What is continental philosophy? This is the term used to describe a set of philosophical movements and schools associated with western Europe. The term originated in the 1940s in England and was used by professional philosophers to distinguish between continental and analytic philosophy. The term has been used to describe a variety of philosophical movements and schools, including existentialism, postmodernism, and analytic philosophy. While many philosophers of this time espoused continental philosophy, there are still differences between these schools.
Analytic philosophy
In the twentieth century, the relationship between analytic philosophy and continental thought was adrift and often hostile, but recent debates have shed new light on the similarities between the two approaches. A recent book traces the history of key encounters between the two camps in the late nineteenth century, and discusses the main methodological differences between the two. It also explores the influence of formal methods from probability theory and logic. The reader will be well-equipped to write about continental philosophy in analytic style.
The challenges that analytic philosophy faces in continental philosophy stem from the’reductive’ approach to philosophical questions. In reaction to the rejection of’reductive’ analysis, analytic philosophers moved toward linguistic and logical analysis. These methods are characterized by a distinctive style and non-hierarchical debate. Analytic philosophy of continental philosophy becomes increasingly self-critical and apolitical. However, the philosophical challenges this style faces will persist until the end of the century.
While neither analytic nor continental philosophers are necessarily better than others, they are both important and relevant to philosophical study. Analytic philosophy, in particular, is characterized by its use of logic and mathematics. Its core concerns are the nature of reality and what exists, as well as the question of how to know it. In continental philosophy, meanwhile, the founders of the school include Heidegger, Gadamer, and Deleuze.
Existentialism
Existentialism in continental philosophy is a philosophical movement centered around the fundamental question: “What is the purpose of life?” It was first introduced by the French philosopher Blaise Pascal, who published unfinished notes and the poem Pensees in 1670. Pascal’s existentialist views reject the idea that rational consciousness is the primary reality, arguing that humans are inevitably in the world. Furthermore, they contend that if we were to die, the world would be an empty place.
The existentialists’ belief is that the word “existence” precedes the word “essence.” Thus, the meaning of a thing is determined by its existence, and the meaning of that existence is a matter of choice. Thus, existentialists hold that human existence is a matter of choice, and that it is in man’s best interest to define his own reality. As such, they reject the concept of a transcendent God.
Existentialism inherited the teachings of the phenomenologists, but added issues of freedom, angst, and absurdity. Logical Positivism carried on the analytic tradition of the Vienna Circle, with philosophers such as Russell and Ayer constructing logical analysis methods. Today, postmodernism is the dominant strand of continental philosophy. In addition to the traditional philosophical traditions, the field of continental philosophy is largely characterized by a focus on the integration of modernity and science, biology, and psychology.
Postmodernism
A major focus of postmodernism in continental philosophy is the idea that natural languages and specialized discourses are self-referential and reflect the conceptual schemes, moral values, and intellectual values of the community in which they are produced. Jacques Derrida was one of the most influential postmodern philosophers in the early 1960s. His work, which is often considered a precursor to postmodernism, rejects structuralism and argues that knowledge is produced by power and that knowledge changes fundamentally from one historical period to the next.
The idea of postmodernism is opposed to the values of the Enlightenment and focuses instead on the “decentered subject.” This is manifest in the view that human knowledge is conditioned by history and is based on personal experience. Postmodern philosophers are suspicious of “grand narratives” of modernity. Among other ideas, Nietzsche’s ethics of emancipation is often referred to as a precursor to postmodernism.
The prevailing discourses in contemporary society are a result of power relations and interests, and postmodernists reject these. Postmodernists argue that these values can only be achieved through the creation of a temporary local consensus. However, postmodernists differ on the nature of this connection. Some postmodernists cite Marx’s dictum as a major principle, while others argue for a nuanced view of power and privilege.
Hegel
G.W.F. Hegel was a German philosopher whose Continental philosophy influenced many later thinkers. Hegel argued that all reality is one Idea. He also warned against the dangers of metaphysical dogmatism. For these reasons, he is considered to be the father of modern continental philosophy. Here are a few things about Hegel’s Continental philosophy. A quick overview of Hegel’s philosophy will help you understand this influential philosopher and its influence on contemporary thought.
The synthesis Hegel offered was expansive, as he organized every department of knowledge under a triadic development. This is particularly appealing to the metaphysically inclined. Two other extrinsic circumstances are at work here. First, the idea of the State is inherently a kind of objectification of the individual mind. This implies that the individual mind is only partially free. It is subject to the yoke of necessity, which is opposite to freedom. The individual mind then achieves full freedom in the freedom of the citizen.
The second difference between the Analytic tradition and the Continental tradition is the emphasis on the thesis. In Analytic philosophy, thesis is the object of inquiry, and the reason for accepting it is of paramount importance. In continental philosophy, the focus is more on the achievement of great philosophers, as opposed to definable thesis truths. The emphasis is more on the great philosophers than the thesis, as they were the ones who gave the analytic tradition its identity.
Frege
One of the most influential ideas of Frege’s philosophy is the idea of a “world view”. The concept of a world view is a cosmological framework that encompasses many world views. In this framework, a universe refers to the whole of nature. Thus, for example, the planet Venus is a “star,” while the morning star is the planet Venus. This idea of a world view is very influential, and it is a major contribution to the philosophy of modernity.
In the Grundgesetze, Frege describes natural numbers as the value-range of all values that fall under the successor or ancestral relation with respect to zero. This is a highly advanced definition of a world view. It is important to note that Frege’s view is based on his work and does not necessarily correspond to any specific philosophical school. However, the fundamental concepts of his philosophy are deeply rooted in his work.
In his work, Frege asserts that all things with hearts and kidneys also have brains. Frege further argued that the same concept could have different meanings in different languages. Thus, it is acceptable to use different senses of a concept, as long as they hold together the Gedanken. The implications of this approach are far reaching. The goal of a continental philosophy is to establish a framework for thinking that can withstand the complexities of everyday life.
Hegel’s reaction to Kant’s synthetic a priori
“G.W.F. Hegel” by Pinkard is a brief, concise introduction to Hegel’s work, including the earliest works and some of his later Berlin lectures. It ends with a discussion of Hegel’s legacy. Nenon’s chapter on Hegel’s reaction to Kant’s synthetic a priori is particularly valuable. While the material here is challenging, it’s essential reading for students of continental philosophy.
While McDowell’s reading of Hegel differs from Robert Brandom’s, McDowell is an apt way to engage with Hegel. It is difficult not to be moved by the quietist approach McDowell takes to Hegel. It’s easy to read Hegel’s work through Peirce’s eyes and think that McDowell has misunderstood his subject.
Hegel’s reaction to Kant’d synthetic a priori in continental philosophy is a classic example of Hegel’s rejection of post-Kantian thought. While Moore’s approach was largely reactionary and based on an analysis of Kant, it helped convince Bertrand Russell to develop an analytic and reductionist philosophy of knowledge.
In addition to analytic and continental philosophy, Hegel’s writings are a bridge between Kant and Freget. But if Kant’s critique of Kant’s synthetic a priori is too controversial, then Hegel has a much more important role in addressing it. And as a result, the two philosophers are often viewed as complementary, rather than competing.