Stephen Leach
Biographic Data
| ID | 3592252 |
|---|---|
| NAME | Stephen Leach |
| GIVEN NAMES | Stephen |
| FAMILY NAME | Leach |
| SIGNATURE | LEACH S |
| AFFILIATIONS | Keele University |
| ORCID | 0000-0001-6912-5643 |
| VERIFIED | Yes |
| TOTAL WORKS | 26 |
| TOTAL CITATIONS | 10 |
| AUTHOR COUNT | 24 |
| EDITOR COUNT | 2 |
| FIRST PUBLICATION YEAR | 1978 |
| LATEST PUBLICATION YEAR | 2025 |
| H-INDEX | 2 |
The Gallo-Roman Dodecahedron and the Receptacle of All Becoming
Discussions of the Gallo-Roman dodecahedron often note the significance of the dodecahedron in Platonic and Pythagorean philosophy, but they tend not to relate the archaeology to the textual evidence in any detail. We attempt to do that in this paper. We argue that, whilst it remains the case that there is no contemporaneous description of the Gallo-Roman dodecahedron, there are several texts – including an overlooked passage in Iamblichus’ On th…
A Photogrammetric Survey and Reconstruction of Rousseau’s Cave
It remains a little-known fact that from March 1766 to May 1767 Jean-Jacques Rousseau – fleeing from persecution in France and Switzerland – stayed in the remote hamlet of Wootton in Staffordshire. There he composed the first half of his Confessions in a garden hermitage, a structure half natural and half architectural, ever since known as Rousseau’s Cave. Our paper records the hermitage in its current state (exposed to the elements); it creates …
Introduction: Art as a Remedy for the Corruption of Consciousness
Philosophy and Jena Romanticism
An Evolutionary Advantage of the Human Glans Penis
To account for the bell- or acorn-shaped glans penis, in 1995 Baker and Bellis put forward their ‘semen-displacement hypothesis’. They argued that the existence of the glans penis is indicative of a promiscuous phase in our evolutionary past, in which females would commonly mate with several males in rapid succession. They argued that within this promiscuous scenario the distinctive shape of the glans penis evolved so as to enable the displacemen…
Rousseau’s Dialogues as Autoethnography
Rousseau left us three examples of life-writing: The Confessions, The Reveries of the Solitary Walker, and the Dialogues (also known as Rousseau: Juge de Jean-Jacques). It is here argued that The Confessions is an example of autobiography and The Reveries is an example of memoirs. In contrast to these two works, in form and style the Dialogues have hitherto been thought of as one of a kind, an unparalleled anomaly. In this essay, it will be argue…
Free will: An impossible reality or an incoherent concept
The problem that Tallis attempts to address in Freedom: An Impossible Reality (2021) is that science appears to describe the entire world deterministically and that this seems to leave no room for free will. In the face of this threat, Tallis defends the existence of free will by arguing that science does not explain our intentional awareness of the world; and it is our intentional awareness that makes both science and free will possible. Against…
How philosophy is presented: An introduction
There may be something gravely wrong with this issue of Human Affairs. So suggests Laura Cull Maoilearca. For philosophy is not something that precedes its presentation. Philosophy and the presentation of philosophy are one and the
Introduction: Philosophical reflection and technological change
Technological change has now reached a speed at which people can observe it changing their lives. Somebody born in 1910 might remember first seeing cars and aeroplanes, and then, in their twilight years, have noted the rise of computers, perhaps even used them. The life they lived would probably have been seriously affected by technological change, such as when they first acquired a washing machine. Somebody born in 1970 may now spend most of the…
King Arthur’s Round Table Revisited: A Review of Two Rival Interpretations of a Henge Monument Near Penrith, in Cumbria
In 1937 R G Collingwood carried out an excavation at King Arthur’s Round Table, a henge monument near Penrith. He wished to test the hypothesis that this may once have contained a circle of upright stones or wooden posts. His interim report, published in 1938, suggested that, on the evidence of excavation, this indeed might well have been the case. Unfortunately, illness prevented Collingwood returning to the site in 1938. In 1939 a second season…
Russell on technology and common sense
This article examines the distinction that Russell drew between his work as a philosopher and his work as a journalist. It explains why, when warning against the threat posed by a nuclear arms race, Russell thought it better to write as a journalist (speaking on behalf of common sense) rather than as a philosopher. It is argued that to put aside philosophy in favour of common sense is, in this instance, a mistake
Introduction: Life’s meaning
We have chosen the subtitle of this introduction with some care-as a term to cover both meaning in life and the meaning of life
The Meaning of Life and the Great Philosophers
L. S. Klejn and R. G. Collingwood on History, Archaeology, and Detection
Collingwood is well-known for noting, in The Idea of History , similarities between the work of the historian and the work of the detective. In this essay I argue that it is not the historian who is similar to the detective but rather the archaeologist. In presenting this argument I make use of the work of the Russian archaeologist L. S. Klejn, who has explored in detail both the similarities between archaeology and detection and the differences …
Consciousness and the Great Philosophers: What Would They Have Said about Our Mind-Body Problem?
