be so.
Scientific and technological advances open our eyes to new facts daily that at
one point would be considered inconceivable. I would be lead to believe
therefore that Chalmers first premises is true, it is conceivable that there
are zombie.
We can look now at
Chalmers second premise, ‘if it is conceivable that there are zombies, it is
metaphysically possible that there are zombies.’ This raises a question
that asks ‘if something is conceivable does that always make it metaphysically
possible?’ Swinburne (2016) states that “A proposition is metaphysically necessary, possible, or impossible if it
becomes logically necessary, possible, or impossible when informative
designators of substances or properties are substituted for uninformative
ones.” So for something to be considered metaphysically possible is must
be ‘capable of occurring’ this is not to say that it needs to be capable of
happening in the world as we know it, it can be considered so if it is possible
in a world where the laws of nature were different. Does this not mean then
that anything is metaphysically possible?? How are we to know what could be
possible in another world or on another planet without knowing for a fact all
the details of said planet or world. Technological and scientific advances are
made daily and this changes our view of our planet and others and leads us to
new thoughts and new theories. I would argue then that we cannot truly say
something is not metaphysically possible as we do not yet hold all the facts.
Having considered this it would leave me to believe that Chalmers second
premise is true, it is metaphysically possible that there are zombies and
therefore his third premise is also true conciseness is non-physical.
Lets first look further
into Chalmers third premise, If it is metaphysically possible that there are
zombies, then consciousness is non-physical. Physicalist would argue that everything
is physical and that nothing can been seen as over and above the physical. Physicalism
is thought to have grown from materialism with the terms often used
interchangeably. Physicalists argue that phenomenal properties are not separate from
physical properties, so the former could not change without a change in the
latter. There are many
arguments against
physicalism, one of the core arguments being thought to concern the notion of
qualia, the felt qualities of experience. Further to this well discussed
argument though is a thought by Ted Honderich who states in his paper “Descartes believed not only that
I think therefore I am but also that consciousness is not physical, unlike the
brain. That makes consciousness different, which evidently it is”. So Honderich
too believes that consciousness is not physical but he had a slightly different
view to that of dualists as he refers to actualism. Christopher Menzel explains
actualism in his article “Actualism
is a widely-held view in the metaphysics of modality. To understand the thesis
of actualism, consider the following example. Imagine a race of beings — call
them ‘Aliens’ — that is very different from any life-form that exists anywhere
in the universe; different enough, in fact, that no actually existing thing
could have been an Alien, any more than a given gorilla could have been a
fruitfly. Now, even though there are no Aliens, it seems intuitively the case
that there could have
been such things. After all, life might have evolved very differently than the
way it did in fact. For example, if the fundamental physical constants or the
laws of evolution had been slightly different, very different kinds of things
might have existed. So in virtue of what is it true that there could have been
Aliens when in fact there are none, and when, moreover, nothing that exists in
fact could have been an Alien?” (2018) Though this trail of thought is
different to dualism it further supports the view that physicalism is false. It
also adds strength to the term of metaphysical possibility. This gives
way then that Chalmers third premise is true.
Chalmers further argues that “the failure of logical supervenience
directly implies that materialism is false: there are features of the world
over and above physical features” (1996) a theory and thought also supported by
Descartes who believes that the mind is non physical and non-spatial. This
though is also shared by the building blocks of many religions. We could look
deeper into how religion helps to prove how physicalism is false but that I
will do in another paper.
Metaphysical possibility of zombies means that physical properties do
not determine all mental properties. As Chalmers states “consciousness must be
nonphysical. If there is a metaphysically possible universe that is physically
identical to ours but that lacks consciousness, then consciousness must be a further
nonphysical component of our universe” (2010) and Ted Honderich (who supports
Actualism) states that consciousness is “something's being actual. What that comes to on
further reflection is that it has characteristics that add up to its being
subjectively physical – and partly outside a brain and partly inside.” (2015) So
whether we consider Honderich or Chalmers to be correct both argue here against
physicalism being correct, making it false. Which leads us then to consider
that Chalmers final premise is true, Physicalism is false and if physicalism is
false then a form of dualism must exist. This leads us then back to our
original question, is the conceivability argument is proof of dualism? Yes. The
conceivability argument is a proof of dualism as is helps to make clear that
physicalism is false.
*Essay written by me in 2019/2020 for my MA studies
Bibliography
Almog, J. (2002) What am
I? : Descartes and the mind-body problem. New York ; Oxford: Oxford University Press.
Block, N. (1995) ‘On a confusion about
a function of consciousness’, Behavioural and Brain Sciences, vol.
