05/10/2022
A generally sensible discussion. His conclusion, "We should read philosophers in relation to our philosophical questions" is spot on.
Biography is rarely relevant to a discussion of a philosopher's thought, although there are some notable exceptions (like Kierkegaard). Attempts to show that a philosopher's personal quirks are crucial to understanding their philosophy are rarely convincing (the attempt to show that Being and Time is essentially "N**i philosophy" is a notable example of bad interpretation).
It’s no secret that many revered and influential philosophers of the early and late modern periods and were racists. They weren’t like many of the racists of today, employing dog whistles or using …
