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Ethical Record The ISSN 0014-1690 Ethical Record Vol. 93 No. 5 MAY 1988 Some Questions of Historical, Philosophical, Practical and "Future" Ethics EDITORIAL were many Ethical questions: con- Or Why the Editor nected with human rights (who or Could Not Sleep what "state" has the right to "dis- The Night of the 17th appear" people?); land tenure; en- titlement to power and riches; con- ACTIVITYat The South Place Ethical cerning some of the psycho-mentali- Society has recently been increasing. ties often dominant in society? The range of matters under considera- Again, how are we to sort out the tion expands. Sometimes it seems human ability to dodge issues by the there are too many Ethical concerns "clever" use of language? (eg Ralph confronting us! But perhaps that fact Wood suggested there had to be a reflects a need in society and gives us basic "symbiosis" between Humanism an excellent reason for what we are and christianity). Does he thereby doing: claim, by implication, the right to in- Study and Disseminate Ethical culcate that nonsense of dependence Principles; Cultivate a Rationai on an invisible, mythical and impos- Way of Life; and, Advance sible "being" (who, in particular, looks Education in Fields Relevant to after those who believe in "his" these Objects. existence! ). This issue has Historical material Neither the good explanations he and analyses on HOBBES,BYRON and gave of the unacceptability of the Fox, as well as on the 1930's period. "science" and other glaring miscon- These studies also cover many Philo- ceptions in the bible, nor his "praise" sophical and Practical issues. for Humanists makes the "double- On Sunday, April 17 JAMESPAINTER takes" of language used by those "tabled" struggles, dilemmas, and in- proselytising for religion acceptable. humanities in Central America, par- As well as these "practical" aspects ticularly in Guatemala. In the after- of Ethics—most of which, of course, noon some 50 people came to a SPES require serial discussions and ex- Forum to hear about and discuss changes in addition to individual lec- Fundamentalism in the USA with tures — two weekly courses were RALPHW000—a Baptist—(summaries started at Conway Hall in the previous of both these lectures will be published week : on Tuesdays PETER HEALES in the Ethical Record in due course). elucidates the thoughts and meanings From those two sessions alone there [Continued on page 2 CONTENTS Page Coming to Conway Hall..... 21, 22 Thomas Hobbes 400th Anniversary: PETERHEALES . 3 A Note on Byron-1788 to 1824: T. F. EVANS . 5 The Achievement of the "Thirties": JIM FYRTH . 8 The Political Radicalism of W. 1. Fox: MILESTAYLOR . 11 Viewpoints: ConceptlWord Definitions: BOB AWBERY,DAVID IBRY 18 The views expressed in this journal are not necessarily those of the Society. Published by the South Place Ethical Society Conway Hall, Red Lion Square, Londom SOUTH PLACE ETHICAL SOCIETY The Humanist Centre9Conway Hall 25 Red Lion Square, London WC1R4RL. Telephone: 01-831 7723 Hall Lettings: 01-242 8032. Lobby: 01-405 4125 Appointed Lecturers: Harold Blackham, Fenner Brockway, Richard Clements, OBE, T. F. Evans, Peter Heales, Richard Scorer Barbara Smoker, Harry Stopes-Roe, Nicholas Walter. Trustees: Harold Blackham, Sam Beer, Christine Bondi, Louise Booker, John Brown, Anthony Chapman, Frank Hawkins, Peter Heales, George Hutchinson, Ray Lovecy, Ian MacKillop, Victor Rose, Barbara Smoker, Harry Stopes-Roe. Honorary Representative: Barbara Smoker. Chairman General Committee: Norman Bacrac. Deputy Chairman: Louise Booker. Honorary Registrar: Alice Marshall. Honorary Treasurer: Don Liversedge. Secretary: Nicholas Hyman. Hall Manager: Geoffrey Austin. Honorary Librarian: Sam Beer. Editor, The Ethical Record Peter Hunot. General Committee: The Officers and Jim Addison, Richard Benjamin, Eda Collins, Govind Deodhekar, Lionel Elton (Concerts Committee Chairman), Joan Freedman, Martin Harris, Terry Mullins, Les Warren, David Wright. The Ethical Record is posted free to members. The annual charge to Subscribers is £4. Matter for publication shmild reach the Editor, Peter Hunot, 17 Anson Road, London N7 ORB (01-609 2677) no later than the first of the month for publication in the following month's issue. Continued from page 1] DORIS LESSING, in her latest novel* now turning to a kind of Science of philosophers and others under the Fiction, suggested to her interviewer title From Hobbes to Humanism; and, On television, BRIAN ALDISS (April on Thursday evenings, the Society's 17), that there must be an evolution- Secretary, NICHOLAS HYMAN covers ary "purpose" (or, rather, a reason questions on views of the Future on for its existence) in our ability to Utopias, Science Fiction, Catastrophes. "dream-up" how things might evolve: At the first meeting of this latter of the future. class, he