Simon Ravenscroft is 23, English and happily married.
He is currently studying for an MA in Philosophical Theology at the University of Nottingham, and will complete in Sept. 2010. He has found that good quality single malt scotch whisky is an essential study companion in this regard.
This blog is something akin to a ‘virtual waste paper basket’ for Ravenscroft’s random, haphazard and idiosyncratic musings on any topic that happens to take his fancy. His posts tend to gravitate around areas of philosophy, theology, literature, politics and music, but are not limited to this. For instance, there is a post about marmalade floating around here somewhere, and another on the business operations of Irn Bru. You can, in any case, have a look at the list of “themes” on the sidebar for an idea of what Ravenscroft has written about before.
On a more personal note, Ravenscroft enjoys wearing slim ties. Indeed, he owns many and may even be wearing one right now.
For more organised thoughts of Ravenscroft’s, he also contributes here:
- dustandlight.com ………………. (mostly theology and philosophy)
- Seven Sisters Road ……………… (football)
Hello Simon,
I stumbled across your blog on accident while doing a bit of browsing around in search of work on Ivan Illich. I read a few of your posts and found a lot of similar threads argument that resonated well with my own research. Normally, I would have just made a mental note of some of the things you wrote and then happily moved on. But then I clicked on your profile and discovered that you were at the University of Nottingham. Then the deep level of coincidence got the better of me and I knew I needed to send you a quick note.
Assuming you’re still working on your MA, it seems we must have just missed each other. I finished up my degree in Philosophical Theology in September 2008 and then moved back to California. I was curious who you’ve been working with at Nottingham?
Hey Ben,
Huh, small world! Yeah, I’m part-time at Nottingham so don’t graduate until Sept. 2010. I have one more module and the dissertation next year. Other than the Research Methods module, I took classes with Philip Goodchild and John Milbank this year. Have also done some work in political theology, looking at Augustine mostly.
I’m intrigued by your interest in Illich, as he’s been fascinating me recently. I’ve had some interaction with David Cayley, the guy who did that ‘Rivers North of the Future’ book, as well. What are you looking at with him?
Are you now looking at PhD study?
Very cool. After my MA I took a year off, but I will be returning to England in about two and a half weeks to get married and then start my PhD. For the next few years I’ll be living in Nottingham with my wife-to-be, but my PhD program will be through the University of Durham. I was pretty involved with the goings on at the department in Nottingham while I was there, so chances are I might continue to go to some of the seminars throughout the year and I might even re-sit Conor’s phenomenology module if he doesn’t mind.
I had come across Illich’s name from time to time, but didn’t read any of his books until after I read Charles Taylor. I find Illich interesting for quite a few reasons. On one hand, his writing has that sharp polemic edge that makes him quite entertaining to read, but his insights are also (disturbingly) prophetic in light of the current shape of the world we now inhabit.
More specifically, my research interests rest at the intersection of ecclesiology, liturgy, and political theology. I’ve decided to kick off my PhD with a study of the doctrine of the works of mercy as a site where these three things come together a bit more concretely. That’s where Illich is particularly useful. One of the big questions at play is why have these practices like visiting the sick, giving food to the hungry, burying the dead and so forth become so marginalized, bureaucratized, institutionalized to the extent that they begin to subvert their own purposes and inhibit convivial living and threaten the human flourishing of their participants? How have developments within the Christian tradition itself facilitated this cooption? Obviously, Illich’s critique of the bureaucratic institutions of our modern age have a lot to add to such an inquiry. Of course, he’s such a versatile figure that it’ll take a while to figure out the best way to employ his theories.
Anyway, have you sorted out a rough idea of your dissertation topic area yet? Will you be working with Milbank as well?
The PhD stuff sounds fascinating. Very interesting. When you get back here drop me an email or add me on Facebook or whatever; I’d be interested to chat with you about that stuff. My email address is simrav [at] aol.com. My wife and I are flying to the States in a few weeks until early August, but after that will be back for good. I’m sure you’ll be busy with all the wedding-y stuff for a while, and getting settled back, but when you have some time drop me a message.
Re. dissertation, I’m being indecisive, but it will be political in direction. I also may try and get Illich in there if I can, though not sure how. Either Milbank or Goodchild for supervision I think. I was decided on John, but have been thinking of late that Philip may actually be more helpful.