Anthropocentrism; Analytic Philosophy; Marx and Philosophy
A new article from Christopher Belshaw; an event with Christoph Schuringa and Tzuchien Tho; and a masterclass with Meena Dhanda.
Dear all,
Your Sunday Read
“What’s Wrong with Anthropocentrism?”
Is it wrong to value humans above all else? In this provocative essay, Christopher Belshaw explores the limits of anthropocentrism, weighing our moral duties to other creatures and the natural world. He argues that while extreme human-centered thinking is flawed, our unique moral agency brings special responsibilities. We shouldn’t dominate nature, but nor should we deny our moral role as custodians. He presents a nuanced defense of human significance without giving into superiority. You can read the essay here.
Monday Event: 11am PT/2pm ET/7pm UK/8pm CET
A Social History of Analytic Philosophy
Christoph Schuringa in conversation with Tzuchien Tho
Analytic philosophy is the leading form of philosophy in the English-speaking world. In this event, Christoph Schuringa will argue that its enduring power can only be understood by examining its social history. While analytic philosophy tends to think of itself as apolitical, concerned with eternal questions and transcending the changing scenes of history, Schuringa will show that it is actually shaped by highly specific sets of political and social forces that joined together after the Second World War. In the climate of McCarthyism, analytic philosophy was robbed of political force.
To this day, analytic philosophy is the ideology of the status quo. It may seem arcane and largely removed from the real world, but it is a crucial component in upholding liberalism, through its central role in elite educational institutions. In fact, the apparently increasing friendliness of analytic philosophers to rival approaches in philosophy should be understood as a form of colonization; thanks to its hegemonic status, it reformats all it touches in service of its own imperatives, going so far as to colonize decolonial efforts in the discipline. You can find out more and register here.
Masterclass with Meena Dhanda
“South Asian Feminist Philosophy”
Wednesday 4th June 1pm EDT/6pm UK (60 minutes)
Print issue on “Marx and Philosophy”
Our new print issue on “Marx and Philosophy” was published and launched at an event earlier this week.
This issue was conceived and edited by Andrés Saenz de Sicilia, with contributors from Christoph Schuringa, Olúfẹ́mi O. Táíwò, Paul North, Tatiana Llaguno, and Vanessa Wills.
In addition to essays and conversations on Marx, there are contributions on Hannah Arendt, Henri Bergson, Neo-Platonism, and much more…
You can find out more about it and buy a copy here.
Ending
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Wishing you all a lovely Sunday, wherever you are.
Elinor Potts
Managing Editor