Public philosophy

Or, alter-academic philosophy

I present this project under the familiar heading of public philosophy, but alter-academic philosophy is my more exact name for it. The term designates a distinctive programme, defined by its own commitments and conception of philosophical practice. Here I'll summarise those commitments, as well as the forms of practical support I can offer to those interested in pursuing philosophy this way.

The outline below links to relevant explanations of central ideas. For a continuous account, including what distinguishes alter-academic philosophy from public philosophy more broadly, see my Manifesto for Alter-Academic Philosophy.

Public accessibility

[accessible]

Core commitments

Alter-academic philosophy emphasises the following features of philosophical activity.

• Philosophy is participatory. It is an activity: it involves direction, creativity, commitment, skill. Philosophy should not be rendered an object of passive consumption.
• Philosophy is a creative activity, organised around production, not just consumption. The most obvious form of philosophical creation is of texts, works of philosophy. But a philosopher often also creates things like: concepts and positions; a coherent, idiosyncratic worldview; a history of engagement with, and personal canon of, other philosophers and texts; and, ultimately, their own self (philosophy as self-creation).
• [commitment]
• [intrinsic value]

What I offer

[guides, intro support, tutoring services, study group]