A Companion to Public Philosophy

A Companion to Public Philosophy

by Lee McIntyre, Nancy McHugh, Ian Olasov
Released April 2022
Publisher(s): Wiley-Blackwell
ISBN: 9781119635222

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Book description

The first anthology devoted to the theory and practice of all forms of public philosophy

A Companion to Public Philosophy brings together in a single volume the diverse practices, modalities, and perspectives of this rapidly growing field. Forty-two chapters written by established practitioners and newer voices alike consider questions ranging from the definition of public philosophy to the value of public philosophy to both society and philosophy itself. Throughout the book, philosophers offer insights into the different publics they have engaged, the topics they have explored, the methods they have used and the lessons they have learned from these engagements.

The Companion explores important philosophical issues concerning the practice of philosophy in the public sphere, how public philosophy relates to advocacy, philosophical collaborations with political activists, locations where public philosophy can be done, and more. Many essays highlight underserved topics such as effective altruism, fat activism, trans activism, indigenous traditions, and Africana philosophy, while other essays set the stage for rigorous debates about the boundaries of public philosophy and its value as a legitimate way to do philosophy.

  • Discusses the range of approaches that professional philosophers can use to engage with non-academic audiences
  • Explores the history and impact of public philosophy from the time of Socrates to the modern era
  • Highlights the work of public philosophers concerning issues of equity, social justice, environmentalism, and medical ethics
  • Covers the modalities used by contemporary public philosophers, including film and television, podcasting, internet memes, and community-engaged teaching
  • Includes essays by those who bring philosophy to corporations, government policy, consulting, American prisons, and activist groups across the political spectrum

A Companion to Public Philosophy is essential reading for philosophers from all walks of life who are invested in and curious about the ways that philosophy can impact the public and how the public can impact philosophy. It is also an excellent text for undergraduate and graduate courses on the theory and practice of public philosophy as well as broader courses on philosophy, normative ethics, and comparative and world philosophy.

