From: Ant McWatt (antmcwatt@hotmail.co.uk)
Date: Mon Mar 21 2005 - 20:01:00 GMT
Matt Kundert stated to Ham Priday March 20th 2005:
I also don't participate much in the political discussions that go on around
here. Just doesn't interest me that much. [Neo-Pragmatists] suggest that
we move on to more fruitful discussions, but part of our evangelical mission
is trying to convince the metaphysicians that the jig is up, modern
philosophy is over.
Matt,
Your assertion that “political discussion… doesn't interest me” is one of
the reasons I wasn’t too impressed with Rorty because philosophers should be
interested in politics. Rorty’s dichotomy of public/political and
private/philosophical life is a false one because philosophical
contemplation informs public life (and vice versa). Why do you think Plato
was so insistent that philosophers should be the principal politicians in
government? I don’t think it was because he couldn’t handle his day job.
The idea that a highly questioning and philosophically educated electorate
would make no difference to the quality of politicians and government is a
highly dubious one. Just look at the general calibre of the world leaders
we presently have - I wouldn’t let most of these power-hungry, backward
looking comedians run a flower shop let alone a country. Any philosopher
(such as Rorty) who encourages an attitude of mind that separates politics
and philosophy just facilitates giving power to lower quality politicians
who will have a damaging effect on the quality of all our lives.
Moreover, Rorty’s sentiment is certainly not in the pragmatist spirit – for
instance, look at John Dewey who emphasised that pragmatism was a tool for
dealing with concrete problems (such as poor working conditions, bad
sanitation, women’s rights, inequitable distribution of income) rather than
dealing only in intellectual abstractions. Dewey established the first
teacher’s union in New York City and overhauled the American justice system
to take into account the concerns of working class people. Remember that
politics seriously affects nearly every aspect of our lives and as a
“genuine” pragmatist, this is why I would like to see philosophy taught as a
compulsory subject in 11-18 year old education.
Finally, whilst political discussion on a philosophy forum such as MOQ
Discuss shouldn’t be allowed to overwhelm (and I can understand people’s
concerns about this), it still has an important place among the various
issues of human life. To believe otherwise would not be acting
pragmatically!
Best wishes,
Anthony
“Knowledge is Power”
A favourite sentiment of John Dewey (originally stated by Francis Bacon).
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