Saturday, April 16, 2011

Phillip McReynolds - American Philosopher

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Via Open Culture . . . . This is a cool video for anyone who digs philosophy, but doesn't want to wade through the books. Here is the film maker's comment about the film (which is actually 8 short films).
Who dares think a nation? What is the status of philosophy in a nation founded by philosophers? What are the risks of practicing philosophy in America? Does America have a "native" philosophy? Eight short films about philosophy in America and American philosophy by Phillip McReynolds.
You can also visit his You Tube channel youtube.com/​user/​phillipmcreynolds.

Here is the intro from Open Culture

American Philosophy on Film: Pragmatism, Richard Rorty and More

In his online bio, Penn State lecturer Phillip McReynolds confesses his “unhealthy fascination with movies.” McReynolds channels that obsession to healthy effect in his documentary “American Philosopher.” The film — which is really a series of 8 shorts – features interviews with Richard Rorty, Hilary Putnam, Joseph Margolis, Crispin Sartwell, Richard Bernstein, and many other prominent philosophers. The conversation generally turns around pragmatism, the national character, and the central question: Is there such a thing as a native American Philosophy?

Our favorite section is probably Part 6, “Progress:” It features a lively 2002 debate between Rorty and Putnam which (the film argues) was largely responsible for the revival of pragmatism as a viable school of thought.

(Not surprisingly, Mr. McReynolds did his dissertation on John Dewey.)

American Philosopher The Film from Phillip McReynolds on Vimeo.



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