Philosophy and Pandemics

There's a longstanding sense that philosophy is kind of up-in-the-clouds; Aristophanes drew on that image in ancient Greece, and it remains with us today. One rarely turns to philosophers for practical advice as a consequence. 

Yet if asked, philosophers generally have some, and for those whose study encompasses the great sweep of the philosophical tradition, it's generally pretty good. The continual disagreements can mask the fact that the field has come up with important and worthy answers. 

1 comment:

Assistant Village Idiot said...

I liked Garrison Keillor's observation years ago that philosophers like to give advice to people who are happier than they are.