Welcome to my website. I'm a British philosopher, at Keele University, who tries to write original philosophy books that might interest both the general public and professionals. I'm also a jazz musician who makes Jazz-Philosophy Fusion. My main books are published by Bloomsbury: Philosophy in a Meaningless Life (2016) and Philosophy in a Technological World: GODS AND TITANS (2020). I hope you find something of interest.
“An extraordinarily original, profound, witty meditation on philosophy and on what should be its most fundamental preoccupations, Inner Space Philosophy reconnects philosophy with its roots in dialogue and drama. Tartaglia’s ear for the voices of his imaginary interlocuters shows perfect pitch and his lightly worn erudition covering millennia and embracing figures from widely separated cultures is astonishing. I will re-read this wonderful book and, between re-readings, will be in conversation with it, dancing in 'an inner space in which endless joyous questioning transpires”
“Original philosophy presented in an original way, through science fiction and prophecy – Nietzsche meets Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy.”
“Like a deft and original solo of sax master Ornette Coleman, Tartaglia innovatively weaves words that both challenge and delight. He has correctly identified the corrosive impact of the dominant materialist worldview, highlighted its deficiencies, and articulated a path for the restoration of a metaphysics-based philosophy to its proper seat at the cultural table. I commend him on his latest effort and recommend it to all who are curious about the state of play in the intellectual arena.”
“A major work of philosophy by one of the UK's most original philosophers. In this beautifully written volume, James Tartaglia develops a definitive critique of contemporary materialism and original and persuasive arguments for idealism. On this basis he makes a compelling case for the role of philosophy in helping us to address our state of what he calls 'technoparalysis' – our being helpless spectators of runaway technical advance. This book is that rare thing – a book that is not only important and illuminating but also enjoyable.”
“There can be no question that our lives are dominated by technology, that we live in a technological world. But few philosophers these days address the question of what this means for us, and what philosophical world view it generates or presupposes. James Tartaglia’s new book is a highly original attempt to answer these questions. Tartaglia identifies materialism as the doctrine which sustains the technology-based vision of life today, and he challenges materialism in original and inventive ways — his challenges are not the usual ones you find in today’s philosophy textbooks. This book is ambitious and inventive — it is not a standard work of academic philosophy, but (like his last book, Philosophy in a Meaningless Life) attempts to speak to all those with a philosophical interest, whether inside or outside universities. This is a very special book, highly recommended”
“Tartaglia's book is an intriguing contribution to the ongoing philosophical discussion regarding the meaning (or meaninglessness) of life, written in a lucid and engaging style.”
“A fascinating book. It is refreshing to read a well-written book of contemporary philosophy that puts the question of the meaning of life at its very centre and at the very centre of philosophy itself. The argument rests on a huge amount of reading and learning, lightly worn. And, in particular, in highlighting the difference between meaning (significance) in life and the meaning of life Tartaglia has done any philosopher who thinks about either of these things a great favour. He makes a very persuasive case that recent discussions have equivocated between these two different concepts. And he may well be right that this equivocation has been motivated by a fear of nihilism.”
“A superb and original work. Tartaglia addresses head-on the question of the meaning of life - which he calls 'the keystone of philosophy' - and gives an uncompromising nihilist answer to it. But rather than turning to gloom and despair, he shows how nihilism is, in a certain sense, neither good nor bad; and that it can be used to address some central traditional questions of philosophy: about consciousness, time and universals. Elegantly written and very readable, this is a unique work of philosophy that deserves a wide readership.”