18, pp. 227–47.
Chalmers, D. (2010) The
Character of Consciousness, Oxford, Oxford University Press.
Chalmers, D. (1996) The Conscious Mind, Oxford, Oxford University Press.
Dualism in Descartes and classical Philosophy posted by Dr. Jordan B Cooper
Available at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VmNHLlQzdCw (Accessed 12/02/2020)
Descartes Argument posted by openyalecourseselect Available at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K0lwfYXvnHE (Accessed 12/02/2020)
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Tuesday, 15 September 2020
Explain the argument Socrates presents for the claim that virtue is knowledge. Is the argument successful? Answer with reference to Meno 86c – 100b.
Explain the argument Socrates presents for the
claim that virtue is knowledge. Is the argument successful? Answer with
reference to Meno 86c – 100b.
Socrates’
argument within the Meno for the claim that virtue is knowledge is put forward
through dialogue between Socrates and Meno. The question arises after much
discussion between them of whether virtue can be taught and is in some ways
used to aid in answering this initial question, interlinking the two questions
deeply.
Though elements of the discussion start much earlier in the dialogue the key
points that aid in Socrates argument for virtue being knowledge begin when Meno
and Socrates who both agree that virtue must be a good thing as in Chappell’s
translation “this hypothesis is immovable for us: virtue is a good
thing” (p.36 87d) now that they agree that virtue is a
good thing it is suggested that virtue will be knowledge, if in fact every sort
of good thing is included within knowledge. (p.36 87d) Robin
Waterfield puts forward in his notes of his translation that “while Plato may
there be saying that excellence (virtue) is the only thing that is always good,
other things are conditionally good, the condition being that they must be put
to proper use by knowledge or intelligence” (2005, p.179) The dialogue leads on to the suggestion that “virtue is beneficial”
(p.37 87e) Meno and Socrates begin to discuss and agree on what they consider
to be benefits Socrates then listing the agreed items of health, wealth, good
looks and strength. Thought accept that there may be more.
The discussion then turns to identify that those ‘good things’ or ‘benefits’
can also be harmful, possibly to not only the person who has them but to those
around them. (see page 5 of this essay for expansion on this) Socrates’
puts to Meno that the previously stated benefits only become ‘good’ or ‘bad’
when combined with intelligence, or a lack of it, ‘folly’ as he puts it (p.38
88d). The only real virtue is therefore really understanding and knowing how to
positively make use of the given benefits. This reinforces the idea that virtue
is knowledge or at least links to it in that knowledge or wisdom is required in
order to make positive choices that in return result in positive benefits.
Socrates talks of this in a prior dialogue Protagoras where he suggests that
men only want to do what is good as if they didn’t in his opinion they would be
ignorant “Well,”
I said, “if the pleasant is good, no one knows or thinks [that] things other
than what he is doing are better and possible [for him to do], when he does
these things [that he is doing], though it is [in point of fact] 219 allowable
for him to be doing things that are better; nor is being less than oneself
[358c] anything other than ignorance, nor is being stronger than oneself
anything other than wisdom.” (Arieti et al p.85 358b) in Meno though it appears
that Socrates is even more confident in his argument that people do not desire
to be bad or evil he says “Therefore, Meno, if there’s no one who wants
to be miserable and live badly, then there is no one who wants bad things. For
what is it to be miserable, if not to desire bad things and get them?” (p.17
78a) Whatever the soul tries to do or to put up with, if it is guided by
wisdom, it leads to wellbeing. But if it is guided by folly, to the opposite.
(p.37 88c) Socrates here appears to confidently believe that it is only ‘folly’
a lack of sense that can lead to someone desiring bad things. He fails to
acknowledge that some may simply seek to be bad because this is what they want.
Socrates appears to then finalise his argument of virtue being knowledge with
his statement “So by our argument, since virtue is beneficial, it has to be
some kind of wisdom.” (p.38 88d) leading Meno to agree with him making it
appear that they together came to this conclusion.
If this conclusion were true it would surely mean that all those who truthfully
understood virtue would then be empowered to become virtuous. Meno and Socrates
both agree that virtue is linked to ‘good’ which leads me to ask, what about
those who do truely understand it yet choose to live in a less that virtuous
life? Criminals for example. It is well known that some of the most dangerous criminals
in the world are the most well educated intellectuals with high IQ’s and would
be considered as knowledgeable yet have made what would be considered to most
as ‘bad’ choices which have resulted in less than desirable.