Table of contents

  1. Cover
  2. Series Page
  3. Title Page
  4. Copyright Page
  5. Notes on Contributors
  6. Foreword
  7. Part I: Public Philosophy and Its Problems
    1. 1 What Is Public Philosophy?
    2. 2 The Professionalization of Philosophy
      1. 1 From Socrates to Kant: Pre‐professional Public Philosophy
      2. 2 The Discipline and the Professionalization of Philosophy
      3. 3 The Rise of Public Philosophy within and against the Disciplinary Matrix
      4. References
    3. 3 Rekindling Public Philosophy
    4. 4 The Case Against Public Philosophy
      1. 1 The Case Against Academic Philosophy
      2. 2 Amateur Philosophy as a Good in Itself
      3. 3 The Problem of Expertise
      4. 4 Public Philosophy as Professional Philosophy
      5. 5 Conclusion
      6. References
    5. 5 The Value of Public Philosophy
      1. 1 Why Public Philosophy?
      2. 2 The Value of Public Philosophy to the Public
      3. 3 The Value of Public Philosophy to Philosophers
      4. 4 The Value of Public Philosophy to Universities
      5. Acknowledgments
      6. References
  8. Part II: Locations and Impacts
    1. 6 Feminist Bioethics as Public Practice
      1. 1 The Emergence of Feminist Bioethics
      2. 2 Relational Autonomy
      3. 3 Standpoint Theory
      4. 4 Intersectionality
      5. 5 The Black Mamas Matter Alliance
      6. 6 Concluding Thoughts
      7. References
    2. 7 Disability, Bioethics, and the Duty to Do Public Philosophy During a Global Pandemic
      1. 1 Introduction
      2. 2 Disability, Illness, and Systemic Discrimination in Triage Protocols
      3. 3 Ethical Reasons
      4. 4 Epistemic Reasons
      5. 5 Prudential Reasons
      6. 6 Conclusion
      7. References
    3. 8 Philosophy in Public Life in the Latin American and Latinx Traditions
      1. 1 Introduction
      2. 2 Public Philosophy in Mexico
      3. 3 Public Philosophy in Argentina
      4. Conclusion
      5. References
    4. 9 Africana Public Philosophy and Its Critique of Anti‐Black Propaganda
      1. 1 Anti‐Black Propaganda in Slavery and the Historical Antecedents of Africana Public Philosophy
      2. 2 Contemporary Violence and the Public’s Reaction to Africana Public Philosophy
      3. References
    5. 10 Earth – A Place for Indigenous Solutions
      1. It Is Time to Enact Indigenous Solutions
      2. 1. Hit'é: We Speak from a Place of Powerful Spirit
      3. 2. Nowe: Power Plus Place Equals Personality
      4. 3. NoKa: The Miseducative Nature vs. Culture Dichotomy
      5. 4. Tala: A Reconstruction of the Old Ways
      6. 5. Tc’wahe: We Live Among Relatives, Not Resources
      7. 6. Ichu: Promoting Systems of Life‐Enhancement
      8. 7. Laxdju: Beauty Resides in the Difficult Work of Difference
      9. Ôk'ajU TahA Ôk'âfâTA: (Together We Can Move It Forward!)
      10. References
    6. 11 Public Reasoning About the Good Life
      1. 1 What Is the Good Life?
      2. 2 Happiness: The Empirical Evidence
      3. 3 The Challenges of Public Philosophizing About the Good Life
      4. 4 Different Approaches to Public Philosophizing About the Good Life
      5. References
    7. 12 Public Philosophy, Sustainability, and Environmental Problems
      1. 1 Environmental Ethicists’ Crisis of Conscience
      2. 2 Wellsprings of Public Environmental Philosophy
      3. 3 The Watershed of Public Environmental Philosophy
      4. References
    8. 13 Philosophy of Protest and Epistemic Activism
      1. 1 Protest, Silencing, and Epistemic Injustice Against Social Groups
      2. 2 Epistemic Activism
      3. References
    9. 14 Public Philosophy and Deliberative Practices
      1. Introduction
      2. 1 The Co‐emergence of Philosophy and Politics
      3. 2 Definitions of Deliberation
      4. 3 Models and Goals of Deliberative Practice
      5. 4 From Public Will to Public Policy
      6. 5 Concluding Thoughts
      7. References
    10. 15 Peace Literacy, Public Philosophy, and Peace Activism
      1. 1 Introduction
      2. 2 Peace Literacy
      3. 3 The Interdependence of Peace Activism and Public Philosophy
      4. 4 Conclusion
      5. References
    11. 16 Public Philosophy and Fat Activism
      1. 1 Introduction
      2. 2 Mainstream Philosophical Work
      3. 3 Master Narratives and Counterstories
      4. 4 Counter‐Storytelling and Fat Activism
      5. 5 Conclusion
      6. References
    12. 17 Public Philosophy in Effective Altruism
      1. 1 Effective Altruism and Its Intellectual Roots
      2. 2 Public Philosophy, Outreach and Engagement, and the Growth of Effective Altruism
      3. 3 Effective Altruism in Public Philosophical Debate
      4. 4 Conclusion
      5. References
    13. 18 Public Philosophy and Food
      1. 1 Introduction
      2. 2 Philosophy’s Bland History with Food
      3. 3 Emerging “Foodies” and “Foodie‐ism”
      4. 4 The Politicization of Foodie Culture
      5. 5 Philosophy and Animal Consumption
      6. 6 A Shared Meal between Animal Rights’ Decolonial, Anti‐Racist, and Feminist Movements
      7. 7 Factory Farming and Sustainability
      8. 8 The Future of Food
      9. References
    14. 19 Public Philosophy and Trans Activism
      1. 1 “Activism” as Public Philosophy
      2. 2 Hot Takes as “Public Philosophy”
      3. 3 Dangers of the “Trans Activism” vs. “Public Philosophy” Dichotomy
      4. 4 Conclusion
      5. References
  9. Part III: Modalities
    1. 20 Popular Ethics in The Good Place and Beyond
      1. References
    2. 21 Welcome to Voice Land
      1. Why Public Philosophy?
      2. Why the Radio?
      3. Navigating Voice Land
      4. A Sampling of Contemporary Philosophy on the Radio
      5. New Frontiers on the New Frontier
      6. The State of Voice Land
      7. References
    3. 22 Public Philosophy Through Film
      1. Scene 1: Detecting Semblances in Nolan’s Memento
