Two New Movements in Contemporary Philosophy Two extremely interesting movements in contemporary philosophy have emerged simultaneously, but also almost entirely independently of one another, within the past five years: performance philosophy and public philosophy. I think that both performance philosophy and public philosophy are not only extremely interesting, but also extremely important. That is because … [continue reading]
Susan Haack’s “The Real Question: Can Philosophy be Saved?”
APP Editors’ Note: “The Real Question: Can Philosophy be Saved?” originally appeared in Free Inquiry 37, 6 (2017). “Our editor” refers to FI’s editor, Tom Flynn. Once again—now, heaven help me, even in the pages of Free Inquiry!—I find myself “otherwise minded,”[1] the cannibal among the missionaries. Why so? I certainly share our editor’s sense … [continue reading]
On Philosophical Failures.
Eighteen months ago, in “‘Failed Academics’: Schopenhauer, Peirce, and the (D)evolution of University Philosophy,” APP wrote about the meta-philosophically fascinating phenomenon of great philosophers who are also notable social “failures,” and in particular “failed academics.” We focused on Schopenhauer and Peirce: but we might just as easily have written about Diogenes, Socrates, Spinoza, Kierkegaard, Thoreau, … [continue reading]
Taking Down Descartes: The Canon Wars.
The history of modern philosophy begins with Descartes, right? Wrong. In “Descartes Is Not Our Father,” a very interesting–but I also think, very wrong-headed– essay published in The New York Times on 25 September 2017, Christia Mercer writes this: René Descartes has long been credited with the near-single-handed creation of modern philosophy. Generations of students … [continue reading]
The Duck, the Fish, and the Sharks: A Parable.
Almost everyone has heard the story about the duck and the fish. Some ducks are swimming around in a pond; one of them looks down and sees some fish swimming around directly beneath him. The duck says: “Hey guys! How’s the water down there?” Then one of the fish turns to another one and says: … [continue reading]
Professional Disorientation.
APP Editors’ Note: Jeremy Tauzer is a PhD student in philosophy at Saint Louis University. INTRODUCTION Imagine, or perhaps recall, the ideals of the incoming philosophy grad student. This student has emerged from encounters with the sarcasm of Socrates, the loftiness of Plato, the painstaking system-making of Aristotle, the epistemological turmoil and ethical theorizing of … [continue reading]
On Visual Philosophy: Philosoflicks and Kant By Hand.
In “Let’s Make More Movies,” the epistemological anarchist Paul Feyerabend wrote this: The separation of subjects that is such a pronounced characteristic of modern philosophy is … not altogether undesirable. It is a step on the way to a more satisfactory type of myth. What is needed to proceed further is not the return to harmony … [continue reading]
Philosophy Ripped From The Headlines!
Dear Philosopher or Philosophically-Minded Person, Do you ever think about the larger philosophical implications of contemporary events and issues, especially when reading newspapers, journals, or blogs? —Of course you do: but then what? What if you were able to convert your thinking DIRECTLY into something you were able to use for TEACHING PHILOSOPHY, for PHILOSOPHY … [continue reading]
Can There Be a Real Philosophy Department?
What is “real,” or what one might call “authentic,” philosophy? Can there be philosophy departments that practice and promote such authentic philosophy? Take the former question first. From the home page of Against Professional Philosophy (https://againstprofphil.org), we have the following answer to consider: By real philosophy, we mean synoptic, systematic, rational reflection on the individual … [continue reading]
Philosophy Unbound.
The painted veil, by those who were, called life, Which mimicked, as with colours idly spread, All men believed or hoped, is torn aside; The loathsome mask has fallen, the man remains Sceptreless, free, uncircumscribed, but man Equal, unclassed, tribeless, and nationless, Exempt from awe, worship, degree, the king Over himself; just, gentle, wise: but … [continue reading]