Columbia University Professor Philip Kitcher Speaks to Philosophy Forum Cadets

In January cadets in the Philosophy Forum had the opportunity to reflect on the value and nature of philosophical inquiry with one of the foremost practitioners in the field. Philip Kitcher, John Dewey Professor Emeritus of Philosophy at Columbia University, spoke with cadets about the ideas in his new book, "What’s the Use of Philosophy?" (Oxford University Press). Kitcher is not satisfied with the current state of the discipline. He criticizes the field for too often being, in John Dewey’s words, “a sentimental indulgence for a few.” He calls for a reconstruction of the discipline so that it can become a vital part of human culture, one that “reflects on and responds to the state of inquiry, to the conditions of a variety of human social practices, and to the felt needs of individual people to make sense of the world and their place in it.” Before speaking to cadets, Dr. Kitcher led a seminar with philosophy faculty who read the book in advance. It was an inspiring call to put the discipline into service of the public interest.