UK politics — Philosophy for Life | Blog | Philosophy | Wisdom | Spirituality

Learning to live with COVID

Epidemiologists and public health experts have tended to suggest that the way out of this pandemic labyrinth is to find a vaccine. But could that be just the beginning of another dispute?

Politics, UK politicsJules EvansMarch 15, 2020Comment

Brexit and the global genetic arms race

For Brexit architect Dominic Cummings, the real prize of Brexit is to position the UK as a leader in a global genetics arms race.

Genetics, UK politicsJules EvansNovember 1, 2019Comment

Trans identity and moral panic: a reader responds

In response to my last post, ‘Is there a trans bubble?’, a trans queer person called Kate, who is a regular reader, got in touch to say that she disagreed with some of my points. Here’s Kate’s response, followed by some questions from me and answers from her.

UK politics, WisdomJules EvansApril 6, 2019Comment

The best of times, the worst of times

This is the best time ever to be alive and human. Global life expectancy has doubled in the last century, from 31 to 71. A century ago, 20% of babies died in childbirth, now it's less than 7%. You're far, far less likely to die violently than in the Middle Ages, the 19th century, or even in the 1960s.

There's a difference between making noise and making change

It is quite easy to make noise in our culture. The internet and online media are like a giant echo chamber, and within a few days one angry tweet can turn into an ear-splitting feedback scream of indignation. Because of that, we can become entirely focused on making noise in our culture - getting retweeted, getting on the news, getting publicity somehow or other.

Stoicism, UK politicsJules EvansNovember 22, 2014 Comments

World Mental Health Day: reasons to be cheerful

There are lots of reasons to be anxious at the moment: the recession, ISIS, ebola, the rise of far right parties across Europe. But there's one big reason to be cheerful, and to be proud of UK public policy: mental health.

UK politics, well-being measurements, Wellbeing classes, WisdomJules EvansOctober 10, 2014 Comment

Further thoughts on philosophy in prisons (from a rank amateur)

Yesterday I finished a pilot course in practical philosophy at Low Moss prison. It’s an eight-session course that introduces people to the ideas and life-philosophies of various ancient philosophers, including Socrates, the Stoics, Plato, Rumi, the Buddha, Jesus and Lao Tzu. I've been running it in partnership with New College Lanarkshire, which runs the learning courses in west Scottish prisons.

Community philosophy, UK politics, Wellbeing classes, WisdomJules EvansMarch 29, 2014 Comments

Where are the ethics in Cummings' Odyssean education?

Dominic Cummings, Michael Gove's special advisor, has penned a 237-page Jerry Maguire-style memo, a few weeks before leaving office, which outlines his vision for England and Wales to become a sort of 'school to the world', much as Pericles suggested Athens should be.

Education policy, UK politics, UncategorizedJules EvansOctober 14, 2013 Comments

Philosophy for life (and other sentences)

I’ll admit it, I was slightly nervous. I’d been invited to give a philosophy workshop in HMP Dumfries, a prison in west Scotland. Plummy-voiced and puny-framed Englishman that I am, I wasn’t sure what they’d make of me. Mincemeat, maybe. Anyway, I figured it was a low-security prison, otherwise they wouldn’t be inviting philosophers to give workshops, right?

The great PTSD conundrum

Why do 20% of American soldiers develop Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), and only 3-5% of British soldiers? It’s one of the great conundrums of contemporary psychology / psychiatry - and one of the most contentious, touching as it does on sensitive issues of our countries’ moral characters, and how well our governments care for their soldiers.

military, PTSD, UK politicsJules EvansJuly 19, 2013 Comment

David Clark on Improving Access for Psychological Therapy (IAPT)

Five years ago, the British government launched a mental health initiative called Improving Access for Psychological Therapy (IAPT), which hugely expanded the provision of talking therapies within the National Health Service, with the aim of getting therapy for depression and anxiety to just under one million adults a year.

CBT, Politics of Well-Being, UK politics, UncategorizedJules EvansMay 31, 2013 Comments

Five years of IAPT (Improving Access for Psychological Therapies)

It’s been five years since the launch of the government’s flagship mental health programme, Improving Access for Psychological Therapies (IAPT).

How arts and humanities can influence public policy

I've just been at a three-day seminar at the Institute for Government, funded by the Arts and Humanities Research Council, to help academics learn how to influence public policy. The seminar brought together 15 academics in disciplines ranging from literary criticism to design and urban planning.

Academia, Adult education, CBT, Education policy, UK politics, Uncategorized, well-being measurements, Wellbeing classesJules EvansFebruary 15, 2013Comment

The Philosophy Hub is go!

Big day today. I’ve finally finished my report on grassroots philosophy groups, which you can download here: Connected Communities- Philosophical Communities.

PoW: Mutual aid in public health: back to the 19th century?

There's a new spirit of self-help and mutual improvement blowing through public health policy. I first felt its breeze in Scotland's national mental health strategy, which was published in August, and which made much of its 'person-centred approach' to mental health in Scotland.