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WELCOME TO ANTHROPOLOGY AND HISTORY
Tim Boatswain Professor of Anthropology & History
Chairman of TMC Academy, Singapore
Chairman TMCI, Tashkent, Uzbekistan
Chairman British United College, Myanmar
Chairman of Blue Plaques St Albans
Chairman of Conservation 50
Council Member of SAHAAS
Trustee of OVO (Theatre) Charity
Welcome to Anthropology and History, a unique blog here for you to explore. Anthropology and History has added such value to my life, and I love having the opportunity to share my passions and thoughts with my loyal readers. Read on, and enjoy.
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The Philosophy of Choice,
The Philosophy of Choice, 5 th May, 7pm Philosophy@LRL At our last meeting, there was a strong voice that our next subject for discussion should be the philosophy of choice. As I always try to emphasise , our debates are not dusty academic footnotes but the very ground beneath every decision we will make today, from the moment we hit snooze on our alarm to the more profound question of whether to speak up or stay silent at work or with a friend. Philosophy is the study of
Tim Boatswain
1 day ago4 min read
The Mandelson Affair and the Crisis of Political Virtue
Of course, I had no idea that British politics was going to be rocked by 'The Mandelson Affair' when I chose What is Morality? as our sixth topic for discussion at the Lower Red Lion on February 3rd. In my previous blog ( https://timboatswain.wixsite.com/website/post/the-untidy-truth-about-human-nature ) , I was arguing how messy the drivers are behind human nature. The crisis the Epstein material has unleashed over Mandelson is an issue both for the philosophy of morality
Tim Boatswain
6 days ago4 min read
The Untidy Truth About Human Nature
When I was a student studying anthropology, one of the major debates we had to grapple with was the Nature versus Nurture Argument. The nature versus nurture argument is a classic debate about what determines human behaviour and development. The Nature side argues that our traits and characteristics are primarily the result of genetics and biology—in other words, we are shaped by our DNA. The Nurture theory argues that we are primarily shaped by our environment and experienc
Tim Boatswain
7 days ago6 min read
What is Morality: an Exploration of Moral Philosophy at the Lower Red Lion (3 Feb 2026)?
This was the sixth session of Philosophy at the Lower Red Lion (LRL). We started with the question (with a silent answer) had we recently observed in another some immoral behaviour and why was it immoral. This led to examining the definition of morality and its framing as one of humanity’s most enduring and urgent inquiries: a normative pursuit concerned not with what is , but with what ought to be . Moral philosophy seeks to provide a rational framework for our most profo
Tim Boatswain
Feb 53 min read
'The Discipline of Imaginology': a critique
I have just read an interesting article by Stephen T Asma, Professor of Philosophy and cofounder of the Research Group in Mind, Science and Culture at Columbia College Chicago. It is entitled Imaginology, and in it he advocates "a new kind of approach to learning that shifts imagination from the periphery to the foundation of all knowledge." https://aeon.co/essays/why-we-need-a-new-kind-of-education-imagination-studies?utm_source=Aeon+NewsletterThecontemporary Asma argues
Tim Boatswain
Jan 297 min read
A Question of Atmosphere: Is Free Speech Retreating on Britain's Campuses?
It has been many years since I taught full-time at a British university. Some might rightly say I am out of touch with the daily realities of modern academia and the nuances of its debates. Yet, through my ongoing work with overseas institutions, I maintain contact with lecturers from across the UK. In conversation, several have described a palpable unease, a phenomenon often termed the "chilling effect." They speak of a climate of risk aversion, where both academics and stud
Tim Boatswain
Jan 274 min read
What is Morality?
It is just over a week away from our usual thought-provoking evening of discussion and debate on one of humanity’s most enduring questions. Is morality a set of divine commands, a product of evolution, a social contract, or something else entirely? How do we distinguish right from wrong—and who gets to decide? In our age of cultural diversity, scientific discovery, and digital transformation, these ancient inquiries feel urgently relevant. I hope you can join the gathering to
Tim Boatswain
Jan 241 min read
The Democratic Disquiet: Diagnosing the Crisis of Confidence
Recently, I wrote about the dangers to democracy of voter apathy: The Price of Apathy: Why Good People Must Not Look Away https://timboatswain.wixsite.com/website/post/the-price-of-apathy-why-good-people-must-not-look-away ). There is an allied question, one of the most pressing of our time, about the practical implementation of democracy, and that is whether democracy is failing? It is crucial, however, to clarify the diagnosis from the outset. It would be an exaggeration
Tim Boatswain
Jan 204 min read
The Engine of Division: How Global Forces Promoted Political Polarisation
T he first blog I wrote on this site was back in April 2020. It was entitled Tribalism versus the Global Village ( https://timboatswain.wixsite.com/website/post/something-big-is-coming ). I pointed out that it seemed paradoxical that the more the world becomes a 'global village' through the revolution of electronic communication and easy travel, with the implied closer relations and understanding of 'other' societies and cultures, the more intolerant and xenophobic some p
Tim Boatswain
Jan 184 min read
The Price of Apathy: Why Good People Must Not Look Away
These days, when I think about politics, I feel a lot of pain. What is going on - is it just me, or are my thoughts reflected in others' concerns? The timeless warning, often attributed to Plato, I feel, to borrow a quote from Gladiator, "echoes across eternity" with chilling clarity: “The price good men pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men.” This is not merely a historical observation but a fundamental principle of civic life, a stark equation w
Tim Boatswain
Jan 144 min read
The Great Unravelling: Are We Trading Duty for Freedom—and Losing Both?
