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Nikhil Krishnan

A Terribly Serious Adventure: Philosophy at Oxford 1900-60

A Terribly Serious Adventure: Philosophy at Oxford 1900-60

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  • More about A Terribly Serious Adventure: Philosophy at Oxford 1900-60

In mid-twentieth-century Britain, philosophers such as Gilbert Ryle, J. L. Austin, Elizabeth Anscombe, and Iris Murdoch sought to bring philosophy closer to everyday life through a new level of watchfulness and self-awareness about language. A Terribly Serious Adventure explores the friendships, rivalries, shared preoccupations, and passionate disagreements of Oxford's most brilliant thinkers, who drew on their wartime experiences as soldiers, spies, conscientious objectors, and prisoners of war to create their greatest works.

Format: Hardback
Length: 416 pages
Publication date: 16 March 2023
Publisher: Profile Books Ltd


In the mid-twentieth century, a period marked by war and the rise of fascism, philosophers in Britain grappled with profound questions about language, philosophy, and the nature of good human beings. Responding to these challenging times, thinkers like Gilbert Ryle, J. L. Austin, Elizabeth Anscombe, and Iris Murdoch sought to cultivate a heightened sense of awareness and self-reflection regarding language. They believed that being vigilant about their words was essential to keeping philosophy relevant to everyday experiences.

A Terribly Serious Adventure delves into the lives and intellectual achievements of the most brilliant thinkers at Oxford. Contrary to the stereotype of tweed-clad scholars, these philosophers drew upon their wartime experiences as soldiers, spies, conscientious objectors, and prisoners of war to create their greatest works. Their creations, original in thought and style, are considered true masterpieces of British modernism.

Nikhil Krishnan, in his book, brings his deep knowledge and understanding of philosophy to life, illuminating the lives and intellectual journeys of a diverse cast of characters. Together, they embodied a compelling moral vision of philosophy that continues to resonate with us today. Through their stories, Krishnan invites readers to explore the boundaries of language, the relationship between philosophy and everyday life, and the essence of what it means to be a good human being.

Weight: 644g
Dimension: 242 x 163 x 39 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781800812369
Edition number: Main

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