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From: janw@inmet.UUCP
Newsgroups: talk.philosophy.misc
Subject: Re: Decline of Philosophy
Message-ID: <11700379@inmet>
Date: Tue, 9-Sep-86 10:30:00 EDT
Article-I.D.: inmet.11700379
Posted: Tue Sep  9 10:30:00 1986
Date-Received: Fri, 12-Sep-86 03:08:17 EDT
References: <5155@decwrl.DEC.COM>
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Nf-From: inmet.UUCP!janw    Sep  9 10:30:00 1986


[williams@kirk.dec.com ]
/* ----- "Decline of Philosophy" ----- */
>The average value of philosophy in the states can be approximate-
>ly  measured  by  the  number of philosophy books you can find in
>bookstores.  The current theme appears to be "  business  manage-
>ment " and " self help ".  Both these fields are symptomatic, and
>actually contain little or no insight into modern problems.

For this reason philosophers ought to be grateful  to  Ayn  Rand,
whose  philosophy  books  are  in  the bookstores and sell.  That
can open the market to others - e.g., those who would criticize her.

Even the cheap mysticism now flooding the shelves opens the way 
to people who would start with debunking it, then propose their
own ideas. 

A philosopher ought not to be snotty, but come to the readers
and begin by discussing *their* concerns in plain English
(or whatever the language of the land is).
It is easier for philosophers to do than for anyone else, since 
philosophy is universal and applies to everything (including
self-help and even business management).

Those philosophers whose work is esoteric and  unreadable  cannot
do  it, but that's only fair.  Why should laymen pay, directly or
through taxes or through tuition fees, for someone else's hobby?

The customer is the boss. Educate your bosses - but don't
ignore them. 

		Jan Wasilewsky