TWENTIETH CENTURY PHILOSOPHY An introduction to the lectures.

TWENTIETH CENTURY PHILOSOPHY An introduction to the lectures

1. MYTHOS AND LOGOS

What is philosophy?

2. JERUZALEM AND ATHENS

Where to localise philosophy?

3. THEORY AND PRACTICE

How do philosophers operate?

1. MYTHOS AND LOGOS

LOVE AND WISDOM

Philosophy > love of wisdom (philo = love; sophia = wisdom).

Philosophers have predominantly an erotic and not an instrumental relation to knowledge > the will to know.

Instrumental > knowledge as means to attain a goal (for instance to make one’s career).

It is wrong to use knowledge solely as means to attain a goal (contra the commodification of academia).

The art of philosophy > to treat knowledge not as means to control others or make money, but as an end in itself.

THE LONESOME MOTHER

Philosophers started to replace a mythological narrative (mythos) by a scientific narrative (logos).

Metaphysics > (from the Greek metá (= beyond) and physiká (physical)) the investigation of principles of reality that transcend those of the particular sciences.

Philosophy is often seen as the mother of the sciences.

The relation to the sciences, religion and art is still a point of discussion.

Focus on the truth, the good and the beauty.

PHILOSOPHICAL SUBDISCIPLINES There are many philosophical subdisciplines. This course will touch upon some of them:

- Ethics.- Philosophy of Art.- Philosophy of Mind.- Philosophy of Religion.- Political Philosophy.- Philosophy of Law.- Philosophy of Science.- Social Philosophy.- Philosophical Anthropology.- Philosophy of Language.

2. JERUZALEM AND ATHENS

TEXTS AND CONTEXTS

In order to understand philosophers we have to consider in which contexts they work(ed).

Philosophers have two interests:1. Historical interest > the study of the history of ideas.2. Systematic interest > the study of specific issues.

Philosophical theories transcend specific contexts > reiteration is important.

TWO SOURCES OF WESTERN THOUGHT

1. JERUZALEM > monotheism > ontological discontinuity.

2. ATHENS > philosophy >

ontological continuity.

LOCALIZED KNOWLEDGE

JERUZALEM ATHENS

STARTING POINT

Fear of the Lord Amazement

ONTOLOGY No issue Issue

MORALITY The knowledge of what is good and bad is embodied by those who believe in God.

The knowledge of what is good and bad is the outcome of moral reasoning.

3. THEORY AND PRACTICE

FROM THEORY TO PRACTICE

Philosophers were a long time mainly interested in theories.

Self-perception: the top-down dispersion of theoretical knowledge.

For instance, in the work of Plato > the philosopher as a king that is responsible for the dispersion of ideas.

Ordinary practice should be guided by independently maintained ideas.

FROM PRACTICE TO THEORY

The philosophical scene changed in the 19th and 20th century: from dispersion to translation.

Practice is the starting point of philosophical reflection.

Four philosophical movements are responsible for this radical change:1. Marxism.2. Existentialism.3. Pragmatism.4. Ordinary language philosophy.

A THREAD The thread of the course consists of three

elements: concepts of philosophy, philosophical themes and the relation between theory and practice.

So, three questions have to be answered again and again:1. What concept of philosophy do the

heroes of twentieth century philosophy have?2. Which key themes do these heroes

discuss?3. How do they relate theory and practice?