Philosophy’s the oldest subject. All the other academic subjects split off from it. Maths. Physics. Law … History and geography … Religious studies … The history of ideas, in general. Politics … Psychology. And most recently, sociology.
Which means Philosophy’s just left to itself.
Poor, lonely philosophy …
With the most intractable questions. Questions the other subject areas can’t answer, but which come to trip them up in the end. And that’s what happened: every subject splits off from philosophy, but then returns to it, in the moment of its deepest questioning. Its deepest need.
And that’s what’s happening with Organisational Management?
Perhaps. In the moment of its deepest need, Organisational Management is becoming philosophical. And that’s why it’s brought us on board.
Very flattering for you, philosopher.
The question is whether Philosophy will become organisational-managerial, or whether Organisational Management will become philosophical.
All subjects become philosophical, in the end. All profound debate is about philosophical things.
Is there a philosophy of physics?
Sure.
A philosophy of chemistry.
I don’t know.
Probably.
Is there a philosophy of … literature? And art?
Art’s all about philosophy.
And business studies …
You know there is.
And Organisational Management …
Of course.
And what about philosophy itself? Is there a philosophy of philosophy?
There’s metaphilosophy. And metaethics. But really the philosophy of philosophy is philosophy. Nothing else.
Deranging.
Philosophy’s always about philosophy, in some sense. About the possibility of philosophy – of thinking. And all the things that get in the way of thinking.
Work in Progress 