Raymond Tallis on Private Passions

[aka Calum Da Jazbo]

Dr Raymond Tallis has recently been acclaimed as one of the world's leading polymaths. He trained as a doctor and went on to become Professor of Geratric Medicine at the University of Manchester and a consultant physician in the Care of the Elderly at Salford. In 2006 he retired from medicine to become a full-time writer. Over the past 20 years he has published fiction, poetry, and 23 books on the philosophy of the mind, philosophical anthropology, literary theory, the nature of art, and cultural criticism, offering a critique of current predominant intellectual trends and an alternative understanding of human consciousness. His most recent books are 'The Kingdom of Infinite Space', reflecting on the mystery of embodiment, 'Hunger', exploring the basic drives behind humanity, and 'Aping Mankind: Neuromania, Darwinitis and the Misrepresentation of Humanity', a critique which exposes the exaggerated claims made forr the ability of neuroscience and evolutionary theory to explain human behaviour, culture and society.

...interesting music too ...

[Mary Chambers]

He's just said that Let it Be by the Beatles is 'transcendental schmalz' Can't say I agree, at least not with the 'transcendental' bit.

[teamsaint]

[QUOTE=Mary Chambers;130049]He's just said that Let it Be by the Beatles is 'transcendental schmalz' Can't say I agree, at least not with the 'transcendental' bit.

If I owned a record shop, I would immediately introduce a "Transcendental schmalz" section.

Like it or loathe it, plenty of us would love to write something that good, and that successful !!

[cloughie]

[QUOTE=teamsaint;130051]

He's just said that Let it Be by the Beatles is 'transcendental schmalz' Can't say I agree, at least not with the 'transcendental' bit.

If I owned a record shop, I would immediately introduce a "Transcendental schmalz" section.

Like it or loathe it, plenty of us would love to write something that good, and that successful !!

Do you mean "Let it Be" or "Transcendental schmalz"? Which CDs would put in the TS section - do you think are enough TS devotees to warrant a separatie section.

[kernelbogey]

[QUOTE=cloughie;130056]

Do you mean "Let it Be" or "Transcendental schmalz"? Which CDs would put in the TS section - do you think are enough TS devotees to warrant a separatie section.

Oh, Dream of Gerontius for a start...

[Nick Armstrong]

Is this the programme with this gentleman which was broadcast several years ago? I recorded that and have it on the iPod, I've listened to it several times - one of the best PPs ever. I've recorded this one too - would be good if it's his second visit with a new selection

[aka Calum Da Jazbo]

current prog info has no details Caliban, do you know which year it was when you recorded Tallis?

[Norfolk Born]

Is this the programme with this gentleman which was broadcast several years ago? I recorded that and have it on the iPod, I've listened to it several times - one of the best PPs ever. I've recorded this one too - would be good if it's his second visit with a new selection

I don't think it can be a repeat, as they were discussing a very recently published book.

[Nick Armstrong]

current prog info has no details Caliban, do you know which year it was when you recorded Tallis?

Mystery solved - the earlier programme in May 2010 was a different Tallis! Dr Frank Tallis http://www.franktallis.com/author.htm

Not Prof Raymond Tallis as per this morning! http://www.raymondtallis.com/

I wonder if they are related?

[amateur51]

Mystery solved - the earlier programme in May 2010 was a different Tallis! Dr Frank Tallis http://www.franktallis.com/author.htm

Not Prof Raymond Tallis as per this morning! http://www.raymondtallis.com/

I wonder if they are related?

Keep taking the meds, Caliban

Waggle Dance indeed

[Nick Armstrong]

Keep taking the meds, Caliban

Waggle Dance indeed

[gamba]

Did anyone else notice the reference to the glorious item from the French Baroque ending the previous programme ?

According to the announcer it was written by someone called Rimbaud !

[Richard Tarleton]

Did anyone else notice the reference to the glorious item from the French Baroque ending the previous programme ?

According to the announcer it was written by someone called Rimbaud !

Yes I noticed that but thought he said Rambo

[Roehre]

Yes I noticed that but thought he said Rambo

Rameau perhaps

[kernelbogey]

I looked up Raymond Tallis on Wikipedia yesterday for a bit more information. I also looked up Stewart Lee, the stand-up comedian and Observer columnist. I was amused that the latter's entry is three times the length of that for Tallis, described as one of the great polymaths. (Tallis's own website is also interesting.)