Why It Matters
By Akhilleus
A few weeks ago American philosopher and great soul Hilary Putnam died. Martha Nussbaum, a friend, colleague and outstanding philosopher in her own right, offers a commemoration of Putnam's life and the importance of his work on the HuffPo site.
Philosophy routinely comes in for much hilarity and scorn, especially from the right. Big Brain Marco Rubio once whined, in an appropriately awkward expression, that "We need more welders and less philosophers." Nice going with that Basic Writing class, Marco. Nussbaum reminds us that NC governor, bigot and all around misogynistic creep Pat McCrory, described philosophy as "worthless" because it offers "no chances of getting people jobs". You can be sure no philosophical urges were circling McCrory's tiny lizard brain when he recently signed into law one of the most discriminatory laws in recent US history.
But, as Nussbaum also reminds us, the United States of America was founded by guys who were quite enamored of and conversant in the most important philosophical questions of their time. It's because of the philosophical enlightenment of these founders that we are a nation at all. Adams and Jefferson, in their voluminous correspondence, routinely delve into philosophical discussions, referencing the ancient Greeks as well as contemporary thinkers. Just imagine what fun would be made of them by wingers today: "ivory tower liberals", "elitists", "out of touch". But had we to rely on 18th century Marco Rubios or Pat McCrorys, Donald Trumps or Ted Cruzes, in 1776, we'd all be singing "God Save the Fucking Queen" today. (I think that's the original title.)
Right wing antipathy--nay, hostility--to education, even the IDEA of education, is what has birthed the current horror show of astounding ignorance and rank stupidity that is the Republican presidential nomination wrestling match. These people aren't just anti-intellectual, they're anti-thought.
As for Hilary Putnam, he "...was a philosopher of amazing breadth. As he himself wrote, 'Any philosophy that can be put in a nutshell belongs in one.' And in his prolific career Putnam, accordingly, elaborated detailed and creative accounts of central issues in an extremely wide range of areas in philosophy. Indeed there is no philosopher since Aristotle who has made creative and foundational contributions in all the following areas: logic, philosophy of mathematics, philosophy of science, metaphysics, philosophy of mind, ethics, political thought, philosophy of economics. philosophy of literature."
I first came to Putnam through his wonderful 1981 book, "Reason, Truth, and History" three subjects with which no Confederate has the slightest acquaintance.
Perhaps the biggest reason philosophy is still important.
And why they hate it so much.
P.S. by the by, Martha Nussbaum is an extraordinary and entirely accessible thinker and writer herself. If you're interested, check out her book on "Poetic Justice: The Literary Imagination and Public Life".
Reader Comments (1)
@Ak: thanks for this. Here is a review of Nussbaum's "Liberty of Conscience: In Defense of America's Tradition of Religious Equality."
http://www.nybooks.com/articles/2008/05/15/where-shall-the-preaching-stop/