Public philosophy
Public philosophyis a subfield ofphilosophythat involves engagement with the public. Jack Russell Weinstein defines public philosophy as "doing philosophy with general audiences in a non-academic setting".[1]It must be undertaken in a public venue but might deal with any philosophical issue.Michael J. Sandeldescribes public philosophy as having two aspects. The first is to "find in the political and legal controversies of our day an occasion for philosophy". The second is "to bring moral and political philosophy to bear on contemporary public discourse."[2]James Tullyemphasizes that public philosophy is done throughpractice,through the contestable concepts of citizenship, civic freedom, and nonviolence.[3]According to Sharon Meagher, one of the founders of the Public Philosophy Network,"'public philosophy' is not simply a matter of doing philosophy in public, but must also engage with the community it finds itself in. "[4]
Some public philosophers are academic professionals, such asCornel West,Jürgen Habermas,Martha Nussbaum,Richard Rorty,[5]James Tully,Jack Russell Weinstein,but others may work outside of the usual academic contexts of teaching and writing forpeer-reviewed journalssuch as social activistJane Addams[6]and novelistAyn Rand.[7]
Jack Russell Weinstein,director of The Institute for Philosophy In Public Life, contends that although it is commonplace to argue that public philosophy promotes democracy, this argument assumes philosophers are better citizens than non-philosophers.[8]
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^Weinstein, Jack Russell (2014). "Public Philosophy: Introduction".Essays in Philosophy.15(1): 1–4.doi:10.7710/1526-0569.1485.
- ^Sandel, Michael J.(2005).Public Philosophy: Essays on Morality in Politics.Cambridge, Massachusetts: Harvard University Press. p.5.ISBN0-674-01928-8.OCLC60321410.
- ^Tully, James(2008).Public Philosophy in a New Key: Volume 1, Democracy and Civic Freedom.Ideas in Context series. Cambridge, UK: Cambridge University Press. pp. 3, 243–309.ISBN978-0-521-44961-8.
- ^Sharon M. Meagher."Public Philosophy: Revitalizing Philosophy as a Civic Discipline"(PDF).Archived fromthe original(PDF)on 2020-02-14.Retrieved2020-02-14.
- ^Posner, Richard A.(2003).Public Intellectuals: A Study of Decline(paperback ed.). Cambridge, Massachusetts: Harvard University Press. pp. 320–321.ISBN0-674-01246-1.OCLC491547976.
- ^Hamington, Maurice (June 15, 2010)."Jane Addams".InZalta, Edward N.(ed.).Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy.Archivedfrom the original on March 28, 2019.RetrievedNovember 1,2013.
- ^Sciabarra, Chris Matthew(1995).Ayn Rand: The Russian Radical.University Park, Pennsylvania: Pennsylvania State University Press. p.97.ISBN0-271-01440-7.OCLC31133644.
- ^Weinstein, Jack Russell (2014)."What Does Public Philosophy Do? (Hint: It Does Not Make Better Citizens)".Essays in Philosophy.15(1): 33–57.doi:10.7710/1526-0569.1488.[permanent dead link]