[lit-ideas] Re: A gift to the List on this Christmas Day

Now why does Judith ask THAT question instead of >"Onora knows you?"
Because you were the one who used a first name. Of course you could know her, that is, have met her and also feel able to call her by her first name. But as I suspected, you were simply following your usual rather sexist 'call a woman by her first name' habit, as in 'Hannah' for '(Hannah) Arendt'.
You won't be surprised to know I've met Onora O'Neill and know/have known various people who know her well, but were I writing about her here I would of course say 'Onora O'Neill' (unless in context, O'Neill sufficed), just as I would say "Brian Barry"/Barry. (E.g..)
----- Original Message ----- From: <wokshevs@xxxxxx> 
To: <lit-ideas@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>; "Judith Evans" <judith.evans001@xxxxxxxxxxxx>
Cc: <lit-ideas@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Saturday, December 27, 2008 7:42 PM
Subject: [lit-ideas] Re: A gift to the List on this Christmas Day



Now why does Judith ask THAT question instead of "Onora knows you?"
Yes, I think I know her quite well though we've never actually met. Manny and I feel we share so much in common with her that I feel comfortable on a first name basis, outside the walls of Cambridge U of course. (Wittgenstein, on the 
other hand, will always be "Wittgenstein," inside or outside the walls of
Cambridge U.)

Walter O.


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