Blake Sermons
asked
Gregory B. Sadler:
Do you the current era of philosophy and literature is inferior to previous era's? One author made a good point, when you compare the seminal literary figures from the early to mid 2000's to our current ones there seems to be a clear difference in quality. Modern literature just doesn't seem to be on the same level.
Gregory B. Sadler
Well, I couldn't say for literature, since I read very little contemporary literature. I can say that there are some figures from the mid-20th century on whose work is very good, certainly for a philosopher -- P.K. Dick being one whose works, including his "realist" novels, I'll be going back to for the rest of my life -- but as to the broader field, I'm not a competent judge.
In philosophy, actually, I'd say this is a pretty good period. It might not seem such, if one pays too much attention to the rather boring work churned out by the thousands by on-the-whole clever people who have little sense of proportion or appreciation for the great luminaries of the tradition -- nor if one just reads the sort of philosophy-lite that tends to get recommended by non-philosophers, occasionally making the best-sellers lists.
But, if you're looking at philosophers whose works will be read and meditated upon centuries from now, we're in a fortunate time -- not only for original new perspectives, but for history of philosophy and commentary upon philosophy. Someone who manages to contribute in both of those ways would be, e.g. Alasdair MacIntyre
In philosophy, actually, I'd say this is a pretty good period. It might not seem such, if one pays too much attention to the rather boring work churned out by the thousands by on-the-whole clever people who have little sense of proportion or appreciation for the great luminaries of the tradition -- nor if one just reads the sort of philosophy-lite that tends to get recommended by non-philosophers, occasionally making the best-sellers lists.
But, if you're looking at philosophers whose works will be read and meditated upon centuries from now, we're in a fortunate time -- not only for original new perspectives, but for history of philosophy and commentary upon philosophy. Someone who manages to contribute in both of those ways would be, e.g. Alasdair MacIntyre
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