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Mary Margaret McCabe

@mmmccabe.bsky.social

4.1K followers 3.1K following 150 posts

Ancient philosopher on either construal. Also, Philosophy in Prison www.philosophyinprison.com

Mary Margaret Anne McCabe, known as M. M. McCabe, is emerita professor of ancient philosophy at King's College London. She has written books on Plato and other ancient philosophers, including the pre-Socratics, Socrates and Aristotle. .. more

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Mary Margaret McCabe @mmmccabe.bsky.social · Sep 18

Just published my account of the work of Philosophy in Prison philosophyinprison.com#philsky #prison #philosophy
journal.thebritishacademy.ac.uk/articles/12/...

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Mary Margaret McCabe @mmmccabe.bsky.social · 7d

It was somehow comforting in an absurd way and Sheila Hancock was brilliantly honest.

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Victoria Coren Mitchell @vcorenmitchell.bsky.social · 8d

Making topical comedy at bleak news times can be so tough but, in my book, it’s thank heavens for the return of Have I Got News For You, where Ian and Paul work magic to conjure laughs when there are none. Tonight with wonderful Miles Jupp and Sheila Hancock - and me trying to host. 9pm on BBC One.

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The News Agents @newsagents.bsky.social · 23d

"Trump is using the full power of his office to punish people and organisations who criticise him.

There's a word for that - authoritarian."

If you think this is just about Jimmy Kimmel, you are missing the point.

@maitlis.bsky.social | @lewisgoodall.com
www.thenewsagents.co.uk/article/if-y...

‘If you think this is about Kimmel being cancelled - you’re missing the point’ | The News Agents

Late-night host Jimmy Kimmel has been taken off-air “indefinitely” after making comments about Donald Trump’s response to the murder of Charlie Kirk. Is this about free speech? Cancel culture? Or is i...

www.thenewsagents.co.uk

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Mary Margaret McCabe @mmmccabe.bsky.social · 24d

www.theguardian.com/education/20...

Guardian today, very pleased at the work of philosophyinprison.com getting some coverage.

Equalising effect of philosophy in prisons | Letters

Letter: Mary Margaret McCabe says philosophy can be done just by conversation, to include those with high levels of education and those who have little

www.theguardian.com

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Philosophy in Prison @philosophyinprison.bsky.social · 25d

Our Chair @mmmccabe.bsky.social writes on @theguardian.com about the equalising power of philosophy in prisons when done in conversation www.theguardian.com/education/20...

Equalising effect of philosophy in prisons | Letters

Letter: Mary Margaret McCabe says philosophy can be done just by conversation, to include those with high levels of education and those who have little

www.theguardian.com

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Reposted by Deborah Shaw, Mary Margaret McCabe

Will Jennings 🗳️ @drjennings.bsky.social · 27d

A Labour government that does not fight back against the far right, racism and extremism fundamentally misunderstands the nature of its electoral support.

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Mary Margaret McCabe @mmmccabe.bsky.social · 28d

But why is the Home Secretary posting on X, as the Guardian reports????

Reposted by Will Jennings, Albert Weale, Andrew Scott , and 5 more Will Jennings, Albert Weale, Andrew Scott, Colin Murray, Leigh Sparks, Michelle Everson, Mary Margaret McCabe, Federica Genovese

Ed Davey @eddavey.libdems.org.uk · 28d

Our democracy is too precious to be a plaything for foreign tech barons.

Elon Musk doesn’t care about the British people or our rights. He only cares about himself and his ego.

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Reposted by Dorothy Bishop, Patrick A. Jansen, Andrew Scott , and 3 more Dorothy Bishop, Patrick A. Jansen, Andrew Scott, François Heisbourg, Feargal Cochrane, Mary Margaret McCabe

Prof Christina Pagel @chrischirp.bsky.social · 28d

Esp given assassination of Kirk in US i find Musk's intervention here, calling for dissolution of parliament and a new govt, really scary .

Also UK govt bodies should get the fuck off X.

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Mary Margaret McCabe @mmmccabe.bsky.social · Aug 17

Have you asked about the six year rule, precluding long term prisoners from starting a degree until 6 years before release? Sheer waste of some who have ability that could change their lives if it were developed through education. @philosophyinprison.bsky.social has long argued for reform.

Mary Margaret McCabe @mmmccabe.bsky.social · Aug 14

Surely the Today programme is better than this? The conflation of ‘xenophobia’ ( fear of strangers) with racism was made by @robertjenrickmp.bsky.social — giving his own game away. @krishk.com simply described what Jenrick (shockingly) said in the first place. BBC should apologise for apologising.

James O’Brien @mrjamesob.bsky.social · Aug 13

'Honest Bob' Jenrick, a politician obviously & deliberately embracing xenophobia, does some weapons grade xenophobia & the BBC *apologises* for a Thought For The Day contributor calling it xenophobic. Licence fee payers need to know who makes these decisions & why. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

BBC apologises after Robert Jenrick accused of xenophobia

A contributor to Radio 4's Thought for the Day slot made the remark about the shadow justice secretary.

www.bbc.co.uk

Reposted by Mary Margaret McCabe

Sarah Murphy @13sarahmurphy.bsky.social · Aug 13

FFS! In the midst of the dog-whistling howls, Thought For The Day today was a welcome relief. Calling out Jenrick for his brazen xenophobia and urging people to hold on to their empathy and not to let fear become cruelty.
It’s intolerable that the BBC apologised for that rare moment of decency.

