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What do philosophers mean by "a philosophical move"?
Accepted:
August 9, 2012

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Andrew Pessin
August 14, 2012 (changed August 14, 2012) Permalink

Not sure this is a standard expression, and so it's not likely to have an particular definition ... However I could imagine using such an expression when I am complimenting a student, with stress on the 'philosophical' part -- it takes a certain kind of philosophical talent to appreciate certain issues, problems, arguments etc., and while the majority of (let's say beginning) students can make 'moves' in a discussion, only a small subset of these can make the 'philosophical' moves -- by raising the kinds of ideas, comments, objections, arguments that someone more trained and experienced in philosophy might make ... Perhaps more specifically, I might be inclined to use that adjective "philosophical" when someone in the course of discussion calls into question what most people would never even think to call into question, some fundamental tenet of common sense perhaps ....

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