      2. Scene 2: Avowed and Disavowed Beliefs in Behind the Curve, American History X, and American Psycho
      3. Scene 3: Learning to Die So That One Can Live: Fight Club, The Ruins, and Malcolm X
      4. Conclusion: A Cinematic Public Philosophy to Come
      5. References
    4. 23 Say What? Talking Philosophy with the Public
      1. 1 Getting Started
      2. 2 Writing Up Your Talk
      3. 3 Delivering Your Talk
      4. 4 Q & A
      5. 5 The Exit
      6. 6 Concluding Thoughts
    5. 24 Public Philosophy and Popular Culture
      1. 1 How and Why It Started
      2. 2 Different Approaches
      3. 3 Part of the Problem
      4. 4 Money
      5. 5 Getting Involved
      6. 6 Does It Count?
      7. 7 A Conclusion about the Future
      8. References
    6. 25 Public Philosophy Through Narrative
      1. 1 Storytelling and the Problem of Vagueness
      2. 2 The Design of Nonfiction
      3. 3 The Enlightenment of Alison Gopnik
      4. 4 Truth, Justification, and Narrative Storytelling
      5. References
    7. 26 Philosophy Podcasting
      1. 1 A Variety of Formats
      2. 2 Philosophy as Spoken Word
      3. 3 Diversity
      4. 4 Podcasting and Professional Philosophy
    8. 27 Philosophical Spaces
      1. 1 Introduction
      2. 2 Clarifications
      3. 3 Facilitating Philosophy
      4. 4 Opportunities
      5. 5 Challenges
      6. 6 Conclusion
      7. References
    9. 28 Philosophy in Nature as a Kind of Public Philosophy
      1. 1 Introduction
      2. 2 My Path to Public Philosophy in Nature
      3. 3 The Tour
      4. 4 Challenges and Rewards
      5. 5 Conclusion
      6. References
      7. Further Reading
    10. 29 Philosophical Counseling
      1. 1 Philosophical Counseling as a Mode of Philosophical Practice
      2. 2 What Philosophical Counselors Do
      3. 3 The Relationship between Philosophical Counseling and Psychotherapy
      4. 4 Guidance to Aspiring Philosophical Counselors
      5. References
    11. 30 The Transformative Power of Community Engaged Teaching
      1. 1 Domains and Dynamics
      2. 2 Remembering and Understanding
      3. 3 Lessons and Legacies
      4. References
    12. 31 Philosophy Through Memes
      1. 1 Philosophy. Through. Memes.
      2. 2 Bricolage
      3. 3 Ownership
      4. 4 Conclusion
      5. References
  10. Part IV: Collaborators
    1. 32 Philosophy for Children
      1. 1 History of Philosophy for Children
      2. 2 Methods for Doing Philosophy for Children
      3. 3 Philosophical Sensitivity and the Purposes of Philosophy for Children
      4. 4 Recognition by the Academy and by Schools
      5. 5 Epistemic Injustice and the Philosophical Recognition of Young People
      6. 6 Social Inequalities and Reaching All Young People
      7. 7 Philosophy of Childhood
      8. 8 Conclusion
      9. References
    2. 33 Public Philosophy in Prisons
      1. 1 Introduction
      2. 2 Epistemic Injustice and Critical Pedagogy
      3. 3 The Narratization of the Oppressed
      4. 4 Hermeneutical Monopoly
      5. 5 Conclusion
      6. References
    3. 34 Philosophical Collaborations with Activists
      1. 1 Philosophical Interpretations of Activism
      2. 2 Activists as Subjects of Philosophical Research
      3. 3 Professional Philosophers as Scholar‐Activists
      4. References
    4. 35 Getting Close
      1. 1 Introduction
      2. 2 The Spirit of Public Philosophy
      3. 3 Education and Training for Public Philosophy
      4. 4 Work with Non‐Governmental Organizations (NGOs)
      5. 5 Federal Government Committees and Commissions
      6. 6 State Government
      7. 7 Conclusion
      8. References
    5. 36 Healthcare Ethics Consultation as Public Philosophy
      1. Introduction
      2. 1 The Emergence of Healthcare Ethics as Public Philosophy
      3. 2 The Core Philosophical Content of Healthcare Ethics
      4. 3 Healthcare Ethics Case Consultation
      5. 4 Healthcare Ethics Education and Policy Development
      6. 5 Professionalization and the Future Role of Philosophers
      7. 6 Conclusion
      8. References
    6. 37 Ethics Consulting in Industry
      1. 1 What Does (Some) Ethics Consulting in Industry Look Like?
      2. 2 Three Areas of Focus for Ethics Consulting
      3. 3 Two Kinds of Ethics Consulting: Pursuing the Good vs. Avoiding the Bad
      4. 4 A Broader View of Ethics Outside Academia
      5. 5 Why Do Businesses Care about Ethics Enough to Spend Money on Ethics Consultants?
      6. 6 Getting Beyond the Walls of Academia
    7. 38 Interactions Between Professionalized and Non‐Professionalized Philosophers
      1. 1 Where Does Philosophy Belong?
      2. 2 How Professional and “Outsider” Philosophers May Help Each Other
      3. 3 The Perils and Promises of Outsider and Professional Collaborations
      4. References
  11. Part V: Looking Forward
    1. 39 Troubling the “Public” in and Through Philosophy
      1. References
    2. 40 Esse est Percipi
      1. 1 What Is PR, and Why Do You Need It?
      2. 2 Ground Rules in Media Relations
      3. 3 Media Interviews
      4. 4 Writing for the Media
      5. 5 Closing Thoughts
      6. References
    3. 41 Institutional Challenges to Public Philosophy
      1. 1 The Two‐Lives Problem
      2. 2 Two‐Lives Revisited: Responding to Challenges
      3. 3 Conclusion
      4. References
    4. 42 The Future of Public Philosophy
      1. 1 Being a Public Philosopher
      2. 2 Experience‐Building in Public Philosophy
      3. 3 The Future of Public Philosophy Is Being Built Now
      4. References
      5. Recommended Resources
  12. Index
  13. End User License Agreement

Product information

  • Title: A Companion to Public Philosophy
  • Author(s): Lee McIntyre, Nancy McHugh, Ian Olasov
  • Release date: April 2022
  • Publisher(s): Wiley-Blackwell
  • ISBN: 9781119635222