In his speech honoring Dalrymple, Bart de Wever disagreed with Dalrymple’s frequent rejection of the label of philosopher. “Although Theodore Dalrymple has always stated that he is not a philosopher but a social critic, I do believe in the profound philosophical qualities of his work,” De Wever said.
Those qualities are in evidence in his latest essay for The New English Review, in which he sorts through the philosophical questions inherent in the act of punishment. He says that the appropriateness of a certain form of punishment is determined both by relative considerations like proportionality and by absolute ones like the avoidance of brutality but that utilitarian considerations also play a part.
Read the essay here
The Skeptical Doctor
Dedicated to the work of Theodore Dalrymple
I’d say Dalrymple is the most important writer of modern times; I wouldn’t be so impressed if he said that about himself.
The man is a titan of letters, and much more besides – his writings are the Himalayas to aspiring hearts and minds
such a man needs to keep his feet on the ground… humility, modesty… stuff like that.
I think Philosophy, love of wisdom, that noble enterprise… at least if you recognise it as such you don’t go round proclaiming you’re a Philosopher.
A Titan, capital T