Up
to this point (88d) is appears the Socrates himself is convinced that virtue is
knowledge (though he later appears to backtrack from this claim which I will investigate
later) given that this is where reasoning has left him. As a reader I too can
see that at first glance the argument Socrates puts forward appears to make
sense though in my opinion it leaves some questions unanswered. 1) How is the
knowledge gained? 2) How do we then know we have the relevant knowledge needed?
3) Just because someone understands does it mean they will choose to be virtuous.
These questions begin to be investigated in the later sections of the Meno
where Socrates further claims that knowledge is teachable (87c) but that there
are no teachers of virtue (90c – 942) it appears Socrates is then beginning to
doubt his own initial claim that virtue is knowledge.
In dialogue with Meno and Anytus Socrates goes over the possibility of whether
there are in fact any teachers of virtue if it is agreeable that it is
knowledge. It appears that he has drawn the conclusion already that there isn’t
and looks like he is trying to convince Anytus and Meno of the same. After much
back and forth Socrates makes the statement “So the sophists aren’t teachers of
virtue; and the ‘best kind of people’ aren’t teachers of virtue either. And
isn’t it obvious that there can hardly be any other teachers of virtue?” (p.49
96b) Though in Socrates suggesting that there are no teachers of virtue it may
for some, including Socrates himself as he goes on to state “And if there are
no teachers, there aren’t any learners either?” (p.49 96e) suggest then that
virtue isn’t knowledge after all, I would argue that this very much depends on
how an individual views knowledge and how exactly knowledge is gained.
Knowledge in my view can be gained in a variety of ways. 1) It can be directly
taught e.g. in a formal situation a ‘teacher’ can teach a student. 2) It can be
indirectly taught e.g. a parent taking part in activities with a child for fun,
not specifically teaching them but they are gaining the knowledge as they do
the activity, through participation. 3) Through observation e.g. watching
others doing an activity but not taking part. There are likely other ways of
acquiring knowledge these are just a few (in my opinion) obvious examples. This
I would argue opposes Socrates view that without teachers there are no learners
and therefore virtue cannot be knowledge. I also agree with a point that
Dominic Scott raisies in “But this assumption is easily questioned: the fact
that there happen to be no teachers of virtue does not rule out the possibility
that it might in principle be taught.” (2006 p2) just because something is
presently at the time not taught, by teachers, it does not mean that it could
not be or that in the future it may not be. There were at one point no teachers
of parkour (a well known outdoor sport / training discipline also known as free
running) until it was recognised as a sport and in turn teachers of such were
sought. Later in the dialogue Socrates and Meno appear to agree that knowledge
is actually teachable as Scott (2006) states they “agreed that it is teachable
if and only if it is knowledge” and they “reject the possibility that it comes
by nature (89a–b), something suggested by Meno at the very beginning of the
dialogue.” This would suggest then that virtue is knowledge and is it has to be
taught as is not gained in any other way is much in Socrates and Meno’s opinion
then be knowledge.
Scott puts forward “Socrates cannot conclude that virtue is knowledge: he ought
to say that virtue is a composite consisting of knowledge and a number of other
psychological qualities” I agree that virtue is far more complex and cannot
simply be defined as knowledge. If it was I feel that the world would be a very
different place. If all it took was to ‘teach’ virtue or for someone to ‘learn’
virtue and they would then be good and act in a way that would be good for
fellow man and their country what a different place I feel the world would be.
I say this because as Scott states “We should always have been wary of
accepting this claim in the first place, especially when Socrates was thinking
about the role of external assets. It is noteworthy that in the argument as a
whole he is thinking of virtue as a quality that will benefit both the
individual and the city that he leads” the benefit as spoken of above would impact no
only on the person who is virtuous but those around him.
After much consideration it leaves me at a point where I do not feel that
Socrates’ original argument is successful because his argument does not
convince me that his claim that ‘virtue is knowledge’ is correct. I would go so
far as to say he hasn’t even fully convinced himself given he later says “So,
Meno, it seems that the result of our reasoning is that virtue comes by the
gift of the gods – if it comes at all. But we shall only know the clear truth
about virtue when – before we ask in what way virtue comes to humans – we try
to answer the question about virtue itself: what virtue actually is.” (p.56
100b). As I have already highlighted his argument has a number of flaws and I
feel there are too many unanswered questions as well as some (in my opinion)
illogical conclusions that have been drawn. My thoughts on this may well be due
to societal changes and developments which lead me to see the world very
differently now in 2020 to how it would have been at the time of this dialogue
or it may be because I have had the opportunity to read and research so many
other philosophers points of view and arguments that I feel have more strength.
