Being a Philosopher: The History of a Practice Book

In Being a Philosopher, David Hamlyn takes an original approach by charting the history of the practice of philosophy. This entertaining and illuminating account is the first history to answer the question: what do philosophers actually do?David Hamlyn examines the main trends in the practice of philosophy and shows how philosophers have been regarded over time. He examines the progressive professionalism of philosophy, the emergence of philosophical journals and societies, and current arrangements for the practice of philosophy in higher education. David Hamlyn considers the great philosophers of the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, exploring the issue of why so few had anything to do with teaching or any other institutional arrangements. The unusual relationship between philosophers and the institution of philosophy makes this book enjoyable and fascinating reading for all present or aspiring philosophers and students of philosophy.Read More