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Dissident Philosophers

Voices Against the Political Current of the Academy

Edited by T. Allan Hillman and Tully Borland

The book consists of sixteen essays (and an introduction) from prominent philosophers who are at odds with the predominant political trend(s) of academic philosophy, political trend(s) primarily associated with leftism. Some of these philosophers identify explicitly with the political right – an admittedly broad term which ranges from American conservative to British Tory, from religious right to non-religious right, from libertarian to authoritarian. Yet other dissident philosophers eschew the left/right dichotomy altogether while maintaining a firm political distance from the majority of their (left-leaning) colleagues. The primary goal of the volume is to represent a broad constituency of political philosophies and perspectives at variance with the prevailing political sentiments of the academy. Each essay is partly autobiographical in nature, detailing personal experiences that have influenced these philosophers throughout their lives, and partly philosophical, putting forth reflections on the intellectual viability of a right-leaning (or decidedly non-left leaning) political philosophy or some segment of it. The contemporary university is supposed to be the locus of viewpoint diversity, and yet as is evident to professors, students, and virtually anyone else who sets foot within its halls, it most certainly is not – particularly in matters political. Nevertheless, these essays are not instances of special-pleading or grievance incitement. Instead, each article provides a glimpse into the life of an academic philosopher whose views have largely been at odds with peers and colleagues. Furthermore, all of the essays were consciously constructed with the aim of being philosophically rigorous while eschewing technical language and verbose prose. In short, the essays will be enjoyable to a wide audience.

  • Details
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  • Author
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  • TOC
  • Reviews
  • Reviews
Rowman & Littlefield Publishers
Pages: 320 • Trim: 6¼ x 9⅜
978-1-5381-5904-0 • Hardback • November 2021 • $133.00 • (£102.00)
978-1-5381-5905-7 • eBook • November 2021 • $45.00 • (£35.00)
Subjects: Philosophy / Essays, Philosophy / Political, Education / Higher

T. Allan Hillman is associate professor of philosophy at the University of South Alabama. His publications have appeared in Oxford Studies in Early Modern Philosophy, Review of Metaphysics, and American Catholic Philosophical Quarterly, among other venues.

Tully Borland is former associate professor of philosophy at Ouachita Baptist University. His recent published work has appeared in American Catholic Philosophical Quarterly and Philosophy & Theology.

1Introduction: Thoughtcrime Revealed

T. Allan Hillman and Tully Borland

2Up from Political Liberalism (But Not Entirely)

Francis J. Beckwith

3Don’t Throw Out Those Tin-Foil Hats Just Yet: A Libertarian Defense of Promulgating ‘Unwarranted’ Conspiracy Theories

John Bickle and Marica Bernstein

4Under the Copybook Headings: Rudyard Kipling’s Ethics of Civilization

Daniel Bonevac

5Academia: Hooligans at Play

Jason Brennan

6The Importance of Cultural Preservation

Rafael De Clercq

7Learning All the Wrong Lessons

Dan Demetriou

8The Metaphysical Foundations of Conservatism

Edward Feser

9Reflections of an Apostate

Michael Huemer

10Individualism and Rights: Libertarianism in Academia

Eric Mack

11Correcting the Strawmen: Why Most Evangelical Christians Are Political Conservatives

J.P. Moreland

12Left and Right: A Pox on Both their Houses

Jan Narveson

13Away from Omelas

Michael Pakaluk

14The Curious Case of the Double Dissident

Neven Sesardić

15The Humbling of an Impatient Cosmopolitan

Steven Skultety

16From Democrat to Dissident

William F. Vallicella

17Better Somewhere than Anywhere

Robert Westmoreland

Index

An interesting and at times fascinating glimpse into the thought of a group of heterodox intellectuals. In addition to the clear presentation of well-developed philosophical views that challenge left-wing orthodoxies, their personal experiences and reflections on what is involved in being a professional philosopher who dissents from those orthodoxies makes for compelling reading.


— Thomas Kelly, Princeton University


Together, the essays collected in Dissident Philosophers offer a fascinating and valuable glimpse into the lives and minds of marginalized thinkers. The contributors explore some of the social pressures that enforce official and unofficial orthodoxies, and give some indication of the interesting research proposals that aren’t being pursued as a result. This timely volume should give thoughtful readers of all political persuasions a lot to chew on, even if they can’t swallow everything.


