Thursday, January 21, 2016

None of this is new, but the arrangement is.

Jason Stanley 2006
Judith Butler is not by any stretch of the imagination a public intellectual.

...There should always be a space for philosophers who simplify and translate philosophical positions and arguments for a broader audience. But a university’s primary mission should be to advance the disciplines it represents. In short, a university should seek to promote work that will give that university prestige in the future and not in the present. So, a university’s mission with regard to its philosophy department should be to support those who are attempting to formulate new positions and arguments, rather than those who seek contemporary relevance.
A few hops from the first link takes you here, an on to here.

In 2011 Laurie Paul defends Stanley's arguments for "progress" in philosophy
I watched the presentation and I thought Jason Stanley did an excellent job. He gave a really engaging, fun presentation that was geared to the academic audience in the room and then handled Romano's insulting and rather ignorant comments extremely well.
After 2013 she says you can't predict the future.

Stanley: "In short, a university should seek to promote work that will give that university prestige in the future and not in the present."

The logic of original intent writ forward. Again, none of this is new but the examples are clear-cut.

Paul is drifting away from philosophy towards literature.
Stanley in becoming politically engaged becomes just sort of moralist that Butler criticizes.

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