The uses of the past from Heidegger to Rorty : doing philosophy historically /

Piercey (Campion College, Univ. of Regina) articulates and defends the practice of "doing philosophy historically" and distinguishes it from both the study of the history of philosophy and philosophical work that has no reference to history. The principle characteristic of this approach is a concern with "pictures" as opposed to theories or arguments. The historical philosopher uses the history of philosophy as a way to explore or develop a philosophical picture of the world, where the major concern understands the picture, not the texts of the philosophers. The volume is divided into two parts. The first is more formal and tries to develop and defend an account of doing philosophy historically; the second is more material, focusing on examples of this way of doing philosophy. In this section one finds discussions of Alasdair MacIntyre, Martin Heidegger, and Paul Ricoeur, and the various ways their approaches to philosophy use history to frame and answer philosophical questions. Despite the title, one will not find a long engagement with or discussion of Richard Rorty's works, although he is mentioned in passing. Summing Up: Recommended. Graduate students and faculty/researchers. B. T. Harding Texas Woman's University