Samuel Alexander

The philosopher Samuel Alexander, was hard of hearing in his old age, and used an ear trumpet. One day a colleague came up to him in the common room at Manchester University, and attempted to introduce a visiting American philosopher to him. “THIS IS PROFESSOR JONES, FROM AMERICA!” he bellowed into the ear trumpet. “Yes, Yes, Jones, from America” echoed Alexander, smiling. “HE’S A PROFESSOR OF BUSINESS ETHICS!” continued the colleague. “WHAT?” replied Alexander. “BUSINESS ETHICS!” “What? Professor of what?” “BUSINESS ETHICS!” Alexander shook his head and gave up: “Sorry. I can’t get it. Sounds just like ‘business ethics’!” – Dan Dennett, Cognitive Science as Reverse Engineering. Several Meanings of “Top-Down” and “Bottom-Up”