Ten high-level meetings with English-speaking philosophers – nine Americans and one Australian – who have left profound marks on their intellectual field: here is the program proposed by the columnist and thinker Normand Baillargeon, who reproduces in this work interviews from various angles . A great seduction through ideas – provided you are well equipped.
Collected between 1994 and 2010 (certain passages, dated, should be placed in their temporal context), these conversations with big names in the discipline (Quine, Chomsky, Singer, etc.) cover broad horizons, major philosophical trends and paradigms to a range of social and political issues very anchored in reality: religion, feminism, global warming, armed conflicts, mass media, and even humor, in a final chapter in apotheosis which makes you smile, although the question be dissected with the greatest seriousness.
But before reaching this final, rambling section, the tone and words that begin the essay prove to be much more demanding for the reader. The first to enter the scene being Putnam, Dennett and Quine, the questions plunge us bluntly into the depths of analytic philosophy. The reader then realizes that he will face high-flying dissertations; and as such, the author proves to be the perfect interlocutor to rise to the height of these giants.
However, for anyone who has never armed with philosophical weapons, these introductory dialogues could seem dry and obscure.
Because many concepts, currents, references or names will not be explained for the reader new to the subject; and even the initiated could sometimes lose their footing and call on Google to the rescue to clarify certain passages. However, footnotes occasionally constitute saving crutches, while various boxes (very welcome, but too rare) detail certain theories, experiments or analogies, such as that of “The Chinese Room”.
Persevere!
In short, the first part of the work may give the impression that Let’s talk philosophy is aimed first and foremost at an informed, even seasoned, readership. Placing this trio of prestigious thinkers at the head of the gondola is certainly a justifiable choice, but not the most successful, because some readers, fearing a Stations of the Cross, could be tempted to drop their bag along the way. Which would be distressing, since the following sections of interviews, including those focused on social, ethical and political issues, seemed much less academic and much more digestible to us.
One big name doesn’t wait for the other: Noam Chomsky discusses academic activism, passing the baton to Michael Walzer for a fascinating analysis of the ethics of international conflicts, including his approach to “The Just War”. We appreciate the fact that the author, in his questions, summarizes the theories and advances of his guests, or encourages them to do so. With this same effort, we see things more clearly in the comments of Nussbaum (notably on the condition of women, democracy or the philosophy of emotions), of Herman on the subject of the media and propaganda, or even of Singer on animal rights. , presented later in the essay.
In short, those who have been able to swallow (or slip away) the pill of analytical philosophy opening the ball will subsequently discover enriching, instructive and more approachable interviews, concluded in style by the more playful projections of Cathcart and Klein, exposing the complementary mechanics comic and philosophical workings.
We must take advantage of the fact that the chapters of Let’s talk philosophy do not form an inextricable whole: nothing prevents us from picking and choosing according to our fields of interest. Even more nourishing North American cultural tidbits for budding philosophers whose training has centered on traditional European thinkers.
Extract
“I wanted to contribute to making known works, ideas, which I am convinced deserve to take part in the great democratic conversation, which they can only enrich. Giving voice to these great authors, allowing them to express themselves in a more personal tone, sometimes more familiar, in a tone a little less academic, more accessible and in response to questions that are also more easily understandable, seemed to me, and still seems to me to be a good way to achieve this goal. »
Who is Normand Baillargeon?
Philosopher and columnist, Normand Baillargeon has written, directed or edited more than sixty works dealing with education, general philosophy, politics, art and literature. He also works in mainstream media (The duty) than in academic journals. Recently, he participated in three seasons of the series Rethink the world and designed the series School in ten questions.
Let’s talk philosophy
All in all
216 pages