WantsOfTheFlesh
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Joined: 3/3/2009
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ORIGINAL: NorthernGent
In the English camp, you have the analytical school: Moore, Russell, Wittgenstein.
In the continental camp, you have a belief that philosophy and politics cannot be separated from its historical background and theories have been developed on the contintent such as existentialism, structuralism and post structuralism: Heidegger, Focault, Sartre.
Edited to add: we may be European to an extent, but the fact that we're an island has had a massive influence on the way we think. Were we joined to the continent we would think like them; we have not lived for centuries with the threat of armies marching over our borders.
Although there are distinctive philosophical traditions, it is unduly black and white to cast the British as Empiricists and Europeans as Rationalists. In France alone there were important Empiricists like Diderot, Montesquieu (similar to Locke in many respects) and de Condillac, and Hume, probably the greatest empiricist of them all was much admired there. Besides which both schools of thought are entwined. Kant only made his philosophical break throughs after Hume helped him along. England isn't in Europe to an extent. It is in Europe as much as the Tories and UKIP abhor the notion. I'm not a fan of the EU but there does seem to be a "splendid isolationist" Europhobia amongst the British.
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ORIGINAL: Politesub53
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ORIGINAL: LafayetteLady
England tolerant of religious diversity? Really? I mean seriously, england's history of NOT being religiously tolerant is well documented. Why the hell do you believed the US colonies even began if not for religious freedom? So perhaps now the UK shows such tolerance, but historically exactly the opposite. What exactly does the UK contribute to the world today in terms of technology, the space program or anything? When was the last time we heard about any new computer coming from the UK or new developments in space exploration? You're right, you live on an island and still think you are something special.
In answer to the first part, a read of European history tells you no where had full religious tolerance 400 years ago. I fail to see what England in 1611 has to do with England in 2011.
Quite correct that religious tolerance was in short supply 400 years ago but more recently the contrast between continental Europe and the UK is less favourable. Things have improved a lot in recent decades but Catholicism and Protestantism is still an issue in some places like Scotland (never mind the North of Ireland which is an exception).
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As for the assertion that Britain never invents anything... Thats so laughable I wont even bother to reply.
The British have their share of inventors. Historically the Scots seemed particularly talented although that may be favouritism on my part! 
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RE: France bans face covering veil (burqa) - 
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