Born in London, Nick Unwin was educated at Eton College and Merton College Oxford, where he read Mathematics and Philosophy, and afterwards did the BPhil and DPhil. He has taught and researched in philosophy (since 1978) at the Universities of Essex, Bolton and Lancaster. He has published widely in the subject. He retired in July 2024.
He is also a keyboard player and songwriter, and enthusiastic chef de cuisine. He regularly posts on Facebook to his friends (though the posts may be read by anyone).
He has lived in Bolton since 1980.
Back to The Philosopher at the Gates of Dawn
About the book title
The phrase, ‘The Piper at the Gates of Dawn’, is the title of Pink Floyd’s first album (1967), and is also the title of a chapter from Kenneth Grahame’s The Wind in the Willows (1908).
The phrase, ‘Gates of Dawn’, is also the name of a 1900 painting by Herbert James Draper (1864-1920). It is seriously rude, and may be viewed here – but only by responsible adults over the tender age of 21, and not by amphibian joyriders (for example). I don’t know what Grahame was thinking of, but I suspect that he needed a good telling-off from Mr Badger.
The Gate of Dawn is also an ancient gate in Vilnius, now the capital of Lithuania, and the term has important religious significance. See the Wikipedia entry and also this link to see the Gate’s 16th century origins.
Talk of ‘The Philosopher’ instead of ‘The Piper’ is my own contribution (as far as I am aware).
Nick's Philosophy and Telepathy blog 