Goodbye George Berkeley, hello Eavan Boland: why has Trinity renamed its biggest library?
Trinity College Dublin this week announced the library would be renamed after the celebrated Irish poet
George Berkeley
Eavan Boland, who wrote about women’s lives, is a better fit for Trinity than slave-owning Berkeley
Names and their meanings are philosophically complex. It would be unwise to re-name everything called after a figure whose troubling personal legacy comes to light. The TCD library was different
Making Empire: Incisive study of Ireland’s complex role in the British empire
TCD historian skilfully traces a history of conquest, assimilation and defiance that came to shape not just Ireland but Britain and its global empire
Thinking Anew: Removing Berkeley’s name raises important issues
Changing the name of a library matters little when what we desperately need is a change of heart, mind and lifestyle
Trinity wanted to avoid sense of ‘winners and losers’ in renaming of Berkeley library
Records show review group concerned about ‘reputational impact’ of changing name due to slavery links
Michael McDowell: Why stop with Berkeley? Cicero was a slave owner too
There is a difference between Americans adorning their cities with statues of Confederate generals and the decision of the Fellows of Trinity 60 years ago to name their library after George Berkeley
Don’t get too exercised on his behalf. Berkeley was a big fan of cancel culture
Opinion: After extensive investigation and consultation, Trinity has decided to de-name its Berkeley Library. But studies of his philosophy are thankfully flourishing
What does the ‘denaming’ of Trinity’s Berkeley Library mean?
University decided this week that use of the philosopher’s name – which has been linked to slavery – was inconsistent with its core values
Trinity College library: ‘Man of his times’ argument does not get Berkeley off hook
The philosopher after whom the main library in Trinity College Dublin is named would have been well aware of contemporaneous criticisms of slavery
Inside the battle to ‘save’ private schools as funding is questioned
Principals, fearing an end to State subsidies for the sector, plan a rear-guard action
Short of staycation ideas? Try a pilgrimage to Irish philosophy sites
Unthinkable: Ireland has a rich philosophical heritage – some more plaques would be nice
Was Ireland’s greatest philosopher a hero, villain or ‘man of his time’?
Unthinkable: A new biography of George Berkeley brings out the complexity of his character
Should we cancel Immanuel Kant and Friedrich Nietzsche?
Unthinkable: Famous philosophers are being reappraised in light of their prejudices
Trinity to examine colonial legacy in reply to Black Lives Matter
TCD’s history from the Plantation of Ulster to the Atlantic slave trade under scrutiny
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