I have reached the stage in life where I am trying to make sense of what I have lived through , and one of the most amazing changes I have observed is the shift to a culture of choice. Imagine trying to explain to our great-grandparents that, one day, people would choose their careers, partners, beliefs, and even identities not out of obligation, but out of desire. They would likely be stunned—and perhaps even terrified. Yet here we are, living through what might be thought
Tim Boatswain
Jan 124 min read
What is Morality - a debate ?
I am looking forward to our discussion about morality on 3 rd February. I have, since childhood, been interested in understanding how society constructs its behaviour and how different cultures have their own nuanced take on what is right and what is wrong. Two philosophers who hold compelling yet fundamentally different views on the source and implementation of morality are Immanuel Kant (1724-1804) and Iris Murdoch ( 1919– 1999 ). Those of you who know my predilection for
Tim Boatswain
Dec 31, 20256 min read
Are Universities Trading Essays for Zines? A Mistaken Gamble with Academic Rigour
Box of San Francisco punk zines, in a collection of Prelinger Library This week, as I was surfing my news platforms, I came across this story in The Telegraph (28 Dec.2025), The ‘decolonised’ essay alternatives dumbing down Britain’s universities. Left-wing academics have introduced ‘zines’ to challenge ‘Eurocentric standards’ that reward white, middle-class students My first reaction was to google what a ‘zine’ is: A zine (pronounced "zeen") is a small, self-published b
Tim Boatswain
Dec 30, 20254 min read
'Heresy and the Church' - a Summary of St Albans Cathedral's Course by Prof Tim Boatswain
Heresy and Early Christianity Heresy is a concept that refers to a belief or opinion that profoundly and obstinately contradicts the established, official doctrines of a religious community, especially after having been formally condemned by that community's authority. It is not simply being wrong but involves a conscious, persistent choice to deny a doctrine considered essential by the orthodox (correct) authorities of the faith. The term is primarily used within Christianit
Tim Boatswain
Dec 24, 202517 min read
What is Martyrdom?
Miniature from the Menologion of Basil II depicting the 20,000 Martyrs of Nicomedia , who were martyred when Roman soldiers set their church on fire on Christmas Day , AD 302 I have been teaching a course on Heresies for St Albans Cathedral, and it is often a sorry tale that ends in cruel death, usually burning at the stake. It seems wherever religion becomes entangled in state politics, anyone who deviates from the proscribed doctrine or rejects the existing hierarchy has t
Tim Boatswain
Dec 17, 20255 min read
Why Burial Rituals are Important
This year, one of the projects I have been involved with has been the renovation of Nathaniel Cotton’s and his first and second wives’, Anne and Hannah, gravestones in St Peter’s churchyard, St Albans. In the back of my mind, I had been thinking about the anthropology of death and then, out of the blue, my family was hit by a personal tragedy that made ‘death’ unexpectedly personal. It is banal to say death has always been with us but as the only creatures, apparently, with c
Tim Boatswain
Dec 7, 20254 min read
A Slice of History Served Daily: New Mural for the George Street Canteen
Ant Steel at George Street Canteen St Albans, (25 Nov 2025) – A vibrant new chapter in St Albans’ public art scene is set to begin, as Conservation 50 and renowned graffiti artist Ant Steel have received the green light to paint a historical mural on the west wall entrance of the beloved George Street Canteen. This exciting project, sponsored by The Arts Society St Albans , has been made possible by the enthusiastic permission of the Canteen's owners, Kevin and Julie Lee. It
Tim Boatswain
Nov 26, 20253 min read
Summary of my lecture: The Ottoman Empire and Modern Europe
On September 16 th , I gave this talk for St Albans & Hertfordshire Architectural & Archaeological Society. This is a summary: A while...
Tim Boatswain
Sep 24, 20253 min read
Council changes that will have an impact on St Albans
Radio Mix 92.6 Podcast: Nick Hazell interviews Tim Boatswain https://mix926.com/podcast/council-changes-could-impact-central-st-albans-re...
Tim Boatswain
Sep 3, 20251 min read
Reimagining Urban Heritage: Street Art as Public History in St Albans’ Historic Alleyways Project
www.stalbnshistory. org SAHAAS NEWSLETTER 237 Page 22-24 Lamb Alley, before and after This article examines the intersection of public...
Tim Boatswain
Aug 27, 20253 min read
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