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

by Robert Piercey

Overview

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.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780521517539
Publisher:	Cambridge University Press
Publication date:	03/05/2009
Pages:	234
Product dimensions:	5.90(w) x 9.00(h) x 0.80(d)

About the Author

Robert Piercey is an Assistant Professor of Philosophy at Campion College, University of Regina.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgments; List of abbreviations; 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; Consequences; References; Index.