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Reposted by Jonathan Portes, Steve Peers, David J. Smith , and 3 more Jonathan Portes, Steve Peers, David J. Smith, John Foot, Gareth Austin, Mary Margaret McCabe

James O’Brien @mrjamesob.bsky.social · Aug 13

BBC apologises after Robert Jenrick accused of xenophobia

A contributor to Radio 4's Thought for the Day slot made the remark about the shadow justice secretary.

www.bbc.co.uk

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Reposted by Jonathan Wolff, Judith N. Shklar, Nigel Warburton , and 1 more Jonathan Wolff, Judith N. Shklar, Nigel Warburton, Mary Margaret McCabe

Mary Margaret McCabe @mmmccabe.bsky.social · Jul 28

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The Guardian @theguardian.com · May 22

Court ruling on legal definition of a woman ‘misinterpreted’, Lady Hale says

Speaking at book festival in east Sussex, former supreme court president says reaction to judgment ‘very binary’ The supreme court’s ruling that the legal definition of a woman is based on biological sex “has been misinterpreted”, Lady Hale has said. Speaking at the Charleston literary festival in east Sussex, the first female president of the supreme court said the last thing she wants now that she has retired “is to undermine the court and its authority by being critical of its decisions”. Continue reading...

www.theguardian.com

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The Conversation UK @uk.theconversation.com · May 28

‘With philosophy, people care about what I think. Nobody listens when you’ve been in prison. Everything you think is wrong, rubbish, you’re nothing.’

What I’ve learned from teaching philosophy in prisons

‘With philosophy, people care about what I think. Nobody listens when you’ve been in prison. Everything you think is wrong, rubbish, you’re nothing.’

tcnv.link

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Jo Wolff @jowolff.bsky.social · Jul 18

“President Trump will be suing The Wall Street Journal, NewsCorp, and Mr. Murdoch, shortly,”

Jarndyce and Jarndyce,with luck. Bring it on!

edition.cnn.com/2025/07/17/p...

Wall Street Journal: Birthday letter to Epstein bore Trump’s signature, drawing of naked woman | CNN Politics

A collection of letters gifted to Jeffrey Epstein for his 50th birthday in 2003 included a note bearing Donald Trump’s name and an outline of a naked woman, according to a Wall Street Journal report p...

edition.cnn.com

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Armando Iannucci @aiannucci.bsky.social · Jul 14

www.theguardian.com/world/2025/j...

‘Humanitarian city’ would be concentration camp for Palestinians, says former Israeli PM

Ehud Olmert says forcing people into camp would be ethnic cleansing, and anger at Israel is not all down to antisemitism

www.theguardian.com

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Mary Margaret McCabe @mmmccabe.bsky.social · Jul 8

Thank you very much for the support! Hugely appreciated. And it is indeed happening, in many UK prisons. @philosophyinprison.bsky.social

Reposted by Mary Margaret McCabe

Barry C Smith @barrycsmith.bsky.social · Jun 16

Department of Philosophy at Warwick celebrates its 60th anniversary in Senate House @uolpress.bsky.social with speeches on why #philosophymatters by Qassim Cassam, Heather Widdows, @guylongworth.bsky.social and @mmmccabe.bsky.social

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Mary Margaret McCabe @mmmccabe.bsky.social · Jun 10

Glorious peony Sarah Bernhardt just in full and complicated bloom. Brief moment of joy in a world gone mad.

Reposted by Mary Margaret McCabe

Richard Bates @discript.com · Jun 8

Listening to Private Passions where Professor @hilarycottam.bsky.social is talking about many social issues, including design of prisons, adult loneliness, finding meaning and purpose in life, and caring for elderly. Fascinating, and available online:
www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/...

Radio 3 - Listen Live - BBC Sounds

Listen live to BBC Radio 3 on BBC Sounds

www.bbc.co.uk

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Mary Margaret McCabe @mmmccabe.bsky.social · Jun 2

Yes. Agreed. Not always easy to feel hopeful!

Reposted by Robert Falkner, Mary Margaret McCabe

Leo Hickman @leohickman.carbonbrief.org · Jun 2

The Telegraph is now having to publish so many corrections to articles where it attempts to find *any angle whatsoever* to attack net-zero polices that it makes sense to start tracking them here.

These are the ones published since Labour won the election.

"We are happy to correct the record."

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Mary Margaret McCabe @mmmccabe.bsky.social · Jun 2

Ps I agree completely about previous gov failures!!!!!

Mary Margaret McCabe @mmmccabe.bsky.social · Jun 2

I understand it to be the continuation of the previous gov policy of building super prisons. But unlike the Victorian prisons they are often far from transport links and hard for family to visit. Not good for rehabilitation (or for the work of prison charities providing interesting things to do).

Mary Margaret McCabe @mmmccabe.bsky.social · Jun 2

Of course. But some changes could be made right away and are not — and the building programme points in the wrong direction, towards ‘lock-em-up’ rather than thinking about prisons could be improved, not least by more support for some of the inspirational people working there.

Mary Margaret McCabe @mmmccabe.bsky.social · Jun 1

I hoped so. But not much is changing. E.g. an easy win would be to scrap the ‘six-year-rule’ denying support for degree work until prisoners are within six years of release. This wastes talent AND the good effect of HE work among larger group on the wing. Labour talk is still about super prisons.

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What's On Reading @rdgwhatson.bsky.social · Jun 1

We're just days away from the local leg of the Berkshire Chamber Music Festival, with two fab concerts at St James the Less, Pangbourne - Mozart and Beethoven from the BCMF ensemble on 4 June, and Champagne and Candlelight with award-winning harpist Oliver Wass on 6 June!
buff.ly/ZQ0BmSS

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