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  Review of British Education establishment     John Mabbott: Oxford Memories

Published by Thornton's of Oxford. By a minor player in the Oxbridge philosophy/ancient history Establishment,
20 Nov 2012


1986 book. Behind-the-scenes life in the world of Oxford University. There are accounts of marking candidates in 'Greats' and philosophy. His generation of philosophy teachers 'found itself separated from its seniors by a gap of twenty to forty years in age' a a result of the almost total destruction of the [First World] war generation. With a specific account of A J Ayer and a last-minute discussion on what degree he should be given. As his paper wasn't as good as they thought might be expected. (The relevant page is displayed below). That sort of thing. As far as I know this book is of a very unusual genre; despite the vast resources thrown at education, insider accounts are rare. Rather terrifying smugness.

The final four chapters include the Foreign Office and accounts of the devastation of the First World War. Mentioning Robert Graves, and shell shock cases. And material after 1945.

Includes asides on F C S Schiller, Bradley, Collingwood, Gilbert Ryle, Sartre, Strawson, Toynbee, G M Trevelyan, C S Lewis, C D Broad, Amis and Larkin. I hope science degrees at Cambridge were better considered.

A J Ayer's marks at Oxford

Rae West 3 Jan 2021