The Philosophers’ Book Club: Flann O’Brien’s The Third Policeman (Forum for Philosophy)

The Philosopher’s Book Club is back! We discuss Flann O’Brien’s The Third Policeman, a novel about the consequences of a murder occasioned by the narrator’s desire to publish a book about his favourite philosopher, de Selby. From bicycles and wooden legs to dualism and the nature of reality, O’Brien’s absurdist tale contains more philosophical themes (and footnotes) than you can shake a stick at. Join us as we bring philosophical and literary minds together to answer the question, ‘Is it about a bicycle?’.

At the Philosophers’ Book Club, we select a work of fiction or biography for philosophical dissection by our panel. Although you are encouraged read the book in advance, it is by no means necessary.

Speakers
Caitlín Doherty
Poet and historian

Paul Fagan
Researcher in Cultural Studies and Modernism, University of Vienna

David Papineau
Professor of Philosophy, KCL/CUNY

Chair
Clare Moriarty
Fellow, Forum for Philosophy
IRC Postdoctoral Fellow, Trinity College Dublin