Metaphilosophy
The self-reflective inquiry into the nature of philosophy.
Metaphilosophy, sometimes called the philosophy of philosophy, is the investigation of the nature of philosophy. Its subject matter includes the aims of philosophy, the boundaries of philosophy, and its methods. Thus, while philosophy characteristically inquires into the nature of being, the reality of objects, the possibility of knowledge, and the nature of truth, metaphilosophy is the self-reflective inquiry into the nature, aims, and methods of the activity that makes these kinds of inquiries. It asks what philosophy itself is, what sorts of questions it should ask, how it might pose and answer them, and what it can achieve in doing so. Some consider metaphilosophy a subject prior and preparatory to philosophy, while others see it as inherently a part of philosophy, or automatically a part of it, and some adopt a combination of these views. Interest in metaphilosophy led to the establishment of the journal *Metaphilosophy* in January 1970. Many sub-disciplines of philosophy have their own branch of metaphilosophy, including meta-aesthetics, meta-epistemology, meta-ethics, and metametaphysics. Although the term and explicit attention to metaphilosophy as a specific domain arose in the 20th century, the topic is likely as old as philosophy itself, traceable at least to the works of Ancient Greeks and Ancient Indian Nyaya. The term itself was reportedly coined by Morris Lazerowitz around 1940 and used in print in 1942, though earlier uses exist in translations from French. It derives from the Greek *meta* ("after", "beyond", "with") and *philosophia* ("love of wisdom"). Some philosophers, like Timothy Williamson, argue that the philosophy of philosophy is automatically part of philosophy, while others, like Ludwig Wittgenstein, contended there is no second-order philosophy. Debate persists over whether evaluating the nature of philosophy is second-order or simply plain philosophy. Some philosophers, including Gilbert Ryle, have doubted the value of metaphilosophy, warning that preoccupation with methods can distract from practicing them.
- field
- Philosophy
- known_for
- Investigation of the nature, aims, and methods of philosophy
- sub_disciplines
- Meta-aesthetics, meta-epistemology, meta-ethics, metametaphysics
Lore & Background
Metaphilosophy examines the aims, boundaries, and methods of philosophy itself. Some philosophers consider it a subject prior and preparatory to philosophy, while others see it as inherently part of philosophy, or automatically part of it. Timothy Williamson argues that the philosophy of philosophy is automatically part of philosophy, while Ludwig Wittgenstein argued there is no second-order philosophy, comparing it to the spelling of 'spelling'. Debate persists as to whether evaluating the nature of philosophy is second-order philosophy or plain philosophy. Many philosophers, including Gilbert Ryle, have expressed doubts about its value, suggesting that preoccupation with methods distracts from prosecuting them.
Reader's Guide
Metaphilosophy's significance lies in its role as a self-reflective discipline that questions the very foundations of philosophical inquiry. It forces philosophers to consider what philosophy is, what it can achieve, and how it should proceed. The prefix 'meta' is sometimes taken to mean 'after' or 'beyond', leading some to see metaphilosophy as a second-order discipline above philosophy, while others treat it simply as 'about' philosophy. In the analytic tradition, the term is mostly used to tag commentary on previous works rather than original contributions. Sub-disciplines such as meta-ethics and meta-epistemology are considered forms of metaphilosophy. The boundaries of philosophy itself are notoriously difficult to define, and metaphilosophy addresses these demarcation issues, including the distinction between first-order and second-order investigations and between philosophy and empirical science.
Did You Know?
- Metaphilosophy can be traced back at least as far as the works of Ancient Greeks and Ancient Indian Nyaya.
- Some philosophers, like Gilbert Ryle, have doubted the value of metaphilosophy, comparing it to thinking too much about one's feet while running.
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