David wrote:
> I always thought (since being an undergraduate philosophy major with a
>graduate degree in theology - but a Ph.D. in political science) that
>philosophy in the US was rather boring. I continue to do what I often
>consider as philosophy with no formal connection to philosophy
I think this is a valid point David. There are many who seem to think that
philosophy=metaphysics, and equally there are many who are inclined to a
philosophy of everyday life which is surely of relevance to disabled lives
and far from boring. However, unlike you, I don't think philosophy is
boring but maybe that is because I have no formal training in it apart from
that which comes from everyday life - I read philosophy textbooks (along
with women's fiction, in particular detective novels) in what might be
called my 'lesiure time'. But I do think philosophy is is much more
interesting when located in a multicultural, multi-issue environment.
Philosophical writings are invariably difficult to read, but I like the
challenge of trying to understand them.
Did you know about the annual awards given by the journal, Philosophy and
Literature to celebrate "the most stylistically lamentable passages found
in scholarly books and articles?" The worst was something from Judith
Butler, the second worst was from Homi K. Bhabha and the third from Steven
K. Levine. I am very familiar with the former two, because I've studied
them in relation to race, gender and sexuality, but not the latter. I found
the latter most difficult to read. Wonder why?
Best wishes
Mairian
*********
"To understand what I am doing, you need a third eye"
*********
Mairian Corker
Senior Research Fellow in Deaf and Disability Studies
University of Central Lancashire
Postal Address:
111 Balfour Road
Highbury
London N5 2HE
U.K.
Minicom/TTY +44 [0]171 359 8085
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