It may be that philosophers aren’t in the best position to explain the reasons why others have a negative attitude towards us (if they actually do). But perhaps attempts at such explanations will demonstrate such reasons. Or perhaps they will give us something informative to contrast with answers from non-philosophers.
Still, as I read comments from those who think this negative attitude towards philosophers isn’t too common, and perhaps pretty rare, I found my inner optimist nodding along. Or was that my inner ignoramus? Sometimes I don’t know how to tell those two apart, but I hope it doesn’t matter.
(Hmmmm…)
The smugness of some of them was itself an answer (as at least one person pointed out; not to mention the historical precedent).
That said, I think Nathan Nobis (Morehouse) is right when he identifies as one likely contributing factor that people “don’t have an accurate idea what many philosophers actually do.”
She added: “I find myself continually encountering academics in varied disciplines who exhibit this attitude.” There were lots of responses.
because we’re hot https://t.co/VpbX5NCNw4
Giambettino Cignaroli, “Death of Socrates”
Yesterday morning, Laura Kennedy, a writer and freelance journalist who often writes about philosophy (and who recently earned her PhD in philosophy at Trinity College Dublin), asked on Twitter: “Philosophers – have you observed that academics in other disciplines tend to have negative attitudes toward philosophy and philosophers? If so, why do you think that might be?”
But clearly “Blibdoolpoolp Servant” is onto something, too:
— Blibdoolpoolp Servant (@GalacticCamaro) February 17, 2022
So, in short, do people like us, and if not, why not?
