Isnt it time that philosophers prioritize responding to the needs of the world over pleasing other philosophers? Isnt there a difference between being a good philosopher and being good at professional philosophy? (Which is not to say that one cant be both.) Further, as one of these heterodox philosophers, in terms of both my work and my professional history, I find this essay personally gratifying. Although I did not choose a career teaching in humanities departments, I do think that in my case it has resulted in my being a better philosopher than I would have been teaching in philosophy departments (even though I have sometimes wished for the latter). Not worrying about whether what youre doing fits other philosophers notions of good or even real philosophy can free you to teach the kind of philosophy that responds to your students needs, and to write the kind of philosophy that responds to the needs of the world. As it stands now, heterodox practitioners (however they self-identify) exist on the margins and lead professional lives that run against the grain. As the feminist public philosopher Linda Martín Alcoff notes, many [heterodox] philosophers try to “walk a fine line between responsiveness to community needs and employment survival, pushing the boundaries of academic respectability even while trying to establish their credentials in conventional ways. It is these “conventional ways” that must change. We have to invent a philosophy where responsiveness to community needs (not just disciplinary interests and imperatives) is an integral part of one’s employment and is viewed as academically respectable.
Posted on: Tue, 13 Jan 2015 17:06:13 +0000
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