Stephen Law

For the American lawyer and author, see Stephen Dodd Law.
Stephen Law

Born Cambridge, England, United Kingdom
Alma mater City University London
Trinity College, Oxford
The Queen's College, Oxford
Era Contemporary philosophy
Region Western philosophy
School Analytic philosophy

Stephen Law is an English philosopher and senior lecturer at Heythrop College, University of London. He also edits the philosophical journal Think,[1] which is published by the Royal Institute of Philosophy[2] and aimed at the general public. Law currently lives in Oxford, England, with his wife and two daughters. He is a Fellow of The Royal Society of Arts and Commerce, and in 2008 became the Provost of the Centre for Inquiry UK.[3] Law has published both a variety of academic papers and more popular, introductory books (including three children's philosophy books). Law has debated many Christian apologists, theologians and scientists, including William Lane Craig, Alvin Plantinga, Alister McGrath, John Lennox and Denis Alexander.

Academic history

Stephen Law attended Long Road Sixth Form College, in Cambridge, England. However, having been "asked to leave",[4][5] he began his working life as a postman. At 24 he successfully managed to persuade City University in London to accept him for the BSc in Philosophy, despite his lack of A levels. There he managed to achieve a first class honours, allowing him to move on to Trinity College, Oxford, to read for a B.Phil in Philosophy. He was also for three years a Junior Research Fellow at The Queen's College, Oxford, where he obtained a doctorate in Philosophy.

Law has published academic papers on a variety of topics including Wittgenstein, modality, and philosophy of mind (for example, "Loar's Defence of Physicalism", Ratio 2004). His most recent focus is on philosophy of religion. Recent publications include:

The Great Philosophers

The Great Philosophers: The Lives and Ideas of History's Greatest Thinkers was published in 2008. It covers 50 "great thinkers" but very briefly with only a few pages for each. It is a brief introduction for readers with little previous knowledge of philosophy.

The Philosophy Gym

Law's book The Philosophy Gym is an introduction to philosophical thinking aimed at adults. It covers twenty-five philosophical questions, chosen for their relevance to today's society. The book aims for accessibility. This is often done, as in "What's wrong with gay sex?", by putting the question into a theatrical script.

The German version of The Philosophy Gym won the first Mindelheim Philosophy Prize in 2009.[6]

Chapter list

The War for Children's Minds

The War for Children's Minds

Law's The War for Children's Minds discusses different approaches to moral and religious education. The book was written as a response to academic and more popular tabloid calls for a less relativist morality in schools, justified by the West's current "moral malaise" and the rise of moral and cultural relativism. Law disagrees with these arguments, concluding that there is, in fact, every reason to be very liberal indeed in our approach to moral and religious education, so long as "liberal" is properly understood. He aims to "nail" certain widespread anti-liberal myths, including the myth that the Enlightenment was responsible for the Holocaust, that liberals are moral relativists, and so on. While not opposing faith schools, Law nevertheless recommends certain basic minimum standards that all schools should be expected to meet, such as encouraging an open, questioning attitude in pupils regarding moral and religious issues. Phillip Pullman said about the book, "should be read by every teacher, every parent, and every politician." The book was widely featured in the media, including on the BBC Radio 4 Today programme.

Works

References

  1. ↑ Think
  2. ↑ The Royal Institute of Philosophy
  3. ↑ Centre for Inquiry UK
  4. ↑ Underhill, William. "Stephen Law: Philosopher of 'Believing Bullshit'". Newsweek. Retrieved 31 January 2016.
  5. ↑ Steel, Mel. "Asking all the right questions". The Guardian. Retrieved 31 January 2016.
  6. ↑ Mindelheim Philosophy Prize

External links

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