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Philosophy at Cambridge Newsletter of the Faculty of Philosophy Philosophy at Cambridge Newsletter of the Faculty of Philosophy Issue 2 May 2005 From the Chairman “It’s the newspapers I can’t stand” Onora O’Neill The Newsletter again, and so soon. On behalf of all of us here thanks to those One of Tom Stoppard’s characters Appeals to rights to self-expression who sent us messages of encouragement explained to another: “I’m with you also won’t justify unconditional press after last year’s, and to those who have on the free press. It’s the newspapers I freedom. John Stuart Mill argued that contributed to the production of this one. can’t stand.” It is a thought many of individual freedom of expression We have for some years been aware us have had. Are grisly newspapers an should be limited only by requirements of gradually rising student numbers in inevitable cost of press freedom? If so, not to harm others, and then claimed the Cambridge Philosophy Tripos, why have British newspapers earned the same right for the press. The fuelled by a steady rise in the number of worse reputations than those in other analogy is unconvincing. Individuals applications. But recently the steady rise countries where the press is free? Are who are cavalier about accuracy may has become a flood, resulting in a arguments for press freedom beyond do little harm (even so, there are laws statistic that some will find startling: challenge? What exactly do the best against libel, slander and inciting there are more applications to of them show? Do any of them show hatred). Powerful organisations – Cambridge for Philosophy than for that press freedom is unconditional? governments, businesses – that are Computer Science. And when it comes Four arguments for press freedom cavalier about accuracy can do great to ratios of applications to admissions are in common use. One is harm. We don’t permit companies to in the University Philosophy is very jurisprudential: it simply appeals to invent their balance sheets, or public close to the top – only Architecture is constitutional or other authorities authorities their accounts and reports. significantly higher, Economics, Law that proclaim rights to a free press, If powerful media conglomerates have and the Vet School, with their obvious such as the First Amendment to the unconditional freedom of expression vocational emphasis, are slightly higher, US Constitution (“Congress shall they will be free to be cavalier about and no other Arts subject is near. This make no law abridging the freedom accuracy, to harm others and to of course brings problems, and they of the press”) and Article 10 of the undermine democracy. remain problems even though we can European Convention on Human Appeals to democracy also won’t take satisfaction in their very existence. Rights (clause 1; but note clause 2!). justify unconditional press freedom, It becomes particularly important to Unfortunately, arguments from since democracy needs a press that maintain staffing numbers in spite of the authority don’t provide deep informs citizens accurately. However, current tightening of the University’s justifications. if requirements for accurate reporting belt – for which our fundraising project Other arguments go deeper. Press are too tightly drawn, the press will has obvious relevance. freedom has been variously defended be intimidated. Nobody can be sure That project is now gaining as necessary for discovering truth, as of getting everything right – even with momentum. And there is one clear piece analogous to individual rights of self- zealous ‘fact checking’. So a press that of good news in the establishment by expression, and as required for serves rather than damages Trinity and Churchill Colleges of a joint democracy. None of these lines of democracy needs to aim for accuracy: College teaching post. So despite present thought justifies unconditional press we can require truthfulness, but not financial restrictions we have every freedom. truth. This standard can be met by reason to be cheerful. Appeals to truth seeking won’t providing evidence, by including Well before the next Newsletter justify unconditional press freedom caveats and qualifications, by prompt appears the Faculty will have a new because, as Bernard Williams points correction of error, by distinguishing chairman, Professor Jane Heal. So, out in Truth and Truthfulness, “in reporting from commentary, rumour wishing everyone all the best and hoping institutions dedicated to finding out and gossip. These and other forms of to see many of you at the Alumni the truth, such as universities, epistemic responsibility allow readers Weekend in September, I sign off. research institutes, and courts of law, to judge for themselves. speech is not at all unregulated.” Any Ostensibly the British Press is Edward Craig FBA search for truth needs structures and committed to accuracy. It is the first Knightbridge Professor of Philosophy disciplines, and is undermined by demand in the Press Complaints Chairman of the Philosophy Faculty casual disregard of accuracy or Commission’s Code. But good Board evidence. Unconditional freedom is reporting is a public good, not a not optimal for truth-seeking. continued on page 8 Philosophy at Cambridge page 1 May 2005 Cambridge Conferences The 2004 Annual Royal Institute of Philosophy Conference In July 2004, the Royal Institute of support of the Faculty of Philosophy and University Press, under the auspices of Philosophy annual conference was held in the Analysis Trust. the Royal Institute of Philosophy. Cambridge for the first time. I organised A volume based on the conference, the conference, together with Ross which will also include further Harrison, and the theme was ‘Preference- contributions, will be published as a Serena Olsaretti, University Lecturer in Formation and Well-Being’. The idea was special issue of Philosophy and as a self- Philosophy to bring together moral philosophers, standing volume by Cambridge political philosophers and philosophers of economics to address a number of questions concerning the formation of Postgraduate Conference preferences and its relevance for theories of well-being. This was both a timely and The 8th Annual National Postgraduate graduate work in analytic philosophy under-explored topic. In various debates Analytic Philosophy Conference was held today. Professor Onora O’Neill FBA, in moral and political philosophy, at Magdalene College, Cambridge, in July provided a keynote address to preferences are thought to have 2004. The Conference consisted of complete the three-day event. A large normative significance. For example, thirteen papers presented by graduates number of philosophy graduate their satisfaction is said to contribute to from across Britain and the US. Over students from all over the world met on individuals’ well-being; and the choices eighty submissions were received and this occasion making the event a great that people make in line with their thirteen were selected as the very best in success. preferences – such as the choice to pursue a costly goal or ambition – are said to legitimately justify inequalities. Mathematical Knowledge Conference In all these debates, it is assumed that the preferences individuals aim to satisfy, Goldbach’s conjecture (every even in part as a result of the high level of and make choices on the basis of, are number greater than two is the sum of interest in the philosophy of mathematics ‘authentic’ preferences, formed under two primes) has been confirmed for all amongst Cambridge mathematicians. some but not other conditions (for numbers less than 1016. Should that Since 2002, the Cambridge University example, that they are not preferences count as evidence that it is likely to be Society for the Philosophy of formed under hypnosis); or that they are true? What can the behaviour of Mathematics and Mathematical Sciences not ‘adaptive’, in the sense that they adolescent monkeys tell us about the (CUSPOMMS) has been holding should not be preferences formed in nature of mathematics? These were fortnightly seminars on the philosophy of stifling circumstances under which people amongst many questions addressed at mathematics in the Centre for come to prefer what is readily available the conference on ‘Mathematical Mathematical Sciences, organized by over what is not. In other words, these Knowledge’, held at Fitzwilliam College undergraduate mathematicians and various debates assume some account of in the summer 2004. This philosophers. These seminars have preference-formation. Nonetheless, interdisciplinary conference, organized regularly attracted large audiences of despite the central importance of by Dominic Gregory, Mary Leng, mathematicians and philosophers, and accounts of preference-formation, there is Alexander Paseau and Michael Potter, showed the potential for fruitful relatively little sustained and explicit aimed at bringing together interactions between both groups, based discussion of them. The conference was mathematicians, philosophers, and on a shared fascination with the nature of intended to initiate such a discussion. psychologists to present their mathematics. We were delighted to have, as our perspectives on questions concerning The conference was well attended by speakers, Richard Arneson (University of mathematical knowledge. 98 delegates from 16 countries, California, San Diego), Johan Brännmark Our invited speakers thus included representing disciplines including (University of Lund, Sweden), Daniel two mathematicians (set theorist philosophy, mathematics, psychology, Hausman (University of Wisconsin), Akihiro
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