How philosophy works: a social perspective

Abstract

Philosophy exerting social influence: is it an impossible dream or a real possibility, or merely an illusory problem? Is philosophy expected to influence society in the same direct way as, for instance, the appearance of computers and other high technologies did? One can hope to provide answers to this and similar questions if one takes into account the fact that the philosophies come to be invariably as certain special events in the networks of human research practices or the practices of self-awareness.