What Happens in the Common Room

This is part of the obituary for H. P. Grice, distributed in the Common Room at St. John's College -- "stays in the common room". The author, now deceased G. Richardson, was from a working-class milieu in Glasgow, which may provide some clue as to why he was so _impressed_ by Grice.

OBITUARY OF H P GRICE. From St John's College, Oxford, Records:

George Richardson writes:

"My first vivid recollection of H.P.Grice
is of him calling on me unexpectedly in my
lodgings. He had come posthaste from St John's
to give me the news of my election to a fellowship.

He and I saw more of each other than any other Fellow. After 1967, when he settled in The Colonies, I lost touch with him.

We never exchanged letters.

H.P. was the only member of St John's governing body who had been to a public school.

He was very English. Someone told me that Sir Richard Livingstone, who as president of the colletge was consulted when H.P. was being considered for election observed that he did not return library books. He had inner integrity, though. This may explain the excellent relationship he had with J.T.Mabbott.

Mabbott was old fashioned. Linguistic philosophy WAS A GAME HE WOULD NOT PLAY.

Grice's commitment to philosophy was SO PASSIONATE.

H.P. would resmosely dismantle opponents. H.P.'s pupils were impressed by his zest for philosophy.

I doubt if those tone deaf to the subject got much from his tutorials. His pupils
had to put up with a good deal from his unpunctuality. They called him "Godot".

Tutorials could last as long as four hours and meal times were ignored.

We analysed the personalities of colleagues and pupils. We shared a keen interest in music, which, after philosophy and cricket, was of importance to him. He played the piano and composed on it.

He thought little of Wagner and dismissed Die Meistersinger as "for children".

Yet he greatly admired Mahler. There was something in Mahler's music that spoke directly to him.

I can still recall the laughter and the bright blue eyes which greeted me when he brought the news of my fellowship.

His mood could fluctuate acutely and sometimes he was in near despair.

Commonly he would sit up all night to write a lecture.

I suspect that lecturing was agony for him.

I cannot assess H.P.'s contribution to the subject. He was a philosopher's philosopher.

Nor can I talk of his cricket or bridge. But looking back, it is clear that he was one of the most original men I ever met. Although he was aware of his great cleverness and liked to win, he was never pompous or dull. His high spirits lightened to me many a dull day. He was a kind friend and a good companion."

* * * * * * by courtesy of J. L. Speranza, of the Grice Club.