Politeness, Philosophy’s Neglected Companion

[Philosophy Now]

Raymond Boisvert extols an under-rated virtue.

https://philosophynow.org/issues/46/Pol ... _Companion

[marjoram_blues]

The manner in which philosophical investigation is undertaken leaves as big an imprint on students as do the results of such an investigation.

...In 1998 Richard Rorty complained that a mid-century turn in Anglophone philosophy had meant that “Ayer and dryness won out over Whitehead and romance.” Such a shift to dryness encouraged behavior that was “more adversarial and argumentative than it used to be.” Putting it bluntly, Rorty claimed that philosophers were not necessarily smarter than in the past, but “only a little meaner.”



Fortunately, there is nothing inherent in philosophy which encourages meanness...

In 1892 Henri Bergson gave a lecture to French students... sorting politeness into three kinds: politeness of manners, politeness of spirit, and politeness of heart.

Good manners mean that we do not treat others in ways that are cold, condescending or utilitarian.
Bergson describes ‘politeness of spirit’ as the ability to “put ourselves in other people’s shoes, to take an interest in what is important to them, to think like them, in short, to imagine ourselves living their lives, and, in so doing, allow our own selves and concerns to fade away.”
Politeness of heart, by contrast, helps bring about what is not already there. William James... was especially sensitive to this dimension in human life. His essay, ‘The Will to Believe’ discussed those kinds of realities, which cannot be brought about except by a trust-filled expectation. James focuses on the question “Do you like me or not?” “Whether you do or not depends, in countless instances, on whether I meet you half-way, am willing to assume that you must like me, and show you trust and expectation.” ...

...We can now come back to the liberal arts and specifically the philosophy classroom. What is it about philosophy that encourages politeness?
When we study philosophy...we open ourselves to voices from other times and places. We work together with others in discussion, letting different ways of thinking and seeing challenge us...The habits of politeness are an unnoticed, but crucial by-product of such an undertaking. As such, they help form the fragile ecosystem within which liberal education can thrive. They serve, also, as the primary media through which students help spread the virtues cultivated in our classrooms to the larger, national scene.
© RAYMOND BOISVERT 2004

So, do you agree that it matters about our manners?
Is it true that philosophers are a little meaner than in the past?
Does philosophy encourage meanness?
Do we need to be polite? Does being 'impolite' mean that we are 'cold, condescending or utilitarian'?
Does it matter that we like each other, or not?
Is it true that philosophy encourages politeness?
Are habits of politeness a 'crucial by-product' of studying philosophy?
Do philosophy students help spread such virtues to the 'larger, national scene'?

[marjoram_blues]

So, do you agree that:
1. it matters about our manners?
2. Is it true that philosophers are a little meaner than in the past?
3. Does philosophy encourage meanness?
4. Do we need to be polite? Does being 'impolite' mean that we are 'cold, condescending or utilitarian'?
5. Does it matter that we like each other, or not?
6. Is it true that philosophy encourages politeness?
7. Are habits of politeness a 'crucial by-product' of studying philosophy?
8. Do philosophy students help spread such virtues to the 'larger, national scene'?

My thoughts:
1. Manners do matter.
2. Some philosophers might be meaner than others, at any time or place.
3. Philosophy is a subject which should encourage critical thinking.
4. We don't need to be polite; but we do need to actively listen and respond to the points.
5. Liking someone helps if it means we are more open to them. However, it shouldn't matter...if we only look at the claims...
6. Philosophy doesn't encourage politeness. It should however stick to its 'principle of charity'.
7. Nope.
8. Of course

Sometimes, it is only the 'nasty' or rude that attracts the attention.
Some yawn and turn-off at polite vanilla types...
Others see any challenge to their ego as being rude. They turn against such; ignore and never learn.

Is philosophy more about a rude awakening ?

[Obvious Leo]

So, do you agree that it matters about our manners?

Yes. Good manners oil the wheels of the human discourse.

Is it true that philosophers are a little meaner than in the past?

Only some of them.

Does philosophy encourage meanness?

No. Some people are just arseholes.

Do we need to be polite?

If we want to be heard and understood it certainly helps.

Does being 'impolite' mean that we are 'cold, condescending or utilitarian'?

It might mean that we are all of those things or it might just mean that we're arseholes.

Does it matter that we like each other, or not?

In a proper philosophical conversation it shouldn't matter and it should be undetectable.

Is it true that philosophy encourages politeness?

No. Philosophy often involves the expression of conflicting views so politeness requires a mutual effort of will and respect.

Are habits of politeness a 'crucial by-product' of studying philosophy?

They very much should be.

Do philosophy students help spread such virtues to the 'larger, national scene'?

NO. Almost nobody in the entire world gives a fuck about what philosophy students have to say about anything.

[HexHammer]

Politeness dies in the face of incompetence and stupidity, also when other politicians executes a smear campaign.

[Obvious Leo]

Politeness dies in the face of incompetence and stupidity, also when other politicians executes a smear campaign.

Surely incompetence and stupidity are in the eye of the beholder and should thus be exposed by force of argument rather than by gratuitous personal attack. Anyway since when did politics have anything to do with logic or philosophy? Politics is all about show business.

[HexHammer]

Politeness dies in the face of incompetence and stupidity, also when other politicians executes a smear campaign.

Surely incompetence and stupidity are in the eye of the beholder and should thus be exposed by force of argument rather than by gratuitous personal attack. Anyway since when did politics have anything to do with logic or philosophy? Politics is all about show business.

One may ask what kind of job one such as you have?

[Obvious Leo]

One may ask what kind of job one such as you have?

One may.

[HexHammer]

One may ask what kind of job one such as you have?

One may.

..and what kind of job do u have? ..if any?

[Obvious Leo]

..and what kind of job do u have? ..if any?

I'm primarily a writer but I also own and operate a small management consultancy business.

[HexHammer]

Politeness dies in the face of incompetence and stupidity, also when other politicians executes a smear campaign.

Surely incompetence and stupidity are in the eye of the beholder and should thus be exposed by force of argument rather than by gratuitous personal attack. Anyway since when did politics have anything to do with logic or philosophy? Politics is all about show business.

No, incompetent ppl who crashed a million dollar company, and like 80% (100 employees) has to be laid off to save it, then it's not really in the eye of the beholder.

[Jaded Sage]

I remember learning that philosophy used to be a gentleman's passtime. Nowadays there are too many intellectuals involved. And we all know the intellectual's vice: arrogance and the desperate need to be right. They seem to respect the disrespectful and to not respect the respectful. How backwards!