Philosophy Now

Infobox Magazine
title = Philosophy Now


image_size = 150px
image_caption = "Philosophy Now", Aug/Sept 2006
editor = Rick Lewis
editor_title = Editor
staff_writer =
frequency = Bimonthly
circulation =
category =
company =
publisher =
founded = 1991
firstdate =
country =
language = English
website = [http://www.philosophynow.org/ philosophynow.org]
issn = 0961-5970

"Philosophy Now" is a philosophy magazine, published every two months and sold from news-stands and bookstores in the USA, UK, Australia and Canada. It aims to appeal to the general educated public, as well as to students and philosophy teachers. It was founded in 1991. The publishers claim that the magazine "has grown to become the most widely-read philosophy periodical in the English language." [http://www.philosophynow.org/aboutus.htm]

Purpose

According to its website, Philosophy Now "aims to corrupt innocent citizens by convincing them that philosophy can be exciting, worthwhile and comprehensible, and also to provide some light and enjoyable reading matter for those already ensnared by the muse, such as philosophy students and academics." [http://www.philosophynow.org/aboutus.htm]

Contents

The magazine contains articles on most areas of philosophy. Most are written by academics, though some are by postgraduate students or by amateurs. Although it aims at a non-specialist audience, "Philosophy Now" has frequently attracted articles by well-known thinkers. Contributors have included Antony Flew, JJC Smart, Ted Honderich, Tibor Machan, Mary Midgley, Richard Taylor and Colin Wilson.

"Philosophy Now" also regularly features book reviews, fiction, cartoons and readers' letters. Its regular columnists include Joel Marks (Moral Moments), Thomas Wartenberg (philosophy and film column), Raymond Tallis ('Tallis in Wonderland') and Massimo Pigliucci, who writes on philosophy and science. There is also a philosophical agony-aunt column called 'Dear Socrates', allegedly written by a reincarnation of the Athenian sage.

History

"Philosophy Now" was founded as a low-budget quarterly magazine by Rick Lewis, in May 1991. The first issue included an article on Free Will by then atheist philosopher Antony Flew, who has remained an occasional contributor.

The magazine was initially published in Lewis' home town of Ipswich, in England. In 1997, a group of American philosophers including Raymond Pfeiffer and Charles Echelbarger lobbied the American Philosophical Association to start a similar magazine in the USA. The then APA Executive Director Eric Hoffman arranged a meeting in Philadelphia in 1997, to which Lewis was invited. At the meeting, it was decided that the American group should join forces with Lewis to further develop "Philosophy Now". Since that time, the magazine has been produced jointly by two editorial boards, in the UK and USA. Other members of the US editorial board include Timothy Madigan (a former editor of "Free Inquiry" magazine) and Jonathan Adler. The UK editorial board includes Anja Steinbauer, who is the editor for feminist, continental and non-Western philosophy.

In 2000 "Philosophy Now" increased its frequency to appear bimonthly. Lewis remains the overall editor.

External links

* [http://www.philosophynow.org Online edition] of "Philosophy Now".
* [http://forum.philosophynow.org/ Online discussion forum] linked to the magazine.