What is it that you do?
I just had a conversation with my friend Dennis about the difference between political philosophy and political theory (as usually taught in Political Science Departments). I tend to think that political philosophy is more normative, that is, its concerned to examine whether or not politics ought to be a certain way, whereas political theory is more interested in explaining the foundations for why politics is the way it is now. For instance, I tend to think political philosophers are more interested in questions of utopia than are political theorists.
From Public Reason: the questions that motivate social and political phlilosophy
1) What Should the Social World Be Like?
2) Should There be Government?
3) What Sort of Government Should We Have?
Labels: engaged philosophy, higher education
posted by Joseph Orosco @ 3:30 PM
1 Comments
1 Comments:
I would change the last two questions to something more like "how should people organize themselves, and to what end?"
The current formulation seems limiting.
Otherwise I like the distinction.
Post a Comment
Subscribe to Post Comments [Atom]
<< Home