Philosophers in Conversation: Interviews from the Harvard Review of Philosophy [Library Binding]

S. Phineas Upham (Editor)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 3, 2002 | ISBN-10: 0415937795 | ISBN-13: 978-0415937795 | Edition: 1

This volume brings together 13 interviews with some of the brightest names in contemporary philosophy, including W.V.O. Quine, Richard Rorty, Stanley Cavell, Hilary Putnam, as well as John Rawls. Covering a wide range of topics from the philosophy of law and logic to metaphysics to literature, the interviews in this text provide an introduction to some of the most influential thinkers of the day.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

The Harvard Review of Philosophy has been published since 1991, and its circulation includes philosophy departments and professors throughout the world. The journal is an official student organization of Harvard University. Its faculty advisers are Professors Robert Nozick and Thomas Scanlon.

Product Details

• Library Binding: 192 pages
• Publisher: Routledge; 1 edition (May 3, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0415937795
• ISBN-13: 978-0415937795
• Product Dimensions: 9.4 x 6 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #7,623,082 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars excellent pieces, September 29, 2002

By A Customer

This review is from: Philosophers in Conversation: Interviews from the Harvard Review of Philosophy (Paperback)

Just finished this wonderful collection of interviews. Past reviewers have been accurate in their high assessment of this collection. Let me add that as a professor of philosophy at a top 10 department who knows many of these men being interviewed personally, I found this collection to be profoundly revealing (though The Harvard Review of Philosophy, quickly becoming quite a prestigious publication, has never requested an interview from me!)

The interviews have a nice even keeled pitch to them which both reveal the individuals being interviewed as academics, and also as people. If you have not had the chance to have lunch at a conference at the same table as Hillary Putnam (who is charming) or coffee with Cora Diamond (who is absolutely wonderful) this may be as close as you will ever come (some of the interviewees have passed away, such as Quine, so this is particularly valuable contribution here). Grab a copy of this book right now, for yourself or for a friend. Give it as a gift - it is quite a handsome-looking volume.

Those who have not bought the book (and quite a few of my fellow colleagues have - it has become a kind of guilty pleasure for the members of the department) do not know its structure. For each philosopher here is a photograph, a brief and fair biography, and then an informal but rigorous interview. Thus, through a picture, a history, and also an interview each philosopher takes on a multidimensional personality. I particularly recommend the John Rawls' piece. He is not getting out as much nowadays and but his kindness, generosity, and brilliance come through in this rare interview.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars wonderful read, August 28, 2002

By 

John (Boston) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Philosophers in Conversation: Interviews from the Harvard Review of Philosophy (Paperback)

I just finished this wonderful collection of interviews with great philosophers (some of whom I studied with during my undergraduate days). The interviews convey a picture of the philosopher that is both personal and professional. It is eminently readable and thoroughly enjoyable. I recommend it highly. Philosophy is a serious hobby for me now, venture capital taking up more of my time, but I imagine that this collection would be a pleasure for someone interested in the subject at any level.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars great collection, November 21, 2002

By 

L. "les193" (New York, NY) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Philosophers in Conversation: Interviews from the Harvard Review of Philosophy (Paperback)

A collection of interviews from the Harvard philosophy journal. It has a number of big names like Putnam and Rorty, and anyone who studies philosophy will be familiar with the work of everyone in the table of contents. Part musings a la "Culture and Value", part anecdotal, part confessional.

A good read for anyone who wants to gain insight into the "whole person" of those who've put forth some of the big ideas in contemporary (analytic, or 'post-analytic') philosophy. In addition to some stirring showings by (for e.g.) Rorty and Nehemas, the John Rawls interview is all we have of his more personal musings, on everything from his life's oeuvre to the morality of flying the Confederate flag (some internicene trouble among the undergraduates.)

The interviews are easy to handle in length (a dozen pages or so on average), and give you some of the best that a philosophical 'confession' would. They also have a nice 'in the moment' conversational style.