Utopias, Dolphins and Computers - Problems in Philosophical Plumbing

Why do the big philosophical questions so often strike us as far-fetched and little to do with everyday life? Mary Midgley shows that there is a need for philosophy in the real world.In Utopias, Dolphins and Computers Mary Midgley looks at the chronic difficulties of thinking straight about large-scale problems. What has been described as her 'clarity, warmth of tone and gentle wit' leads us towards a solution; philosophy, she argues, offers a way to solve some highly contemporary problems. How can we bring philosophy into the real world? By using it to consider issues such as environmental sustainability; educational ones such as the separation of teaching from research; and gender problems such as the kind of autonomy women are aiming for. From 'Freedom, Feminism and War' to 'Artificial Intelligence and Creativity', this book searches for what is distorting our judgement and helps us to see more clearly the dramas which are unfolding in the world around us.