Two new books explore the Irish mind and attempt to deconstruct stereotypes of the Irish.
New approaches to the intellectual tradition in Ireland are discussed by philosopher Richard Kearney, sociologist Michael D Higgins, and literary critic Tom Paulin.
We all know that the Irish are a nation of dreamers, weavers of words, princes of the imagination.
Introducing the two authors presenter Patrick Gallagher asks if the Irish are merely windbags or if they have a hard, intellectual tradition in the world of philosophy?
A new book edited by Richard Kearney called 'The Irish Mind' explores the intellectual traditions of the Irish. The recently published 'Ireland and the English Crisis' by Tom Paulin is a collection of essays which reinforces some of the attitudes found in The Irish Mind.
Michael D Higgins believes 'The Irish Mind' is a very exciting book that rediscovers a number of significant contributions to Irish intellectual achievement. He argues that it celebrates the capacity of new young writers and scholars to restore the integrity of the Irish mind.
Both publications examine the notion of the stereotypical Irish man and the concept of anti-intellectualism. For Tom Paulin, who identifies with the Northern Ireland intellectual tradition, the Irish mind has a strong, intellectual coherence and notions of Britishness are in crisis.
In England, where you can't buy a bar of soap but it's got a tiny union jack on the wrapper. England is covered at the moment in little union jacks on everything that you buy. There's a tremendous current of very limited nationalism in the culture at the moment.
Richard Kearney says that both publications are in the business of deconstructing stereotypes to look at the realities of what stands behind them. What you discover in deconstructing the stereotype of the mindless Celt is that it has a colonial origin.
Paddy the Irish man sort of syndrome.
There is also the Mathew Arnold Victorian view of the Irish as "quaint, fanciful Celts" but "incapable of any political or rational order".
This episode of Folio was broadcast on 11 December 1984. The presenter is Patrick Gallagher.