drew our attention in par- Then there is that little matter of ticular to the chapter in News From human intelligence (our brains are Nowhere (WILLIAM MoRats) dealing so large that a great part of our meta- with an analysis of the ways the bolism is needed to keep them going). "changes" in Morris' depicted society Recent, evolving theory suggests the came about—a chapter many might large size perhaps arose from the com- ignore. plexity of dealing with each other. Books from those supplied on loan That quality will surely be in much by the London University Extra Mural demand as contacts amongst us multi- Department (with whom SPES co- ply and the complexity of our society operates to run the classes) help to increases. But how is "intelligence" highlight many ideas down the centu- to be both defined and assessed? What ries. You may have heard of PLATO, are the Ethical implications of some MORE, BACON, BELLAMY, MORRIS, of the more autocratic and hierarchi- WELLS HUXLEY, but how about cal theories (would MENSA members CAMPANELLA, ANDREAE, HARRINGTON,be more able to solve Ethical issues?). MALLOCK, HUDSON, CADET, PEMBER- Utopias often involve science; and TON, HOWELLS, KENDALL and many scientists themselves have to use im- others, past and present? Are any of the ideas suitable for our present • Conipus in Argos. condition? [Continued on page 21 2 Ethical Record, May 1988 THOMAS HOBBES—BORN 1588 The 400th Anniversary PETER HEALES, an Appointed Lecturer and Trustee contributes this appreciation of Hobbes for the occasion. Peter Heales Lectured on Hobbes on Sunday February 13, 1983—a summary of which was published in the November/December 1983 issue, page 7. "In fifteen hundred eighty eight, Old Style, When the Armada did invade our Islc, Call 'd Invincible; whose freight was then, Nothing but Murd'ring Steel, and Murd'ring Men; Most of which Navy was disperst, or lost, And had the Fate to Perish on our Coast: April the fifth (though now with age outworn) I, th'early Spring, I a poor worm, was born." Thus begins a translation of the Latin verse Life which THOMAS HOBBES wrote when he was 84 years old. It is four hundred years this April since Hobbes' mother gave premature birth to her second son after hearing news of the threatened invasion. Hobbes often said that he had been "born of fear" His father was rector of Westport, over the river from Malmesbury JOHN AUBREY described him as an ignorant priest who had to escape into obscurity after punching a fellow clergyman in a quarrel. Fortunately, young Thomas had an uncle who, as a successful glover in Malmesbury, could afford to pay for a good education. After obtaining his degree at Oxford, Hobbes entered the service of the young Earl of Devonshire. His role was that of companion-tutor. He was to share the vigorous and youthful pursuits of his master and provide intellectual stimulus at appropriate times. That he should not lose his learning, he made a point of always carrying a book with him so that he could use profitably the many idle hours he spent waiting on the pleasure of the Earl. He was not, however, a prodigious reader. He preferred to read a little and think deeply about what he had read, for as he was wont to say: "Had I read as much as other men, I should have known no more than other men". Hobbes was Bacon's Secretary As a young man, Hobbes knew Sir FRANCIS BACON. Bacon particularly liked to have him working as his secretary because he always seemed to understand the ideas he wrote at dictation. Hobbes was therefore present at the birth of the ideas which set the English scientific revolution in motion. They were the starting point of his own philosophy. As time went on, he found more time to study and to write. His published works attracted much attention and also much hostility. Even after the Restora- tion, when as an old man he had the respect of the King, his position was by no means secure. His later books were published in Amsterdam as a precaution against public backlash. He felt that he deserved membership of the Royal Society. Although he had much support, his opponents thwarted him. Until he finally had to retire from London, he was frequently at court, but appears to have been an object of fun among the younger courtiers, who treated him as a "bear to be baited". Throughout this time he appears to have been suffering from Parkinson's disease; he could not write legibly and needed an amanuensis. He spent his last years in the Devonshire household, and died in his ninety-second year at Hardwick Hall in Derbyshire. The work by which he is best known is Leviathan. Hobbes opposed CROMWELL'S revolution but his arguments displeased the king. He had to retire to Paris where he became well known to the future Charles II. Leviathan is much greater than the political cause which gave it birth.
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