Philosophers being offensive

If philosophers want to be really offensive, at least do it with style.

I’m reminded of a story about my favourite Cambridge philosopher, C.D. Broad. Not entirely a nice man.

A long time colleague of his at Trinity was the organic chemist Frederick Mann, whom Broad evidently thought an uncultured dullard. One evening at High Table, Broad finds himself unfortunately sitting opposite Mann. Broad beams cherubically. Pauses. And, to no-one in particular, sighs “Ah, where every prospect pleases …”.

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