FAQ & tips
PLEASE NOTE - THE POSTBOX IS NOW CLOSED
Philosophers spend their days making deep enquiries into human life. Iris Murdoch wrote that the job of the philosopher was to understand the reality that surrounds human life - whether it be transcendent or more everyday. This means no topic is off limits for philosophical thinking! Life and death, meaning and religion, happiness, memory, illness, art, music, love and nature can all motivate philosophers to ask questions about what is important or valuable in a human life.
Our philosophers are all fans of Iris Murdoch's philosophy or literature. They are looking forward to receiving your postcards and will draw on their love of Murdoch, and their philosophical training and knowledge, to compose their answer-on-a-postcard.
PLEASE NOTE - THE POSTBOX IS NOW CLOSED.
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What sort of things can I write on my postcard-to-a-philosopher?
The most important thing is that you include your return address! Everything else is up to you! No topic is off-limit for philosophical thinking. All our philosophers have been inspired by Iris Murdoch's philosophy and literature. You can find out a little about them, and their relationship with Murdoch's thought, on this site. Elizabeth Anscombe, Iris' friend, said that philosophy is 'thinking hard about important things'. Philosophers are specially trained to do this difficult kind of thinking - and our philosophers are waiting to put their minds to work on the things that matter to you.
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Who are the philosophers?
Our 100 philosophers are from around the world. They are mostly professional philosophers - meaning they have jobs in University philosophy departments - but some have come to be experts in Murdoch's philosophy in other ways. You can find out more about them on this site.
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Will I get an answer?
We will pick 100 postcards to send on to philosophers and we hope yours will be among them. If yours is not picked we are sorry. Even if your postcard is not answered, you may find some relevant answers on this website. We'll be cataloguing all the replies by theme in a searchable format.
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Are any topics banned?
No. But we won't pick postcards that are offensive or rude.
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Do I have to write on a postcard?
Yes - please don't send you question in any other format.
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I don't really know what philosophy is! How can I write a philosophical postcard?
Don't worry if you're not sure what philosophy is. Philosophy is just 'thinking hard about important things' - what is important is itself a philosophical question! Have a look around this website to learn more about the sorts of ideas and questions that Iris Murdoch thought hard about and get inspired. Your postcard doesn't have to be philosophical - just remember you are writing to a philosopher, so think about what you would like to learn from them!
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Where can I learn more about Iris Murdoch and her philosophy?
There is information on this website and at www.womeninparenthesis.co.uk
1. What happens next?
Find out more about the process and the timeline here.
2. What will I be expected to write on a postcard?
We don't know what people will send in. As a philosopher respondent it will be up to you to identify the philosophical issues and questions that the postcard raises and respond to them in your own way. If you're able to channel the spirit of Murdoch we'll be delighted, but your own honest philosophical response is what we're really after.
3. Will my address be shared?
No - only we will know your address. We will forward a postcard from the public to you along with a stamped addressed envelope. When you've written your reply just post it back to us. We will add a stamp and the address of the sender and send it on to them.
4. When will I receive a postcard from the public and how long will I have to answer it?
You will receive the postcard in the post by 15th October 2019, along with a blank postcard on which to write your answer and a stamped addressed envelope in which to return it. Replies must be posted by 1st January 2020.
5. What will happen to my reply?
We will photograph your reply before sending your postcard on to its addressee. After all the original senders have received their reply in the post, we will pair questions with answers on the website and will link your answer to your profile. Later, we may contact you to ask about other uses for your postcard - for example in a publication - but you are welcome to decline.
6. What if my details change?
Use the change of details form here to let us know.
7. What if I can't participate any more?
Please let us know as soon as possible. And if you can find a replacement philosopher postcard writer that would be a great help.
8. What more can I do?
As much or as little as you like! Follow us on twitter @parenthesis_in, share the website, set up your post-card writing workshops locally, do more #philosophybypostcard #slowphilosophy.