Quote:
Originally Posted by v1k1ng1001
Philosophy is dead in the sense that it has failed to critically engage the way in which professionalization has lead to a kind of banal attitude toward thought and reflection. Most philosophers I know aren't worried about contributing to human wisdom but they are very much worried about how their academic production will impress tenured article producers so that they, in turn, can achieve tenure and promotion.
Thoreau had it right when he said, "There Are Nowadays Professors of Philosophy, but not Philosophers."
In fact, witness the irony for yourself:
http://muse.jhu.edu/login?uri=/journ.../19.3hadot.pdf |
I think many (but not all) who engage in philosophy professionally, especially since Wittgenstein, have shied away from the big questions, including what constitutes the good life, and how do we find meaning in our existence. Too many modern philosophers strike me as people who would be more at home teaching language skills.