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Course textbook

analytic philosophers

So what is analytic philosophy?

analytic philosophers

Analytic philosophers

I take analytic philosophy here as originating in the work of Frege, Russell, Moore, and Wittgenstein, as encompassing the logical empiricism of the Vienna Circle, English ordinary language philosophy of the post-war period, American mainstream philosophy of recent decades, as well as their worldwide affiliates and descendents. - Hans Sluga

But is there a common thread?

1. Geographical designation?

2. Distinctive doctrine?

If anything characterizes ‘analytic’ philosophy, then it is presumably the emphasis placed on analysis. (Michael Beaney http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/analysis/#6)

Russell - Logical analysis

… the logical-analytic method in philosophy … found in the writings of Frege, has … forced itself upon me as something perfectly definite, capable of embodiment in maxims, and adequate, in all branches of philosophy, to yield whatever objective scientific knowledge it is possible to obtain. - Russell (1914) Preface, Our knowledge of the external world

Dummett

the fundamental axiom of analytical philosophy [is] that the only route to the analysis of thought goes through the analysis of language - Dummett (1993) The Origins of Analytical Philosophy

Only with Frege was the proper object of philosophy finally established: namely, first, that the goal of philosophy is the analysis of the structure of thought; secondly, that the study of thought is to be sharply distinguished from the study of the psychological process of thinking, and, finally, that the only proper method for analysing thought consists in the analysis of language. … [T]he acceptance of these three tenets is common to the entire analytical school. - Dummett (1978) Truth and other enigmas

Dummett on “the linguistic turn”

Rorty’s “Linguistic philosophy”

the view that philosophical problems are problems which may be solved (or dissolved) either by reforming language, or by understanding more about the language we presently use.

Example: philosophy of mind

Knobe-2015

3. A special methodology?

Rorty

In saying that “analytic philosophy” now has only a stylistic and sociological unity, I am not suggesting that analytic philosophy is a bad thing, or is in bad shape. The analytic style is, I think, a good style. The esprit de corps among analytic philosophers is healthy and useful. - Rorty, Consequences of Pragmatism, p217

Criticisms of analytic philosophy

Criticism #1 - practical

Philosophy is dead. Philosophy has not kept up with modern developments in science, particularly physics. Scientists have become the bearers of the torch of discovery in our quest for knowledge. - Stephen Hawking

Einstein

I fully agree with you about the significance and educational value of methodology as well as history and philosophy of science. So many people today—and even professional scientists—seem to me like somebody who has seen thousands of trees but has never seen a forest. A knowledge of the historic and philosophical background gives that kind of independence from prejudices of his generation from which most scientists are suffering. This independence created by philosophical insight is — in my opinion — the mark of distinction between a mere artisan or specialist and a real seeker after truth. (Einstein to Thornton, 7 December 1944, EA 61-574)

Responses

Criticism #2 - theoretical

Criticism #3 - political

Further readings

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