The Living Past
It is argued that although this book will be of interest to any scholar interested in Croce, Gentile, or de Ruggiero, it will be of particular interest to those interested in R. G. Collingwood, for the ultimate focus of the book is upon Collingwood's philosophy and how it developed in relation to the work of the Italian idealists. This is a subject that has not previously been investigated in any depth. Peters argues that the basic idea that unit…
In conversation with Leo S. Klejn
This interview discusses the comparison that Klejn draws between archaeology and forensic science. This is a comparison that has been made many times previously by many different archaeologists (and crime writers), but Klejn is unusual in that he explores the implications of their similarity. In his view it is archaeology rather than history that is most closely related to forensic science. The difference between archaeology and history is import…
R. G. Collingwood – An Early Archaeological Theorist
Collingwood is the author of four major works on Roman Britain, which I shall discuss in chronological order: Roman Britain (1923); The Archaeology of Roman Britain (1930); Roman Britain and the English Settlements (with
History, Ethics and Philosophy: Bernard Williams’ Appraisal of R. G. Collingwood
The author examines Williams’ appraisal of Collingwood both in his eponymous essay on Collingwood, in the posthumously published Sense of the Past (2006), and elsewhere in his work. The similarities and differences between their philosophies are explored: in particular, with regard to the relationship between philosophy and history and the relationship between the study of history and our present-day moral attitudes. It is argued that, despite Wi…
Townend, Matthew 2009. The Vikings and Victorian Lakeland: The Norse Medievalism of W. G. Collingwood and His Contemporaries. Kendal: Cumberland and Westmorland Antiquarian and Archaeological Society
An Appreciation of R. G. Collingwood as an Archaeologist
Roman Britain (1923) 'was a short book; I wrote it in two days; it was designed to be elementary, and it was full of faults . . . it gave me a first opportunity of finding out, more clearly than was possible within the limits of a short article, how my conception of historical research was developing' (Collingwood 1939:120-121). It was substantially revised in
Foundations of History: Collingwood's Analysis of Historical Explanation
This book provides an exposition and critical examination of Collingwood's philosophy of history, in which Collingwood's views are read in the light of his metaphilosophy. Collingwood's philosophy of history is also located in relation to recent and current philosophy. Although Stephen Leach argues that Collingwood's conception of the subject matter of history may require some revision, he is generally sympathetic to the aims and methods of his p…
The changing role of local politics in Britain
This book is the first thorough analysis of the role of local politics in local government to be published since Gyford, Leach and Game (1989). It draws on a range of funded research projects carried out by the author between 1995 and 2005 including ‘New patterns of local politics’ (ESRC 1996), member-officer relations (LGIU 1999), new constitutions (DETR 2002), overview and scrutiny (ODPM 2003) and political leadership (Joseph Rowntree foundatio…
Introducing cabinets into British local government
Journal Article Introducing cabinets into British local government Get access S Leach S Leach DeMontfort University, Leicester, UK Search for other works by this author on: Oxford Academic Google Scholar Parliamentary Affairs, Volume 52, Issue 1, January 1999, Pages 77–93, https://doi.org/10.1093/pa/52.1.77 Published: 01 January 1999
Uses and abuses of policy planning systems
Uses and abuses of policy planning systems
An Appreciation of R. G. Collingwood as an Archaeologist
Roman Britain (1923) 'was a short book; I wrote it in two days; it was designed to be elementary, and it was full of faults . . . it gave me a first opportunity of finding out, more clearly than was possible within the limits of a short article, how my conception of historical research was developing' (Collingwood 1939:120-121). It was substantially revised in
Introducing cabinets into British local government
Journal Article Introducing cabinets into British local government Get access S Leach S Leach DeMontfort University, Leicester, UK Search for other works by this author on: Oxford Academic Google Scholar Parliamentary Affairs, Volume 52, Issue 1, January 1999, Pages 77–93, https://doi.org/10.1093/pa/52.1.77 Published: 01 January 1999
