Thinking Philosophically. Thinking Philosophically.

Thinking Philosophically‪.‬

Taboo 2006, Spring-Summer, 10, 1

    • 2,99 €
    • 2,99 €

Publisher Description

I am a philosopher of education by training. While well warned by my mentors of the hazards inherent to my trade, I still have been stunned by the magnitude of the loneliness engendered, at least in part, by the disrepute that my trade has acquired. It has taken me only a short time at my academic post to recognize that philosophy is not regarded favorably by many people across the university. Some simply do not have even a vague idea what philosophy is about in the first place, that is, in terms of its subject matter or in terms of the activities that make up its practice. In some academic circles (as well as within my own college of education) the very word "philosophy" itself often invites sneers and open hostility. I recently participated in an informal discussion in which academics from the social sciences were attempting to understand what George Herbert Mead meant by the socio-physiological foundations of society. I suggested that one way to understand Mead is to clarify the philosophical problems that he was trying to solve. After a collective shift and sigh, one of the sociologists in attendance reminded me that Mead was concerned with social psychology and not with philosophy. Furthermore, the sociologists continued, while every study requires a certain regard for the meaning of operational terms, it does not follow that a special group (he meant philosophers) is needed to complete the task. The suspicion that philosophy is fraudulent extends beyond academic circles and permeates other realms of everyday life as well. While surfing with acquaintances one Wednesday morning, I was asked what I did for a living that allowed me to surf in the middle of a work week. Somewhat hesitant and reserved, I explained that I was a philosopher of education. Someone in the group then asked, "What does one do as a philosopher?" To be brief about the matter, I suggested that philosophers aim to think through problematic experiences as clearly and as thoroughly as possible. The answer that I gave, however, wasn't good enough. Someone else in the group pointed out that clear and thorough thought is part of every activity, including surfing, and that philosophers--and the public--would be better off surfing for a living instead of wasting taxpayers' money.

GENRE
Professional & Technical
RELEASED
2006
22 March
LANGUAGE
EN
English
LENGTH
17
Pages
PUBLISHER
Caddo Gap Press
SIZE
164.1
KB

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