Through the looking glass
AC Grayling finds that in the work of leading philosopher John Gray, everything is the wrong way round and upside down
Ideas
Atheism à la mode
What is the outspoken French atheist philosopher Michel Onfray really saying? Caspar Melville meets him and canvasses some expert opinion.
Charity Balls: Laurie Taylor Interviews Richard Curtis
From Blackadder to Four Weddings and a Funeral Richard Curtis has made millions out of making us laugh. He tells Laurie Taylor why comedy has a duty to bring relief
Hopeless romantics
Lynda Nead takes in the National Gallery's new show
Left behind
Nick Cohen reflects on the book that changed his mind about Bush and Blair's war on terror
Lobbing Horseshit
With everyone talking about the need for 'respect' Martin Rowson reckons it's time to come clean about what they really mean
Islam and Sexual Apartheid
There can be no compromise on the universality of human rights. And cultural relativism both compromises women's rights and justifies sexual apartheid.
Thinker: William Shakespeare
Continuing our series of thinkers who have been important for humanism, Brian McClinton puts in a bid for Shakespeare.
Pleasure principles
In the second of our series on thinkers who are significant for humanism, Peter Cave marks the 200th anniversary of the birth of John Stuart Mill
Best of enemies
Capitalism and central planning need each other, argues Steven Lukes