Field Philosophy and Social Justice

ABSTRACT

Field philosophy is a method of philosophical practice. As such, it is open or neutral with regard to topic and content, to the social location of collaborators, and to the type of outcome or product that is its aim. With regard to its criteria, field philosophers may pursue philosophical collaborations in government, business, entertainment, religion, science, or other areas. In this paper, I respond to critiques of philosophers doing politically engaged work and then show that there are several reasons that field philosophy is strongly suitable for the pursuit of social justice. First, researchers with an existing interest in civic engagement and social justice will find field philosophy effective for achieving concrete goals. Second, social justice depends on ethical arguments, so there is an existing interest in incorporating philosophical perspectives. Third, field philosophers can draw on resources developed by feminist and racial justice scholars who have long theorized the association between academic practice and political engagement. And fourth, feminist and progressive inquiry develops insights into the functioning of social institutions. Cross-culturally, field philosophy is a research method that develops reflective participation in knowledge production and that supports academic engagement in decision-making for positive social outcomes, however, those are locally construed.

KEYWORDS:

• Activism
• advocacy
• comparative philosophy
• field philosophy
• social justice

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Notes

1. For an example of a debate about these methodological questions between an applied philosopher and a field philosopher, see Norton (2002).

2. See the essays in Brister and Frodeman (2020b), for 22 case studies reflecting on the relationship between fieldwork in philosophy and other forms of scholarship, teaching, and academic service.

3. A recent local news site wrote that in response to the question, ‘What is the biggest challenge our region is likely to face over the next 10 years?’ RIT President David Munson responded, ‘improving Rochester city schools and reducing poverty’ (https://rochesterbeacon.com/2020/01/09/the-decade-ahead/). My university is actively involved in outreach programs to support quality education in public city schools and views these activities as consistent with its educational mission.

4. A description of the role of philosophical skills in supporting non-philosophical inquiry can be found in O’Rourke and Crowley (2013).

5. There is also a history of articles like this one, debunking arguments holding that philosophy’s appropriate place is at a remove from social issues (Geiger 1941) and urging philosophers to take action against social wrongs (Chomsky 1968).

6. The 2019 version of the American Philosophical Association Good Practices Guide sidesteps this issue: ‘We have not attempted to discuss the role or responsibilities of philosophers as potential agents in the public or political sphere, and how these relate to their professional and pedagogical roles and responsibilities’ (American Philosophical Association 2019, 5). The time is ripe for the profession to undertake this discussion.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Evelyn Brister

Evelyn Brister is a Professor in the Philosophy Department at Rochester Institute of Technology. She has a PhD in Philosophy (2002) and an MS in Environmental Science (2012). Her research in philosophy of science is on the identification of priorities in land management and philosophical issues raised by the use of genetic technologies for conservation purposes. She is also involved in research on how best to promote interdisciplinary collaboration between social and natural scientists and between philosophers and scientists. A book co-edited with Robert Frodeman, A Guide to Field Philosophy (Routledge 2020), collects narrative accounts of philosophers who have engaged in fieldwork with scientists, engineers, and others outside the academy. She is President of the Public Philosophy Network and serves on the APA Committee on Public Philosophy.