There are still people and herds somewhere, but not with us, my brothers: here there are states. The state? What is that? Well then! Now open your ears, for now I shall speak to you of the death of peoples. The state is the coldest of all cold monsters. Coldly it lies, too; and this … [continue reading]
The University as Feudal State.
1. Overture Knowledge and research within the modern university have a curiously feudal character, given its division into a series of faculties and departments each with their own pedagogical self-definitions. By its very structure, which is specialized and hierarchical, the modern university is hostile to inter-disciplinary teaching and research. Interdisciplinarity flies directly in the face … [continue reading]
We, the Professional Sages: Analytic Philosophy’s Arrogation of Argument.
1. INTRODUCTION For the sake of establishing the greater context of my discussion, I want to begin by quoting a well-summarized account from Michael Friedman’s book, A Parting of the Ways. As he writes, One of the central facts of twentieth-century intellectual life has been a fundamental divergence or split between the “analytic” philosophical tradition … [continue reading]
Philosophy Ripped From The Headlines! Issue #7, March 2018: The Meaning of Life & the Morality of Death.
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]
How Exquisitely the Individual Mind to the External World Is Fitted: — And How Exquisitely, too, the External World is Fitted to the Mind.
Visual philosophy inspired by mountain landscapes, Wordsworth, and Hopper, HERE. Against Professional Philosophy is a sub-project of the online mega-project Philosophy Without Borders, which is home-based on Patreon here. Please consider becoming a patron! We’re improvident, but cheerful.
“Poetry is the Hero of Philosophy”: Novalis’s Metaphilosophy.
Introduction Novalis is perhaps best known to contemporary philosophers for his aphorism, “Philosophy can bake no bread; but she can procure for us God, Freedom, Immortality.” But less well known is the following sentence: “Which, then, is more practical, Philosophy or Economy?” In other words, Novalis is saying that philosophy is profoundly more practical than … [continue reading]
Philosophy Without Borders: What It Is, & Why It Matters–Four Short Talks.
‘Understanding Impact’ 4th Conference of the Public Philosophy Network Boulder, Colorado | February 8-10, 2018 The Public Philosophy Network announces our fourth conference on Advancing Public Philosophy. Our 2018 conference theme is Understanding Impact: What practices improve the uptake of philosophy, both across the disciplines, and throughout society? This question will be pursued through … [continue reading]
Thinking Life: A Philosophical Fiction.
This title is available everywhere, including the following popular online booksellers: Amazon: US; UK; CA; DE; IT; FR; AU; ES Barnes & Noble: paperback, Nook About the book: Thinking Life is a narrative exploration of such themes as the decline of the contemporary university, man’s alienation from nature, modern melancholia, Dionysian intoxication, the relative value of … [continue reading]
Philosophy Ripped From The Headlines! Issue #6, February 2018: Poverty in the USA, Marx Redux, & the Scope of Mindedness.
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]
Philosophy Ripped From The Headlines! Issue #5, January 2018: Bakers, Buddhists, Plant Minds, & Total Work.
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]