The Uses of the Past From Heidegger to Rorty : Doing Philosophy Historically

This book was first published in 2009. 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. Half-title......Page 3 Title......Page 5 Copyright......Page 6 Contents......Page 9 Acknowledgments......Page 11 Abbreviations......Page 12 Introduction: The uses of the past......Page 15 The history of a label......Page 16 The plan of the book......Page 19 Current views......Page 23 Randall and the genetic method......Page 29 The evolution of philosophical pictures......Page 33 More on pictures......Page 39 Rorty, narrative, and "seeing as"......Page 45 Argument......Page 56 Rationality......Page 61 Truth......Page 67 CHAPTER 3 Defending the historical thesis......Page 72 The "historical thesis about philosophy"......Page 73 The historical thesis reconsidered......Page 79 A different strategy......Page 87 A simple taxonomy......Page 92 History in MacIntyre's early work......Page 96 Criticism as repudiation: after virtue......Page 101 Search for a method: whose justice? which rationality?......Page 111 Criticism as vindication: three rival versions of moral enquiry......Page 129 The bigger picture......Page 138 CHAPTER 5 The diagnostic approach: Heidegger......Page 141 Heidegger's project and the forgetfulness of being......Page 144 Forgetfulness as platonism: the essence of truth......Page 152 Forgetfulness as metaphysics: the nietzsche lectures......Page 162 Forgetfulness as onto-theology: Identity and difference......Page 168 The bigger picture......Page 174 CHAPTER 6 The synthetic approach: Ricoeur......Page 178 What's in a name?......Page 179 Self......Page 188 World......Page 194 God......Page 206 The bigger picture......Page 216 Consequences......Page 220 References......Page 226 Index......Page 233 Half-title 3 Title 5 Copyright 6 Contents 9 Acknowledgments 11 Abbreviations 12 Introduction: The uses of the past 15 The history of a label 16 The plan of the book 19 CHAPTER 1 Doing philosophy historically 23 Current views 23 Randall and the genetic method 29 The evolution of philosophical pictures 33 More on pictures 39 CHAPTER 2 The role of narrative 45 Rorty, narrative, and "seeing as" 45 Argument 56 Rationality 61 Truth 67 CHAPTER 3 Defending the historical thesis 72 The "historical thesis about philosophy" 73 The historical thesis reconsidered 79 A different strategy 87 A simple taxonomy 92 CHAPTER The critical approach: MacIntyre 96 History in MacIntyre's early work 96 Criticism as repudiation: after virtue 101 Search for a method: whose justice? which rationality? 111 Criticism as vindication: three rival versions of moral enquiry 129 The bigger picture 138 CHAPTER 5 The diagnostic approach: Heidegger 141 Heidegger's project and the forgetfulness of being 144 Forgetfulness as platonism: the essence of truth 152 Forgetfulness as metaphysics: the nietzsche lectures 162 Forgetfulness as onto-theology: Identity and difference 168 The bigger picture 174 CHAPTER 6 The synthetic approach: Ricoeur 178 What's in a name? 179 Self 188 World 194 God 206 The bigger picture 216 Consequences 220 References 226 Index 233 In This Book Robert Piercey Asks How It Is Possible To Do Philosophy By Studying The Thinkers Of The Past. He Develops His Own Theory Through Readings Of 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 Criticize These Pictures. The Result Is An Account Of How Philosophers Use The Past.--jacket. Introduction: The Uses Of The Past -- 1. Doing Philosophy Historically -- 2. The Role Of Narrative -- 3. Defending The Historical Thesis -- 4. The Critical Approach: Macintyre -- 5. The Diagnostic Approach: Heidegger -- 6. The Synthetic Approach: Ricoeur. Robert Piercey. Includes Bibliographical References (p. 212-218) And Index. "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 criticize these pictures. The result is a powerful and original account of how philosophers use the past"--Résumé de l'éditeur This book asks how it is possible to do philosophy by studying the thinkers of the past. The answer is developed through readings of Martin Heidegger, Richard Rorty, Paul Ricoeur, Alasdair MacIntyre and other historically-minded philosophers. The result is a powerful and original account of how philosophers use the past.