Book completed

The Women Are Up to Something: How Elizabeth Anscombe, Philippa Foot, Mary Midgley, and Iris Murdoch Revolutionized Ethics, by Benjamin J.B. Lipscomb. I recently read Metaphysical Animals, which is about the same four women, and it referenced this very slightly earlier book, so I read it as well. This one covers more of their lives and to some extent more of their philosophy; it was also written in a more engaging style and organized more simply, so I could follow what was happening more easily. The other book has more details and is also fascinating; I don't regret reading both books.

I was especially delighted to read about Mary Midgley's later career, because she felt like a kindred spirit. Like me, her work was interdisciplinary and involved synthesis across existing fields - in her case, philosophy, biology, psychology, and politics. She was one of the first philosophers to address animal welfare! Also, her first book wasn't published until she was 59 - and then she published 15 more! She was very active until well into her 90s. What a role model!