Philosophy in the 20 century/ What is Philosophy? Flashcards
What is the primary focus of Analytic Philosophy?
Analytic Philosophy centers around the philosophical examination of language, equating the process of “analysis” to the untying or decomposing of concepts. Language is seen as the primary medium through which thinking, cognition, and understanding occur, making it the fundamental object of philosophical inquiry
What elements does Analytic Philosophy exclude from philosophical consideration?
Analytic Philosophy excludes elements like the unconscious, pre-verbal experience, and limit phenomena of human existence such as suicide, psychosis, trauma, and death. It strictly confines philosophy to what is “meaningful” and empirically verifiable, rejecting the “unspeakable,” the “irrational,” and the “un-logical”
How does Continental Philosophy differ from Analytic Philosophy?
Continental Philosophy embraces themes of irrationality and profound, obscure dimensions of human existence. It incorporates genetic and transcendental considerations of rationality, understanding, and cognition. However, the terms “continental” and “analytic” are broad and vague, not strictly defined by geographical or linguistic criteria
How might “Contemporary” Philosophy be understood?
“Contemporary” Philosophy might be understood in a purely temporal sense or as a qualifier denoting a specific philosophical style. The world wars revealed the destructive potential inherent in industrialization, globalization, and civilization, highlighting a massive capacity for technological annihilation. Despite this, philosophy has its own temporality, often anticipating socio-political transformations retrospectively
What are the three central crises confronted by 20th-century philosophy
The three central crises confronted by 20th-century philosophy are:
1. The crisis of knowledge and the knowing subject, or the “epistemic” crisis.
2. The crisis of truth, or the “epistemological” crisis.
3. The crisis of the philosopher, or the “sociological” crisis
What is the “epistemic” crisis faced by 20th-century philosophy
The “epistemic” crisis involves a loss of trust in our cognitive abilities and self-knowledge. This breakdown challenges the subject’s central position, historically exemplified by figures like Socrates, Descartes, and Kant. Thinkers like Marx, Nietzsche, and Freud revealed humanity’s propensity for self-deception through concepts like ideology, genealogy, and the unconscious, complicating our understanding of knowledge by highlighting its paradoxical relationship with illusion.
What is the “epistemological” crisis in 20th-century philosophy?
The “epistemological” crisis refers to the complexity, multidimensionality, relationality, and equivocal nature of truth. Epistemology, which investigates the structure, conditions, and presuppositions of knowledge and truth, found itself grappling with these intricate aspects of truth
What led to the “sociological” crisis in philosophy? (3)
The “sociological” crisis emerged from philosophy’s loss of legitimacy following the speculative excesses of German Idealism.
This crisis saw a perceived need to ground philosophy in empirical psychology, promoting philosophy to an exact science.
As psychology began to replace philosophy in academic chairs, philosophy reacted by engaging with non-philosophical fields and adopting new methods of experimentation and creation
How did 20th-century philosophy approach the theoretical and practical renewal of philosophy?
Theoretical renewal in philosophy comes from within through reflection, focusing on the nature and essence of subjectivity and consciousness (Husserl) and a reflection on the history of philosophy (Heidegger). Practical renewal comes from external influences, often dismissing traditional concepts of truth, knowledge, and subjectivity, and engaging with non-philosophical fields such as political, social, scientific, or artistic practices (e.g., Marx & Engels, Nietzsche, Freud). Both approaches contribute to the ongoing development and transformation of philosophy.
