Good Advice for Philosophers
Literary Authors’ Good Advice for Philosophers (if they were talking about philosophy): • The reader is a friend, not an adversary, not a spectator. Jonathan Franzen • Do not place a photograph of your favourite philosopher on your desk, especially if the philosopher is one of the famous ones who committed suicide. Roddy Doyle • Cut (perhaps that should be CUT): only by having no inessential words can every essential word be made to count. Diana Athill • Only bad philosophers think that their work is really good. Anne Enright • Prayer might work. Or reading something else. Or a constant visualisation of the holy grail that is the finished, published version of your resplendent article or book. Margaret Atwood • Do change your mind. Good ideas are often murdered by better ones. Roddy Doyle • Marry somebody you love and who thinks you being a professional philosopher’s a good idea. Richard Ford • It's doubtful that anyone with an internet connection at his workplace is wri...