There are many contributing factors as to why I believe that Socrates is
mistaken which I plan to further explore in future research and essays. At this
point though I am confident that in the Meno Socrates argument is not
successful.
*Essay written by me in 2019 for my MA studies
Bibliography
Aristotle, Nicomachean Ethics, Book 2,
trans. T. H. Irwin (1999) Indianapolis, Hackett.
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[Online], trans. H. Rackham (1926) MA, Harvard University Press. Available at
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Hursthouse, R. (2001) On Virtue Ethics,
Oxford, Oxford University Press.
McCabe, M. M. (2009) ‘Escaping one’s own notice
knowing: Meno’s paradox again’, Proceedings Of The Aristotelian Society,
vol. 109, no. 1pt3, pp. 233–56, Academic Search Complete, EBSCOhost, viewed 14
April 2017.
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(trans. S.G. Chappell (2019)), Open University [Online], Available at https://learn2.open.ac.uk/pluginfile.php/2707015/mod_resource/content/2/Block%202%20Platos%20Meno_e2i1_web081286.pdf (accessed
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Plato's Protagoras : Translation, Commentary, and Appendices, Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, 2010.
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Harvard University Press. Available at Loeb Classical Library Online (Accessed
27 July 2017.)
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Taylor (2006) Oxford, Oxford University Press.
Plato's Meno: The Geometry Lesson. You Tube video added by Geannikis,
Erikk. Available
at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yqDoLdmcyZo
(Accessed 19/01/2020)
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Ethics: A Pluralistic View, Oxford, Oxford University Press.
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(accessed 01/01/2020)
Waterfield, R (2005) Plato Meno and Other Dialogues, Oxford, Oxford
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Cave: Moral Inquiry in Plato’s Meno, Oxford, Oxford University Press.
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trans. G. E. M. Anscombe (1967) Berkeley, University of
California Press.
Sunday, 13 September 2020
Taking a tour of artists studios | Devon Open Studios 2020
I went out and saw some amazing studios by very talented artists, below you will be able to see some photos of the places i visited. I wish i could have fitted in more visits and hope to be able to find time to get to some more in the next two weeks. I found talking to the artists and seeing the spaces in which they work very inspiring.
I had seen some of Liese's work online and was drawn to visit by her use of vibrant colours which she applys in a bold and striking way. I got to see some of Liese's older watercolour work too which i loved and i purchased a small print of one of her pieces that i fell in love with. I really love her way of working and her little studio at the bottom of her garden was brilliant! If you are looking for a vibrant colourful piece to brighten up your home or office then i highly recommend a visit! You won't be disappointed.
WOW. Wow was my first response to walking into this studio. I honest don't think i've ever seen a more beautiful studio in my entire life. Jo works in a converted outhouse that overlooks rolling hills. Her use of the space is fantastic and letting us see her raw studio space with all her art materials out on show was just fantastic and so inspiring. Looking at Jo's artwork i felt like i was in a London art gallery, her work is truly breathtaking. I love her style, her use of colour and movement. I really wanted a particular piece which unfortunately was out of my budget but i will be sure to save up and go back as i have the perfect spot for it among the various artwork i have at home (my house is full of artwork by local artists, you can read more about that here). I would highly recommend visit Jo's studio if you can you will likely come away totally inspired like i was. If you are looking for a very special piece for your home, office or as a present for someone special then you really must visit.
Victoria is actually next to me in the online brochure (i'm venue 37) and so i wanted to try and get to visit. Unfortunately she wasn't there to meet and it wasn't in her studio but in a set up space, however it was well worth a visit to see her beautiful work. Victoria's work to me is very soft and calm, i love her way of depicting views in a serene and thought provoking way.
You can find out more about Devon Artist Network and the Devon Open Studios here
Find out about my Devon Open Studios showcase and opening times here
*I would just like to mention that all were brilliantly COVID safe. We wore masks when visiting, there was sanitizer available and all were in open ventilated spaces. We felt very safe.
Saturday, 12 September 2020
Sculpture Artist Wanted
If you create sculptures suitable for outdoor display and live in the Seaton, Devon area we could be looking for you.
At Devon Art Supplies in Seaton we showcase work by artists in our shop and studio. Adjoining the studio is a small courtyard garden which a number of visitors have mentioned would be great for displaying sculptures and garden ornaments for sale. We've taken on board the request and thought we would first reach out to you our community to see if there is anyone local that creates garden sculptures or ornaments that they would like to display / sell here at 30 Queen Street, Seaton.
If you are interested please contact kabriggs@hotmail.co.uk, 01297 624246 or pop in and see us.