If Philosophy Won’t Diversify, Let’s Call It What It Really Is. Jay Garfield and Bryan Van Norden (2016)

In this very brief opinion piece submitted to the New York Times Opinions page in 2016, the authors argue that one of two changes ought to come to the exceedingly high number of philosophy departments around the United States and Canada that have no specialists in any field of philosophy outside of those written by European and American men.

In the first paragraph, the authors go into statistical detail about the lack of departments offering classes in more diverse fields of philosophy than the standard European and American classes. They draw particular attention to the lack of representation of philosophers who are Chinese, African, Indian, Islamic, Latin American, or Native American. Having pointed out these glaring deficiencies, the authors go on to say “the present situation is hard to justify morally, politically, epistemically or as a good educational and research training practice.”

In the following paragraphs the authors go on to argue what I have to imagine they know to be a losing point; that departments who fail to diversify their curricula ought to specify their name. Rather than being the Philosophy Department, the authors suggest they be called the Anglo-European Philosophy Department.

The next few paragraphs are the authors effectively exchanging justifications and refutations with an imagined opponent of such a change, but the end result, as is the case when anyone debates someone who isn’t there, is that the authors win out.

I don’t imagine Garfield and Van Norden thought any department would undergo such a name change as they suggested, but their rhetoric did effectively expose a critical contradiction in the logic of those philosophy departments, something I’m sure philosophers can’t stand.

18 thoughts on “If Philosophy Won’t Diversify, Let’s Call It What It Really Is. Jay Garfield and Bryan Van Norden (2016)

  1. Hailey Nelson

    The writers go into statistical detail on the paucity of departments giving classes in more diverse topics of philosophy than the standard stumble guys European and American classes in the very first paragraph of the paper.

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    Jay Garfield and Bryan Van Norden’s opinion piece, “If Philosophy Won’t Diversify, Let’s Call It What It Really Is,” presents a compelling argument that highlights the lack of diversity and representation in philosophy departments across the United States and Canada. They aptly emphasize the absence of courses and expertise in fields of philosophy beyond the traditional European and American canons, such as Chinese, African, Indian, Islamic, Latin American, or Native American philosophies.

    The authors make a strong moral, political, and educational case for addressing this issue, highlighting the deficiencies in the current system. Their call for change is based on the principles of fairness, inclusivity, and the pursuit of a broader, more comprehensive understanding of philosophy. They assert that the status quo cannot be justified on any ethical, epistemic, or educational grounds.

    While the proposal to rename philosophy departments as “Anglo-European Philosophy Departments” may be seen as provocative, it serves a crucial rhetorical purpose. It forces readers to confront the inherent contradiction in philosophy departments that claim to represent the entire discipline while largely excluding non-Western and non-European perspectives. By suggesting this name change, the authors highlight the need for greater transparency and accuracy in departmental nomenclature.

    The imagined debate with an opponent within the piece effectively reinforces the authors’ position, revealing the weaknesses in arguments against diversifying philosophy curricula. Ultimately, Garfield and Van Norden’s article serves as a powerful critique of the status quo in philosophy departments and a call to action for a more inclusive and representative discipline.

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