What’s the Problem with an Aversion to History Anyway?

Activity: Talk or presentationPresentation

Description

Philosophers are sometimes accused of harbouring an aversion to history. In this paper we analyse a number of possible interpretations of this charge and evaluate the severity of the charge given these various interpretations. We conclude that at least two such interpretations—that philosophers who are unaware of their own history (and history in general) cannot seriously question underlying assumptions, and that philosophers lacking self-reflexive awareness of their own place in history cannot properly understand their own practice and thought—seem such that a lack of historical awareness in either of those two senses might, if widespread enough, conceivably be taken to threaten philosophy at its core.
Period2022 Mar 3
Held atPractical Philosophy

UKÄ subject classification

  • History of Ideas
  • Philosophy