Public philosophy explained

Public philosophy is a subfield of philosophy that involves engagement with the public. Jack Russell Weinstein defines public philosophy as "doing philosophy with general audiences in a non-academic setting".^[1] It must be undertaken in a public venue but might deal with any philosophical issue. Michael J. Sandel describes public philosophy as having two aspects. The first is to "find in the political and legal controversies of our day an occasion for philosophy". The second is "to bring moral and political philosophy to bear on contemporary public discourse."^[2] James Tully emphasizes that public philosophy is done through practice, through the contestable concepts of citizenship, civic freedom, and nonviolence.^[3] According to Sharon Meagher, one of the founders of the Public Philosophy Network, public philosophy' is not simply a matter of doing philosophy in public, but must also engage with the community it finds itself in."^[4]

Some public philosophers are academic professionals, such as Cornel West, Jürgen Habermas, Martha Nussbaum, Richard Rorty,^[5] James Tully, Jack Russell Weinstein, but others may work outside of the usual academic contexts of teaching and writing for peer-reviewed journals such as social activist Jane Addams^[6] and novelist Ayn Rand.^[7]

Jack Russell Weinstein, director of The Institute for Philosophy In Public Life, contends that although it is commonplace to argue that public philosophy promotes democracy, this argument assumes philosophers are better citizens than non-philosophers.^[8]

See also

• Public history
• Public intellectual

External links

• Essays in Philosophy, special issue on public philosophy
• Committee on Public Philosophy of the American Philosophical Association
• Institute for Philosophy in Public Life
• Public Philosophy Journal
• Public Philosophy Network

Notes and References

1. Weinstein . Jack Russell . 2014 . Public Philosophy: Introduction . Essays in Philosophy . 15 . 1. 1–4 . 10.7710/1526-0569.1485 .
2. Book: Sandel, Michael J. . Michael J. Sandel . Public Philosophy: Essays on Morality in Politics . Harvard University Press . Cambridge, Massachusetts . 2005 . 0-674-01928-8 . 60321410 . 5 . registration .
3. Book: Tully, James . James Tully (philosopher) . Public Philosophy in a New Key: Volume 1, Democracy and Civic Freedom . Ideas in Context series . 2008 . Cambridge University Press . Cambridge, UK . 978-0-521-44961-8 . 3, 243-309.
4. Web site: Public Philosophy: Revitalizing Philosophy as a Civic Discipline . Sharon M. Meagher . 2020-02-14 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200214094727/http://api.ning.com/files/C*75Xw4bA4cU7vHOHS-zlLRmkdBskXa9IzuVBCJKtjhmSgMrQy8tWTu1s9vqumPuG2gyJfaPzwWJ1Tu4*NoJIUVYUXtPpC37/KetteringreportfinalcorrectedFeb2013.pdf . 2020-02-14 . dead.
5. Book: Posner, Richard A. . Public Intellectuals: A Study of Decline . Richard Posner . Harvard University Press . Cambridge, Massachusetts . 2003 . 0-674-01246-1 . 491547976 . paperback . 320–321.
6. Encyclopedia: Jane Addams . Hamington . Maurice . Edward N. . Zalta . Edward N. Zalta . June 15, 2010 . . November 1, 2013 . March 28, 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190328075121/https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/addams-jane/ . live .
7. Book: Sciabarra, Chris Matthew . Ayn Rand: The Russian Radical . Chris Matthew Sciabarra . University Park, Pennsylvania . Pennsylvania State University Press . 1995 . 0-271-01440-7 . 31133644 . 97. Ayn Rand: The Russian Radical .
8. Weinstein. Jack Russell. 2014. What Does Public Philosophy Do? (Hint: It Does Not Make Better Citizens). Essays in Philosophy. 15. 1. 33–57. 10.7710/1526-0569.1488. free.