The Uses of the Past from Heidegger to Rorty Doing Philosophy Historically

The Uses of the Past from Heidegger to RortyDoing Philosophy Historically

In this book Robert Piercey asks how it is possible to do philosophy by studying the thinkers of the past.

Robert Piercey (Author)

9780521517539, Cambridge University Press

Hardback, published 5 March 2009

234 pages
23.4 x 16 x 1.6 cm, 0.52 kg

In this book Robert Piercey asks how it is possible to do philosophy by studying the thinkers of the past. He develops his answer through readings of Martin Heidegger, Richard Rorty, Paul Ricoeur, Alasdair MacIntyre and other historically-minded philosophers. Piercey shows that what is distinctive about these figures is a concern with philosophical pictures - extremely general conceptions of what the world is like - rather than specific theories. He offers a comprehensive and illuminating exploration of the way in which these thinkers use narrative to evaluate and criticise these pictures. The result is a powerful and original account of how philosophers use the past.

AcknowledgmentsList of abbreviationsIntroduction: the uses of the past1. Doing philosophy historically2. The role of narrative3. Defending the historical thesis4. The critical approach: MacIntyre5. The diagnostic approach: Heidegger6. The synthetic approach: RicoeurConsequencesReferencesIndex.

Subject Areas: History of ideas [JFCX], History of Western philosophy [HPC]