Why we need more Continental Philosophy

By Dominic DeHoratius on November 24, 2015

In my final post on Philosophy (at least for a little while), I wanted to discuss the differences between analytic and continental philosophy, and why I believe continental philosophy deserves far more attention here in North America.

This is a topic that has created some division amongst philosophy faculties across the country, but the question is, why? Without going into the specifics, I can sum it up in this way. Analytic philosophy prides itself on being a very scientific and formulaic approach to philosophy (and it’s subsequent problems/questions).

Continental philosophy is considered a very creative and imaginative take on philosophy (perhaps even poetic in some instances). But here’s the crux of the issue. Many analytic philosophers believe continental philosophy fails to truly answer the tough questions we face, and I even have an analogy for this topic.

Think of analytic philosophy as a hard science, with the same creeds and motivations that drive their research. Continental philosophy is an amalgamation of all the literature, creative writing, poetic, and other liberal arts disciplines fused together with philosophy. It’s not hard to see why friction exists between these two philosophical traditions, given that it mirrors our modern day world and how people argue over which major is “worth something in the real world”.

In my opinion, this debate often presents us with a false dichotomy. An absolutist approach is rarely ever a good thing, and one may legitimately question whether the classic superiority complex has clouded the minds of these aforementioned faculties and departments. There seems to be a fear or concern that allowing either tradition into your department (depending on which tradition is the status quo) will suddenly send every student on the wrong existential path.

Personally, I have come across many students in my own department who lament that continental philosophy is never taught or offered in our curriculum. I have no doubt that this “grass is greener” state of mind exists for many students in this country (and most likely expanding on a global scale). The question is, how can we change this?

For starters, students need to voice these concerns with their program advisors, as well as their professors. I believe that students do have the power to change this, but it will take quite a bit of effort and determination. Not only must a student make their opinion known, but they must also do it in a persuasive way.

Think about how incorporating continental philosophy can help the overall learning experience at your given school, and how it might help strengthen the program as a whole. Perhaps you could approach one of your professors in your department to help let the administration know about said concerns and requests (as they will ultimately have more pull than you as a single student).

While it’s not always feasible, search out one of your teachers who is indeed familiar with the continental tradition, as that will increase your odds of success. From my own personal standpoint, I have met with one of my professors about this very issue (and he was actually taught in a faculty that embraced both analytic and continental philosophy) about creating a class designed to educate philosophy majors/minors about this very issue.

And lastly, seek out resources and books that differ from what you have been taught. Sometimes we forget that it doesn’t take a class at our college to allow us the opportunity to learn about a given field of study. Some continental philosophers I would recommend include Jean Paul Sartre, Albert Camus, Friedrich Nietzsche, and Jean-Jacques Rousseau. So take a moment in-between Facebook updates and Snapchat stories, and enjoy the eloquent writings of these great philosophers. While you’re at it, send out a quote by one of those aforementioned philosophers on your favorite social media platform.

 

Sources:

http://www.philosophicalgourmet.com/analytic.asp

https://philosophynow.org/issues/74/Analytic_versus_Continental_Philosophy

http://faculty.georgetown.edu/blattnew/contanalytic.html

Follow Uloop

Apply to Write for Uloop News

Join the Uloop News Team

Discuss This Article

Back to Top

Log In

Contact Us

Upload An Image

Please select an image to upload
Note: must be in .png, .gif or .jpg format
OR
Provide URL where image can be downloaded
Note: must be in .png, .gif or .jpg format

By clicking this button,
you agree to the terms of use

By clicking "Create Alert" I agree to the Uloop Terms of Use.

Image not available.

Add a Photo

Please select a photo to upload
Note: must be in .png, .gif or .jpg format