Free will: An impossible reality or an incoherent concept
The problem that Tallis attempts to address in Freedom: An Impossible Reality (2021) is that science appears to describe the entire world deterministically and that this seems to leave no room for free will. In the face of this threat, Tallis defends the existence of free will by arguing that science does not explain our intentional awareness of the world; and it is our intentional awareness that makes both science and free will possible. Against…
The History of Lancashire County Council 1889–1974
Uses and abuses of policy planning systems
Introducing cabinets into British local government
Journal Article Introducing cabinets into British local government Get access S Leach S Leach DeMontfort University, Leicester, UK Search for other works by this author on: Oxford Academic Google Scholar Parliamentary Affairs, Volume 52, Issue 1, January 1999, Pages 77–93, https://doi.org/10.1093/pa/52.1.77 Published: 01 January 1999
The changing role of local politics in Britain
This book is the first thorough analysis of the role of local politics in local government to be published since Gyford, Leach and Game (1989). It draws on a range of funded research projects carried out by the author between 1995 and 2005 including ‘New patterns of local politics’ (ESRC 1996), member-officer relations (LGIU 1999), new constitutions (DETR 2002), overview and scrutiny (ODPM 2003) and political leadership (Joseph Rowntree foundatio…
An Appreciation of R. G. Collingwood as an Archaeologist
Roman Britain (1923) 'was a short book; I wrote it in two days; it was designed to be elementary, and it was full of faults . . . it gave me a first opportunity of finding out, more clearly than was possible within the limits of a short article, how my conception of historical research was developing' (Collingwood 1939:120-121). It was substantially revised in
Foundations of History: Collingwood's Analysis of Historical Explanation
This book provides an exposition and critical examination of Collingwood's philosophy of history, in which Collingwood's views are read in the light of his metaphilosophy. Collingwood's philosophy of history is also located in relation to recent and current philosophy. Although Stephen Leach argues that Collingwood's conception of the subject matter of history may require some revision, he is generally sympathetic to the aims and methods of his p…
Townend, Matthew 2009. The Vikings and Victorian Lakeland: The Norse Medievalism of W. G. Collingwood and His Contemporaries. Kendal: Cumberland and Westmorland Antiquarian and Archaeological Society
History, Ethics and Philosophy: Bernard Williams’ Appraisal of R. G. Collingwood
The author examines Williams’ appraisal of Collingwood both in his eponymous essay on Collingwood, in the posthumously published Sense of the Past (2006), and elsewhere in his work. The similarities and differences between their philosophies are explored: in particular, with regard to the relationship between philosophy and history and the relationship between the study of history and our present-day moral attitudes. It is argued that, despite Wi…
R. G. Collingwood – An Early Archaeological Theorist
Collingwood is the author of four major works on Roman Britain, which I shall discuss in chronological order: Roman Britain (1923); The Archaeology of Roman Britain (1930); Roman Britain and the English Settlements (with
The Living Past
It is argued that although this book will be of interest to any scholar interested in Croce, Gentile, or de Ruggiero, it will be of particular interest to those interested in R. G. Collingwood, for the ultimate focus of the book is upon Collingwood's philosophy and how it developed in relation to the work of the Italian idealists. This is a subject that has not previously been investigated in any depth. Peters argues that the basic idea that unit…
In conversation with Leo S. Klejn
This interview discusses the comparison that Klejn draws between archaeology and forensic science. This is a comparison that has been made many times previously by many different archaeologists (and crime writers), but Klejn is unusual in that he explores the implications of their similarity. In his view it is archaeology rather than history that is most closely related to forensic science. The difference between archaeology and history is import…
Consciousness and the Great Philosophers: What Would They Have Said about Our Mind-Body Problem?