— Quillette


Dissident Philosophers

Voices Against the Political Current of the Academy

Cover Image
Hardback
eBook
Summary
Summary
  • The book consists of sixteen essays (and an introduction) from prominent philosophers who are at odds with the predominant political trend(s) of academic philosophy, political trend(s) primarily associated with leftism. Some of these philosophers identify explicitly with the political right – an admittedly broad term which ranges from American conservative to British Tory, from religious right to non-religious right, from libertarian to authoritarian. Yet other dissident philosophers eschew the left/right dichotomy altogether while maintaining a firm political distance from the majority of their (left-leaning) colleagues. The primary goal of the volume is to represent a broad constituency of political philosophies and perspectives at variance with the prevailing political sentiments of the academy. Each essay is partly autobiographical in nature, detailing personal experiences that have influenced these philosophers throughout their lives, and partly philosophical, putting forth reflections on the intellectual viability of a right-leaning (or decidedly non-left leaning) political philosophy or some segment of it. The contemporary university is supposed to be the locus of viewpoint diversity, and yet as is evident to professors, students, and virtually anyone else who sets foot within its halls, it most certainly is not – particularly in matters political. Nevertheless, these essays are not instances of special-pleading or grievance incitement. Instead, each article provides a glimpse into the life of an academic philosopher whose views have largely been at odds with peers and colleagues. Furthermore, all of the essays were consciously constructed with the aim of being philosophically rigorous while eschewing technical language and verbose prose. In short, the essays will be enjoyable to a wide audience.

Details
Details
  • Rowman & Littlefield Publishers
    Pages: 320 • Trim: 6¼ x 9⅜
    978-1-5381-5904-0 • Hardback • November 2021 • $133.00 • (£102.00)
    978-1-5381-5905-7 • eBook • November 2021 • $45.00 • (£35.00)
    Subjects: Philosophy / Essays, Philosophy / Political, Education / Higher
Author
Author
  • T. Allan Hillman is associate professor of philosophy at the University of South Alabama. His publications have appeared in Oxford Studies in Early Modern Philosophy, Review of Metaphysics, and American Catholic Philosophical Quarterly, among other venues.

    Tully Borland is former associate professor of philosophy at Ouachita Baptist University. His recent published work has appeared in American Catholic Philosophical Quarterly and Philosophy & Theology.

Table of Contents
Table of Contents
  • 1Introduction: Thoughtcrime Revealed

    T. Allan Hillman and Tully Borland

    2Up from Political Liberalism (But Not Entirely)

    Francis J. Beckwith

    3Don’t Throw Out Those Tin-Foil Hats Just Yet: A Libertarian Defense of Promulgating ‘Unwarranted’ Conspiracy Theories

    John Bickle and Marica Bernstein

    4Under the Copybook Headings: Rudyard Kipling’s Ethics of Civilization

    Daniel Bonevac

    5Academia: Hooligans at Play

    Jason Brennan

    6The Importance of Cultural Preservation

    Rafael De Clercq

    7Learning All the Wrong Lessons

    Dan Demetriou

    8The Metaphysical Foundations of Conservatism

    Edward Feser

    9Reflections of an Apostate

    Michael Huemer

    10Individualism and Rights: Libertarianism in Academia

    Eric Mack

    11Correcting the Strawmen: Why Most Evangelical Christians Are Political Conservatives

    J.P. Moreland

    12Left and Right: A Pox on Both their Houses

    Jan Narveson

    13Away from Omelas

    Michael Pakaluk

    14The Curious Case of the Double Dissident

    Neven Sesardić

    15The Humbling of an Impatient Cosmopolitan

    Steven Skultety

    16From Democrat to Dissident

    William F. Vallicella

    17Better Somewhere than Anywhere

    Robert Westmoreland

    Index

Reviews
Reviews
  • An interesting and at times fascinating glimpse into the thought of a group of heterodox intellectuals. In addition to the clear presentation of well-developed philosophical views that challenge left-wing orthodoxies, their personal experiences and reflections on what is involved in being a professional philosopher who dissents from those orthodoxies makes for compelling reading.


    — Thomas Kelly, Princeton University


    Together, the essays collected in Dissident Philosophers offer a fascinating and valuable glimpse into the lives and minds of marginalized thinkers. The contributors explore some of the social pressures that enforce official and unofficial orthodoxies, and give some indication of the interesting research proposals that aren’t being pursued as a result. This timely volume should give thoughtful readers of all political persuasions a lot to chew on, even if they can’t swallow everything.


    — Quillette


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