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The Philosophical Mind
Exploring Truth and Truthfulness with Bernard Williams
Is there such a thing as a philosophical mind? And if there is, are philosophers a good place to look for it?
Re-reading Truth and Truthfulness: An Essay in Genealogy (2002) by Bernard Williams (1929–2003) got me thinking about that question. Williams was one of the most important philosophers of the second half of the 20th century. He wrote surprisingly accessible, yet professionally important work on a great variety of philosophical topics. He was instrumental in steering moral philosophy as a discipline back from the worst excesses of the linguistic turn, and his critiques of Kantian and Utilitarian ethics continue to resonate. Perhaps most importantly, he was the leading force in bringing virtue theory back from the dead and giving it a modern shape. A classical scholar, a contributor in public policy, and an inspiration and mentor for a whole generation of great philosophers, Williams is exactly the sort of person we might think of as the paradigm of a modern, academic (but more) philosopher.
His outstanding resume is uncontroversial but somewhat beside the point. I provide it as context for why a careful look at Williams’ writing might be illuminating. For if there is something distinct in the philosophical mind, surely it should be apparent in the most…
