About us
CURRENT READING LIST: Google Spreadsheet
Welcome! As the name suggests, this group aims to explore the history of ideas through some of the most influential texts in science, philosophy and literature. Each month we will choose a text or topic to read/research and discuss. The group is open to everyone and is intended as an informal way of engaging with some of the key ideas that have shaped our societies and cultures down through the centuries. No prior understanding of any of the texts or ideas is required and newcomers are always welcome!
It is not a requirement to have read the assigned text to join in the discussion. For those with less time, I will post links to abridged versions, as well as short videos and podcasts providing a general overview of the topic.
Members are welcome to suggest texts/topics and share links to resources such as study guides, podcasts, documentaries, etc.
Upcoming events
1
Shooting an Elephant and other essays by George Orwell discussion
Costigan's Pub, 11 Washington Street West, Cork, CO, IEGeorge Orwell was one of the most celebrated essayists in the English language, and there are quite a few of his essays which are probably better known than any of his other writings apart from Animal Farm and Nineteen Eighty-Four. 'Shooting an Elephant' is Orwell's searing and painfully honest account of his experience as a police officer in imperial Burma; killing an escaped elephant in front of a crowd "solely to avoid looking a fool". Displaying an almost unrivalled mastery of English plain prose, Orwell's essays created a unique literary manner from the process of thinking aloud and continue to challenge, move and entertain.
For this discussion, we will focus on his essays 'Shooting an Elephant', 'A Hanging', 'Politics and the English Languges', and 'Notes on Nationalism'.
Texts...
Shooting An Elephant- Text https://www.orwellfoundation.com/the-orwell-foundation/orwell/essays-and-other-works/shooting-an-elephant/
- Audio https://youtu.be/u1h1vvrcwqE?si=YRw7J8kKBOZtgKqW
A Hanging
- Text https://www.orwellfoundation.com/the-orwell-foundation/orwell/essays-and-other-works/a-hanging/
- Audio https://youtu.be/4TKWxmyULrw?si=XaHmhZGdG1i4eiXP
Politics and the English Language
- Text https://www.orwellfoundation.com/the-orwell-foundation/orwell/essays-and-other-works/politics-and-the-english-language/
- Audio https://youtu.be/mf-Nvm98dqc?si=sTMILzo9N1tZfRu6
Notes on Nationalism
- Text https://www.orwellfoundation.com/the-orwell-foundation/orwell/essays-and-other-works/notes-on-nationalism/
- Audio https://youtu.be/OPwvFGclfX8?si=zW_TgitoQb4cHKW1
Video...
- Then & Now: Orwell in Burma: A Hanging and Shooting an Elephant https://youtu.be/rfVchxh_9Dc?si=_BPzimuFi8gu2AEz
Podcasts...
- The History of Literature: George Orwell https://www.historyofliterature.com/277-george-orwell/
- The Great Stories: Shooting An Elephant by George Orwell https://www.greatstoriespod.com/podcast/episode/99ad7fb8/episode-52-shooting-an-elephant-by-george-orwell
- The Partially Examined Life: Orwell on Totalitarianism and Language (Part One) https://partiallyexaminedlife.com/2017/03/13/ep160-1-orwell/
- The Partially Examined Life: Orwell on Totalitarianism and Language (Part Two) https://partiallyexaminedlife.com/2017/03/20/ep160-2-orwell/
16 attendees
Past events
73
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