The View from Iran

So, the thieves claim to be acting out of moral concern! One of your books or papers would be enough for someone to feel that they had made their entire contribution to philosophy!

Though, recording your ideas on your blog makes it extremely difficult for the thieves to steal them. Perhaps you could also number them or use a system of categorisation, such as ‘Idea No. 20 (e.g., Mysterianism) of Category 5 (Consciousness), Date’.  That would also make them easier to cite.

During the preparation of the Wittgenstein volumes, we received no complaints or similar emails from any of the contributors about your contribution. Of course, had there been any, I would have preferred them to withdraw, whoever they were. At the same time, though, your standing in Wittgenstein studies is beyond any doubt!

Ali

—

Dr. Ali Hossein Khani

Assistant Professor, Science Studies Department, Iranian Institute of Philosophy (IRIP).  (Academia)

Researcher, School of Analytic Philosophy, Institute for Research in Fundamental Sciences (IPM). (Google Scholar)

Just published:

1. Kripke’s Wittgenstein: Meaning, Rules, and Scepticism(Anthem Press, 2026).
2. The Routledge Handbook of Wittgenstein and Other Philosophers: Part One(with Gary Kemp) (Routledge, 2026).
3. The Routledge Handbook of Wittgenstein and Other Philosophers: Part Two (with Gary Kemp) (Routledge, 2026)

I had been telling him about a volume on Shakespeare I had contributed to: some of the other contributors had threatened to withdraw their papers because I was in the volume, a threat which proved hollow. He replied:

It’s really annoying to hear these things, Colin. It’s great that you run your own blog and share your thoughts there. I’m sure that many of those who behave like that read your posts one by one and get ideas from them.

As a little scholar of philosophy, I’m proud to live in a time when philosophers as brilliant as you are alive.

Ali

—

Dr. Ali Hossein Khani

Assistant Professor, Science Studies Department, Iranian Institute of Philosophy (IRIP).  (Academia)

Researcher, School of Analytic Philosophy, Institute for Research in Fundamental Sciences (IPM). (Google Scholar)

Just published:

1. Kripke’s Wittgenstein: Meaning, Rules, and Scepticism(Anthem Press, 2026).
2. The Routledge Handbook of Wittgenstein and Other Philosophers: Part One(with Gary Kemp) (Routledge, 2026).
3. The Routledge Handbook of Wittgenstein and Other Philosophers: Part Two (with Gary Kemp) (Routledge, 2026)