Question Can we call some thinkers like Baudrillard philosophers? If not, what is their writings, and if answer is yes, it means that philosophy is just a game!

Accepted:
October 14, 2005

Comments

"We" can call anyone we like a "philosopher". No one owns the term. The term "philosophy" has a broad meaning in public discourse -- it means something like "a systematic consideration of fundamental questions about meaning and existence." By that definition, Baudrillard (who I have never read) would certainly count as a philosopher. And I don't think his qualifying by that definition means that philosophy is "just a game."

Now there's a reason why I haven't read Baudrillard that has to do with the academic practice of philosophy. I grew up in what's called the "analytic tradition" -- an approach to philosophy that takes analysis and rigorous argumentation as methodological norms, and that often focuses on the language in which philosophical questions are expressed. There are other traditions; the other main tradition descended from early modern European philosophy beside analytic philosophy is called the "continental tradition." Jean Baudrillard works in this tradition. People in the one tradition are frequently quite ignorant about those working in the other tradition. I happen to be pretty ignorant of work in the Continental tradition, and do not understand its norms and foci. But I see no reason to try to claim the word "philosophy" for my tradition alone. What would be the point? "Philosophy" isn't an honorific -- there's good philosophy, and bad philosophy.

I suspect from your glib inference that you dislike the work of Baudrillard. Perhaps it's because you don't understand it. In that case, you are not in a position to judge that what he's doing is "just a game." Perhaps you do understand it, and think that it's wrong, foolish, irresponsible, silly or all of the above. Fine. But none of those characteristics make the work "not philosophy." Nor does its being philosophy, and being a bad instance of it, mean that all philosophy is just a game.

I suspect you knew all that. What was the question, really?

Question Can we call some thinkers like Baudrillard philosophers? If not, what is their writings, and if answer is yes, it means that philosophy is just a game! Accepted:October 14, 2005

Question Can we call some thinkers like Baudrillard philosophers? If not, what is their writings, and if answer is yes, it means that philosophy is just a game!

Accepted:
October 14, 2005