In 1987, at a fashion designer’s party in midtown Manhattan, the notorious prizefighter Mike Tyson was seen aggressively manhandling a young model named Naomi Campbell, then 17 and on the verge of exploding into world fame. One of the other guests — the renowned English philosopher Sir A.J. (Freddie) Ayer, aged 76 — intervened on the teen’s behalf.

Tyson is supposed to have sputtered “Do you know who the f–k I am? I’m the heavyweight champion of the world.” Ayer is said (by his stepdaughter; caveat emptor) to have responded “And I am the former Wykeham professor of logic. We are both pre-eminent in our field; I suggest that we talk about this like rational men.” The two sauntered off to chat, leaving Miss Campbell to make her escape.