Podcast: Richard Gunn and Murdo MacDonald talk about The Democratic Intellect

Scotland has always had a distinctive approach to higher education. From the inauguration of its first universities, the accent has been on first principles. This unified the approach to knowledge – even of mathematics and science – through a broad, philosophical interpretation.
This generalist tradition, contrasting with the specialism of the two English universities, Oxford and Cambridge, stood Scotland in good stead. It characterised its intellectual life, even into the nineteenth century, when economic, social and political pressures enforced an increasing conformity to English models. George Davie’s account of the history of these movements, and of the great personalities involved, has proved seminal in restoring to Scotland a sense of cultural identity.
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29th June 2013: Common Sense by Richard Gunn

On Saturday June 29th from 2 – 4pm in the Central library in Edinburgh, please join us for an afternoon with Richard Gunn who will be telling us about Common Sense

Name of speaker and subject:

Richard Gunn – Common Sense

Title of talk:

Scottish Common Sense Philosophy and its Implications

Article on Common Sense by Richard Gunn

My article falls into three parts. In the first, I attempt to answer such questions as “What is Scottish commom sense philosophy?” and “What, in the history of philosophy, does the term ‘common sense’ mean?”. That’s to say, my first section comments on the concept of common sense; in addition, it comments on ‘common sense’ as a term in the history of ideas.

My second section offers some thoughts on common sense and education. In particular, it asks why the notions of common sense and “general” education appear to be linked. Read more…

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