An Introduction to Metaphilosophy

Cambridge Introductions to Philosophy

by Søren Overgaard, Stephen Burwood, Paul Gilbert

What is philosophy? How should we do it? Why should we bother to? These are the kinds of questions addressed by metaphilosophy - the philosophical study of the nature of philosophy itself. Students of philosophy today are faced with a confusing and daunting array of philosophical methods, approaches and styles and also deep divisions such as the notorious rift between analytic and Continental philosophy. This book takes readers through a full range of approaches - analytic versus Continental, scientistic versus humanistic, 'pure' versus applied - enabling them to locate and understand these different ways of doing philosophy. Clearly and accessibly written, it will stimulate reflection on philosophical practice and will be invaluable for students of philosophy and other philosophically inclined readers.

Genres: Philosophy, Nonfiction

250 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 2013

Reviews

[Fateme H.]

خوندنش خیلی طول کشید، خیلی زیاد...
اوایل ترم پیش رفتم سراغ یکی از اساتید موردعلاقه‌م و ازش پرسیدم اگر بخواد کتابی رو به کسی که هیچ‌چیزی از فلسفه نمی‌دونه معرفی کنه، اون کتاب چیه؟ این کتاب رو بهم پیشنهاد داد.
به نظرم درباره مسائل مهم و جالبی صحبت کرده بود، ولی دنبال کردن بحث برام کمی مشکل بود. یکی از دلایل این‌که خوندن سیصد صفحه رو شش ماه طول دادم. حس می‌کنم یه بخشی‌ش هم به ترجمه برمی‌گشت، ولی با اطمینان نمی‌تونم قضاوت کنم.
به هر حال این‌طور نیست که حس کنم وقتم تلف شده. صرفا انرژی روانی زیادی ازم گرفت. شاید اگر بعدتر دوباره بهش برگردم، چیزهای بیشتری دستگیرم بشه.

[Error Theorist · Rating 5 out of 5]

This seems to be the only english language introduction to metaphilosophy currently in print. Luckily, this is a fantastic introduction that thoroughly surveys the various areas within the field of metaphilosophy, while avoiding bogging itself down in jargon and over-categorization that plagues a lot of contemporary textbooks. The book covers topics most philosophers and philosophy courses tend to ignore: what is philosophy good for? what is good philosophy? what is philosophy? If I taught a course on metaphilosophy, this is the text I'd use (unfortunately because it's the only english text available - but even if it wasn't, I would recommend it for its non-technical vocabulary).

[Siavash Mazdapour · Rating 3 out of 5]

فصل سوم (فلسفه، علم و علوم انسانی) برای من جالب‌ترین فصل بود.

[Violet · Rating 3 out of 5]

I appreciated the authors' thinking, but the translation seemed a bit clunky.

[Daniel Mureșan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Philosophy is a notorious "intellectual weight" and it is definitely difficult to lift. From time to time, we may ask ourselves "why should I struggle with this book in particular and with philosophy in general when I could just play some videogame?" or "has philosophy ever reached to a conclusion? Do we know a thing about reality thanks to the efforts of philosophy?" or any variation of "why bother at all?". Here we have a fantastic attempt to answer these questions. Take your time, because this book is heavy!

AI Summary:

This text provides a comprehensive introduction to metaphilosophy, investigating the foundational nature, methods, and value of philosophical inquiry. It contrasts analytic and continental traditions, exploring whether philosophy should be viewed as a continuous part of science, a distinct humanities discipline, or a form of conceptual therapy. Key debates include the reliability of intuition and armchair reflection versus the rising influence of experimental philosophy and naturalism. The author examines the lack of definitive progress in the field, suggesting that philosophy often serves as a "midwife" to new sciences or functions as an edifying conversation rather than a search for objective truths. Ultimately, the source weighs the practical utility of philosophy in shaping worldviews and sharpening critical thinking against its more abstract, theoretical aims. It concludes by reflecting on the intellectual virtues required for good philosophizing and the subject's enduring role in human understanding.

[Adam F · Rating 4 out of 5]

If reading about philosophy isn't boring enough, here is a textbook about the philosophy of philosophy. This is literally the only textbook on the matter, so if you want to learn about metaphilosophy this is highly suggested. The authors want to show why metaphilosophy matters, despite the fact that many philosophers disregard the subject. Many original ideas are also posited such as a whole chapter on Rorty. Even if some philosophers are slightly misinterpreted, the bibliography is amazing for finding out how your favorite philosopher came to their stance on philosophy. I wish there was more of a diverse group of thinkers, but this is the best we got for the time being.