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Pragmatism, Activism, and the Icy Slopes of Logic in George Reisch’s Portrait of the Philosophy of Science as a Young Field

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Abstract

This paper considers several models of politically engaged philosophy with the aim of provoking discussion of George Reisch’s How the Cold War Transformed Philosophy of Science. At issue is the Unity of Science movement’s conception of the philosophy of science in particular and what politically engaged philosophy of science might look like in general. The paper discusses the role that the pragmatist Sidney Hook plays in the book and considers some of the questions raised by the role that he plays: What does it mean to be a politically engaged philosopher of science? Do we want philosophy of science to be politically engaged?

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Notes

  1. See Murray Friedman (2005) on the role of Jewish intellectuals, including Hook, in the formation of neoconservatism.

  2. The idea that the politics of the left wing of the Vienna Circle is quite weak in comparison to feminist philosophy of science is developed forcefully by Richardson, S.: 2006, `The `Left Vienna Circle' Thesis' unpublished draft.

  3. Comments from two anonymous reviewers helped me clarify several points in this essay.

References

  • Friedman M (2005) The neoconservative revolution: Jewish intellectuals and the shaping of public policy. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge and New York

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  • Gouinlock J (1998) Dewey, John. In: Craig E (ed) Routledge encyclopedia of philosophy. Routledge, London

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  • Reisch GA (2005) How the Cold War transformed philosophy of science to the icy slopes of logic. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge and New York

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  • Sidorsky D (2004) Charting the intellectual career of Sidney Hook: five major steps. In: Cotter MJ (ed) Sidney Hook reconsidered. Prometheus Books, Amherst, NY, 19–65

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  • Wylie A (1996) Feminist philosophy of science. In: Borchet DM (ed) The Encyclopedia of philosophy supplement. Simon and Schuster Macmillan, New York

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Philosophy, University of San Francisco, 2130 Fulton Street, San Francisco, CA, 94117, USA

    David J. Stump

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  1. David J. Stump
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Correspondence to David J. Stump.

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Stump, D.J. Pragmatism, Activism, and the Icy Slopes of Logic in George Reisch’s Portrait of the Philosophy of Science as a Young Field. Sci & Educ 18, 169–175 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11191-007-9115-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11191-007-9115-5

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