Philosophers

Sunday, March 14th., Waterloo Road, Burslem.

Lunch of the North Staffs. Liberal Federation at the North Stafford Hotel in Stoke yesterday. There was nothing especially to notice, except the inferior quality of the speeches, including Lord Crewe's. But Mills, of the Manchester Guardian there to report the proceedings, said that he was much better in the House of Lords. Well, better is a relative term of course; I can't imagine that he suddenly blossoms forth into a notable orator when in Parliament.

Hawtrey, after accepting "What the Public Wants" on his own - that is, so far as he was concerned - found himself obliged to refuse it because his syndicate funked it. Very disappointing. He said he thought he could ultimately have persuaded them, but we would not give him time. This is yet another instance of the ways plays are chosen. This was on Thursday. On Friday, Trench wrote me definitely commissioning a play, subject to seeing a scenario. 

The Leopard, Burslem

The Potteries is of course brim full of practical philosophers, but there are not so many of the theoretical sort; and even those few who are that way inclined would never admit to theoretical speculation, not relishing ridicule. But, last Friday evening whilst strolling about in Burslem, I bumped into Callear, who I had not met since we were at school together, and we went into the Leopard for a talk. Within half a hour we were deep in discussion of the concept of personal autonomy. Seems he is philosophically inclined and was disinhibited by my being a 'foreigner'. He gave me a quick run-down on the ideas of Rousseau, Kierkegaard, Kant and Nietzche. For himself he thought it his business as a rational person to be as clear as he could be about how his intentions and actions were truly his, as opposed to being a product of socialisation. I think he referred to this as 'personal autonomy'. Whether he borrowed that from one of the philosophers I know not. After an hour I made my excuses and we parted with mutual protestations of good feeling. I hope to make this a regular occasion and to see him again in about 30 years or so.