The intensity of Mr Searle's criticism gives the impression that these philosophers' mistakes are even worse than Mr Penrose's even though Mr Penrose's extravagant hypothesis that there are three worlds (the physical, the mental and the mathematical) will seem quite as strange to most readers as anything from Mr Dennett or Mr Chalmers.

ECONOMIST: Philosophy of consciousness

Yet Mr Gandhi, who was arrested (and released) in May while trying to speak up for farmers who had had their land stolen, failed to make much of an impression in recent local elections and is facing the most sustained criticism of his brief career.

ECONOMIST: A populist yogi ties the government up in knots

But can Bush attack Gore, even in a response to criticism from the vice president's campaign, without looking hypocritical and conveying an impression to voters that he's just another politician?

CNN: Stuart Rothenberg: Can Bush win by 'going positive?'

South Africa coach Peter de Villiers came in for widespread criticism after initially claiming Burger had nothing wrong in Pretoria, before apologising for giving the impression he condoned foul play.

BBC: Burger denies being 'rugby thug'