L. S. Klejn and R. G. Collingwood on History, Archaeology, and Detection
Collingwood is well-known for noting, in The Idea of History , similarities between the work of the historian and the work of the detective. In this essay I argue that it is not the historian who is similar to the detective but rather the archaeologist. In presenting this argument I make use of the work of the Russian archaeologist L. S. Klejn, who has explored in detail both the similarities between archaeology and detection and the differences …
The Meaning of Life and the Great Philosophers
King Arthur’s Round Table Revisited: A Review of Two Rival Interpretations of a Henge Monument Near Penrith, in Cumbria
In 1937 R G Collingwood carried out an excavation at King Arthur’s Round Table, a henge monument near Penrith. He wished to test the hypothesis that this may once have contained a circle of upright stones or wooden posts. His interim report, published in 1938, suggested that, on the evidence of excavation, this indeed might well have been the case. Unfortunately, illness prevented Collingwood returning to the site in 1938. In 1939 a second season…
Russell on technology and common sense
This article examines the distinction that Russell drew between his work as a philosopher and his work as a journalist. It explains why, when warning against the threat posed by a nuclear arms race, Russell thought it better to write as a journalist (speaking on behalf of common sense) rather than as a philosopher. It is argued that to put aside philosophy in favour of common sense is, in this instance, a mistake
Introduction: Life’s meaning
We have chosen the subtitle of this introduction with some care-as a term to cover both meaning in life and the meaning of life
Introduction: Philosophical reflection and technological change
Technological change has now reached a speed at which people can observe it changing their lives. Somebody born in 1910 might remember first seeing cars and aeroplanes, and then, in their twilight years, have noted the rise of computers, perhaps even used them. The life they lived would probably have been seriously affected by technological change, such as when they first acquired a washing machine. Somebody born in 1970 may now spend most of the…
How philosophy is presented: An introduction
There may be something gravely wrong with this issue of Human Affairs. So suggests Laura Cull Maoilearca. For philosophy is not something that precedes its presentation. Philosophy and the presentation of philosophy are one and the
Rousseau’s Dialogues as Autoethnography
Rousseau left us three examples of life-writing: The Confessions, The Reveries of the Solitary Walker, and the Dialogues (also known as Rousseau: Juge de Jean-Jacques). It is here argued that The Confessions is an example of autobiography and The Reveries is an example of memoirs. In contrast to these two works, in form and style the Dialogues have hitherto been thought of as one of a kind, an unparalleled anomaly. In this essay, it will be argue…
Free will: An impossible reality or an incoherent concept
The problem that Tallis attempts to address in Freedom: An Impossible Reality (2021) is that science appears to describe the entire world deterministically and that this seems to leave no room for free will. In the face of this threat, Tallis defends the existence of free will by arguing that science does not explain our intentional awareness of the world; and it is our intentional awareness that makes both science and free will possible. Against…
Philosophy and Jena Romanticism
An Evolutionary Advantage of the Human Glans Penis
To account for the bell- or acorn-shaped glans penis, in 1995 Baker and Bellis put forward their ‘semen-displacement hypothesis’. They argued that the existence of the glans penis is indicative of a promiscuous phase in our evolutionary past, in which females would commonly mate with several males in rapid succession. They argued that within this promiscuous scenario the distinctive shape of the glans penis evolved so as to enable the displacemen…
Introduction: Art as a Remedy for the Corruption of Consciousness
The Gallo-Roman Dodecahedron and the Receptacle of All Becoming
Discussions of the Gallo-Roman dodecahedron often note the significance of the dodecahedron in Platonic and Pythagorean philosophy, but they tend not to relate the archaeology to the textual evidence in any detail. We attempt to do that in this paper. We argue that, whilst it remains the case that there is no contemporaneous description of the Gallo-Roman dodecahedron, there are several texts – including an overlooked passage in Iamblichus’ On th…
Philosophy (16 works) · Epistemology (12 works) · Sociology (12 works) · History (8 works) · Archaeology (7 works) · Philosophy (7 works) · Political science (6 works) · Archaeological Research and Protection (5 works) · Law (5 works) · Philosophy, History, and Historiography (5 works)