Prof Bob Davis
@rokewood.bsky.social
Prof of Religious & Cultural Education, University of Glasgow. Chair of Philosophy of Education Soc. Religion, Myth, Arts, Humanities, Music, Education, football, birds. We’ve 3 sons—‘the crow makes wing to the rooky wood’—all posts etc personal
Absolutely fabulous. Revenge!!!!
November 27, 2025 at 8:02 PM
Absolutely fabulous. Revenge!!!!
Reposted by Prof Bob Davis
@elliechan.bsky.social is very impressive!
November 25, 2025 at 8:25 AM
@elliechan.bsky.social is very impressive!
& in all my anthropological travels I’ve found no credible evidence of knowledge systems reaching back 30k years.
I’d also want us to caution listeners that the passion for ‘deep time’ has been put also to dangerously regressive, nihilistic & destructive ends. Discussed recently here
I’d also want us to caution listeners that the passion for ‘deep time’ has been put also to dangerously regressive, nihilistic & destructive ends. Discussed recently here
November 26, 2025 at 12:30 PM
& in all my anthropological travels I’ve found no credible evidence of knowledge systems reaching back 30k years.
I’d also want us to caution listeners that the passion for ‘deep time’ has been put also to dangerously regressive, nihilistic & destructive ends. Discussed recently here
I’d also want us to caution listeners that the passion for ‘deep time’ has been put also to dangerously regressive, nihilistic & destructive ends. Discussed recently here
A conversation this rich bound to stimulate many responses. I’d flag initially—
OOO seems to me at the less pernicious end of our fashion for ‘anthropofugal’ epistemologies & ethics.
I retain my scepticism about that Western construct ‘indigeneity’ & its frequently romantic selectivity ..
OOO seems to me at the less pernicious end of our fashion for ‘anthropofugal’ epistemologies & ethics.
I retain my scepticism about that Western construct ‘indigeneity’ & its frequently romantic selectivity ..
November 26, 2025 at 12:29 PM
A conversation this rich bound to stimulate many responses. I’d flag initially—
OOO seems to me at the less pernicious end of our fashion for ‘anthropofugal’ epistemologies & ethics.
I retain my scepticism about that Western construct ‘indigeneity’ & its frequently romantic selectivity ..
OOO seems to me at the less pernicious end of our fashion for ‘anthropofugal’ epistemologies & ethics.
I retain my scepticism about that Western construct ‘indigeneity’ & its frequently romantic selectivity ..
Since stones & history were central to the discussion, I’m sorry we never got to Jon Cannon’s new book. 1 for Christmas ☺️
November 26, 2025 at 12:27 PM
Since stones & history were central to the discussion, I’m sorry we never got to Jon Cannon’s new book. 1 for Christmas ☺️
Depends entirely on the system & the schools. The UK has multiple systems across the 4 jurisdictions. Our book & ESRC project may be showing its age now, but we captured a great deal up close
November 25, 2025 at 8:16 PM
Depends entirely on the system & the schools. The UK has multiple systems across the 4 jurisdictions. Our book & ESRC project may be showing its age now, but we captured a great deal up close
Reposted by Prof Bob Davis
But those of us who study cultural history ( hopefully!) can’t avoid it. None of Mozart, Haydn, Poulenc, Dvorak, Morales etc etc make any sense without understanding the religious-political-cultural assumptions that underpin their creations
November 25, 2025 at 6:25 PM
But those of us who study cultural history ( hopefully!) can’t avoid it. None of Mozart, Haydn, Poulenc, Dvorak, Morales etc etc make any sense without understanding the religious-political-cultural assumptions that underpin their creations
Reposted by Prof Bob Davis
Yes, this is a big problem for historical writing today: fewer & fewer students have much awareness of or sensitivity to the central cultural system of the periods they study. It's not a conscious bias, more what Weber called being "religious unmusical": they can't hear/recognise the tunes playing.
November 25, 2025 at 6:22 PM
Yes, this is a big problem for historical writing today: fewer & fewer students have much awareness of or sensitivity to the central cultural system of the periods they study. It's not a conscious bias, more what Weber called being "religious unmusical": they can't hear/recognise the tunes playing.
It was for a sizeable part of my academic career delegitimised in academia too, despite the warnings from me & many others.
Then it came back with a bang. Two bangs.
But the so-called ‘return of religion’ to academic study is a fraught business too in highlighting widespread religious illiteracy
Then it came back with a bang. Two bangs.
But the so-called ‘return of religion’ to academic study is a fraught business too in highlighting widespread religious illiteracy
November 25, 2025 at 6:18 PM
It was for a sizeable part of my academic career delegitimised in academia too, despite the warnings from me & many others.
Then it came back with a bang. Two bangs.
But the so-called ‘return of religion’ to academic study is a fraught business too in highlighting widespread religious illiteracy
Then it came back with a bang. Two bangs.
But the so-called ‘return of religion’ to academic study is a fraught business too in highlighting widespread religious illiteracy
And here is the great Simon Schaffer discussing it 42 years ago
youtu.be/GvW_Y9sw6hk
youtu.be/GvW_Y9sw6hk
Isaac Newton: His life and Work - Simon Schaffer 1983
YouTube video by Imperial College London
youtu.be
November 25, 2025 at 1:18 PM
And here is the great Simon Schaffer discussing it 42 years ago
youtu.be/GvW_Y9sw6hk
youtu.be/GvW_Y9sw6hk
1 alternative response? No, in 2025 it is not in the least surprising that our greatest scientist, Isaac Newton, was preoccupied by the ‘Renaissance esoteric’. We’ve been discussing it for decades
November 25, 2025 at 1:13 PM
1 alternative response? No, in 2025 it is not in the least surprising that our greatest scientist, Isaac Newton, was preoccupied by the ‘Renaissance esoteric’. We’ve been discussing it for decades