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Kevin  R. D. Shepherd

Kevin  R. D. Shepherd (born 1950) is a British writer who undertook private research at Cambridge University Library during 1981-1993. He has four other websites, the earliest being citizeninitiative.com (2007). Subsequent additions were kevinrdshepherd.net (2008) and kevinrdshepherd.info (2009). Studies relating to the history of religion are available at independentphilosophy.net (2009). He also has the blog On Philosophy.

The present website will comprise assorted articles of Kevin Shepherd to appear in succession as each one is completed.

1.  WIKIPEDIA  ANOMALIES

This lengthy article describes some events and discrepancies on Wikipedia relating to the years 2006-2009. The well known “cult” interest demonstrated by Wikipedia administrator Jossi Fresco has been much discussed and criticised. Fresco exited from Wikipedia, but other problems are  reputed to  exist. The author describes a series of Wikipedia events in 2009 that ended in deletion of an article. The different standpoints involved in this episode are narrated, especially in relation to an Articles for Deletion (AfD) page. An extra factor here was a sectarian complication first expressed in Wikipedia activist editing of 2006, subsequently banned, and which continued in blog formats strongly associated with web harassment. The views of diverse Wikipedia editors and administrators are profiled, and sectarian attack blogs are also covered.

2.  AUTOBIOGRAPHICAL  REFLECTIONS  AND  CITIZEN  PHILOSOPHY

A compact article which describes some features of the author's outlook and study orientation.

3.  RENE  DESCARTES, PHILOSOPHER  AND  SCIENTIST

An overview of the man who became celebrated as the founder of modern Western philosophy. René Descartes (1596-1650) is generally described as a rationalist, though he also possessed a strong empirical streak. His diverse works were composed in French and Latin, with both metaphysics and natural philosophy being in evidence. The Meditations has received much commentary, though the Principles of Philosophy is viewed by some analysts as the more important work. Descartes was in opposition to the university Scholasticism associated with Aristotle, and has been charted as a philosopher of the Scientific Revolution. His friction with orthodox religious parties is notable. The theme of "Cartesian dualism" can be misleading, and has created different interpretations, including the twentieth century "ghost in the machine" caricature expressed by Gilbert Ryle.

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